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updatedAt: 2026-10-05T09:28:38.000Z
agentTools:
projectIndex: https://documentation.picsellia.com/llms.txt
---
# Annotation import and export
Picsellia allows you to create your `Annotation` by importing your own *Annotation file* on an existing `DatasetVersion`.
## 1. *Annotation formats*
Picsellia natively handles the following *Annotation formats*:
* COCO
* Pascal VOC
* YOLO
* ViaLabel
## 2. Import *Annotation files*
From the *Assets overview*, you can click on *Annotations > Import* to open the *Annotation files* import modal.
From this modal, you must indicate:
* The format of the *Annotation file*
* The files containing `Annotation` related to the images composing the current `DatasetVersion`.
* The expected behavior if the `DatasetVersion` already contains `Annotation` created by your user (keep existing `Annotation`, replace with new `Annotation`, concatenate new and existing `Annotation`)
If the files contain `Annotation` of images that are not part of the `DatasetVersion`, Picsellia will simply ignore them and only import the `Annotation` related to images that are part of the current `DatasetVersion`.
Then you just need to click on *Import* and the *Annotation* will be created on your `DatasetVersion`. You can now visualize through the *Assets overview* the `Annotation`.
Please note that the import of annotations in COCO format also supports the Text field related to each box, the `Asset Attribute`, and the `Shape Attributes`.
### No need to setup `DatasetVersion` _Version Type_ and `Labelmap`
As the _Version Type_ and the `Labelmap` are contained in the _Annotation files_, they will be automatically setup on your Picsellia `DatasetVersion` during the import. For sure, after the import you can still create manually additional `Label`.
## 3. Edit `Annotation`
Once imported the `Annotation` can still be modified directly on Picsellia using the integrated *Annotation Tool*.
*Annotation Tool* documentation is available [here](https://documentation.picsellia.com/docs/dataset-annotation-tool).
## 4. Export `Annotation`
At any moment, you can export the `Annotation` of all the `Asset` of an annotated `DatasetVersion`. You can choose the format of the `Annotation` you are about to export among COCO, Pascal VOC, YOLO, and ViaLabel.
To do so, you can click on *Annotations* and choose the *Annotation format*. Picsellia prepares the file as a `Job` and downloads it on your machine as soon as it is ready — right away when the same export has already been prepared. The preparation can take several seconds depending on the `DatasetVersion` size so please be patient, but a `DatasetVersion` of any size can be exported this way, including one holding more than 100,000 `Asset`.
In case an `Asset` has more than one `Annotation`, it is the one displayed in the *Details view* that will be exported, meaning either the one in status *Accepted* or the most recently updated one.
### Personalize the _Annotation export_
For more customization in the export of `Annotation`, you can use the [Python SDK](https://documentation.picsellia.com/reference/client)
## 5. Duplicate `Annotation`
In case an `Annotation` has to be reproduced on all the unannotated `Asset` of a `DatasetVersion`, you can use the *Duplicate* button.
To do it properly, you need to select the annotated `Asset` of your `DatasetVersion`, for which the `Annotation` has to be duplicated and click on *Duplicate*. A modal will open; in this one, you just need to click on *Duplicate* as shown above.
Automatically, all the `Asset` of the current `DatasetVersion` that doesn't have `Annotation` yet will get the `Annotation` of the selected `Asset`. It means that the existing `Annotation` won't be overwritten.