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Learn the Anki deck format and skip hand-typing every card

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How an Anki deck is structured

An Anki deck format question usually comes down to two things: the package file Anki reads, and the plain text layout you use when importing cards by hand. Knowing both lets you move cards between tools without retyping them.

Use .apkg for a single deck you want to share or import into Anki.
Use .colpkg when you need a full backup of an entire Anki collection.
Put a #separator:tab header at the top of a text file so the fields split correctly.
Keep media files alongside the deck and reference them by filename in each card.

Example Anki deck format entries

Which file extension does a single-deck Anki package use?.apkg, a zip archive that holds the card data and any media files.

What does a line starting with #separator:tab do in a text import?It tells Anki that fields are split by tabs, so the front and back of each card import correctly.

What is a .colpkg file?A full collection backup that includes every deck, scheduling history, and media, unlike a single-deck .apkg.

How does a card display an image stored in the deck's media?The field includes an img tag such as <img src='cell.png'>, and the file is saved in the media folder with that name.

What syntax creates a cloze deletion in Anki?{{c1::answer}} hides the text as a blank; using c2 in another part of the note creates a separate card for it.

Generate the full set

Starts from your own material

Upload PDFs, DOCX or PPTX files, plain text notes, or photos of pages. Text recognition reads the pages so the cards come from what you actually study.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards are scheduled so you review them just before you would forget, which keeps study time focused on the cards you miss.

Anki export on Plus

Plus includes Anki export, so the cards you generate can move into the Anki app you already use. The free plan studies in the browser.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, slide deck, document, text file, or image of your notes.

Review the generated cards

Check the flashcards for accuracy and edit any that need a clearer question or answer.

Study or export

Study with spaced repetition in the browser, or export to Anki on Plus.

A single-deck .apkg file is a zip archive that holds the card data and any media files such as images or audio. A .colpkg file is a full collection backup, which carries every deck along with scheduling history. Text imports are tab-separated by default, with one note per line and the front and back fields split by a tab character.

Header lines that begin with # tell Anki how to read a text file, such as the separator and whether fields contain HTML. Cloze notes use {{c1::text}} syntax to hide parts of a sentence, and each hidden part becomes its own card.

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Frequently asked questions

What separator should a tab-delimited Anki import file use?

Use a tab character between the front and back of each card, one card per line. Add a line such as #separator:tab at the top so Anki reads the separator correctly.

What is a cloze note in Anki?

A cloze note hides selected text in one sentence using {{c1::text}} syntax. Each cloze number produces its own card, which works well for definitions and facts with several key terms.

Does DeckOwl export to Anki?

Yes, Anki export is included with the Plus plan, which costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month. The free plan lets you study in the browser, but exports are not included.

Can I try DeckOwl before paying?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and needs no credit card to start. You can study the cards in the browser while you decide whether to upgrade.

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