> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.meganova.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Exporting Characters as SOUL.md - URL: https://blog.meganova.ai/exporting-characters-as-soul-md/ - Published: 2026-02-23T09:37:51.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-16T15:34:05.000Z - Description: Git-Friendly, Human-Readable Character Definitions MegaNova Studio now supports exporting and importing characters in SOUL.md format — a human-readable Markdown file with YAML frontmatter that carries your full character definition. This format is git-friendly, easy to edit by hand, and - Author: MegaNova AI - Tags: #Import 2026-07-09 05:42 ## **Git-Friendly, Human-Readable Character Definitions** MegaNova Studio now supports exporting and importing characters in **SOUL.md format** — a human-readable Markdown file with YAML frontmatter that carries your full character definition. This format is git-friendly, easy to edit by hand, and compatible with OpenClaw workspaces. If you’ve ever tried version-controlling a JSON file or diffing a binary character card, you already know why this matters. --- ## **Why SOUL.md?** Character cards (PNG, JSON, CAK) are great for sharing on platforms like SillyTavern or Chub.ai. But they’re binary or deeply nested, which makes them hard to: - Review in pull requests - Track changes in Git - Edit cleanly in VS Code - Compare personality revisions over time SOUL.md solves that. It’s: - Human-readable — Markdown with structured headings - Git-friendly — clean diffs when you edit traits or scenarios - Round-trip safe — export from MegaNova, edit, and import back without losing metadata - OpenClaw compatible — works as an agent identity file Instead of thinking of your character as a “file export,” think of it as a structured identity document. --- ## **How to Export** ### **Step 1: Open Your Character** Navigate to any character inside your Space and open it in the editor. ![](https://blog.meganova.ai/content/images/2026/02/image-111.png) You’ll see the standard Studio layout with identity fields, personality, scenario, and dialogue sections. ### **Step 2: Click Export → SOUL.md** Click the **Export** button in the top toolbar. You’ll see multiple tabs: - JSON - CAK (.zip) - Character Card (PNG) - API Usage - Persona Only - **SOUL.md** Select the SOUL.md tab. ![](https://blog.meganova.ai/content/images/2026/02/image-112.png) ### **Step 3: Download** Click **Download SOUL.md**. You’ll receive a file named after your character, for example: ``` emberly.soul.md ``` That file contains everything needed to reconstruct your character. --- ## **What’s Inside a SOUL.md File?** A SOUL.md file has two parts: 1. YAML frontmatter 2. Markdown body This structure keeps it readable and machine-parseable at the same time. --- ### **YAML Frontmatter (Structured Metadata)** At the top of the file: ``` --- name: emberly description: >- Princess Lumina, a youthful warrior with striking, glowing orange eyes and a festive spirit. metadata: meganova_display_name: Emberly meganova_rating: sfw meganova_visibility: private meganova_tags: - Princess - Warrior - Fantasy meganova_model: meganova-ai/manta-flash-1.0 meganova_temperature: 0.7 meganova_blueprint: { ... } --- ``` The metadata.meganova\_\* fields preserve Studio-specific configuration for round-trip fidelity. If someone imports this file outside MegaNova, those fields are simply ignored. --- ### **Markdown Body (Human-Readable Sections)** Below the frontmatter, you’ll see structured headings: ``` # System Prompt Princess Lumina is the young warrior princess of Winterlight... ## Scenario You stand inside the Winterlight Palace... ## First Message Greetings, traveler... ## Example Dialogue {{user}}: Your Highness... {{char}}: *Emberly looks up...* ## Personality (Additional personality traits) ``` Every section is optional. If your character has no scenario or dialogue examples, those headings won’t appear. This makes the file clean and minimal. --- ## **How to Import** ### **From the Character Editor** Click **Import** on any character page and drop a .soul.md file. The parser automatically detects: - YAML frontmatter - Headed Markdown sections No manual mapping required. \[IMAGE HERE: Import modal with .soul.md file dropped and parsed preview visible\] --- ### **From a Space** Use **Import Character** in your Space view. Upload a .soul.md file and Studio will create a new character using the file contents. --- ### **Via API** You can import programmatically: ``` curl -X POST "https://studio-api.meganova.ai/characters/import/soul-md?space_id=YOUR_SPACE_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \ -F "file=@emberly.soul.md" ``` This makes SOUL.md perfect for automation workflows. --- ## **OpenClaw Compatibility** In OpenClaw, SOUL.md functions as the agent identity file located at: ``` ~/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md ``` OpenClaw reads the # System Prompt section as the agent’s persona definition. MegaNova’s SOUL.md format is a superset of this. | **Feature** | **OpenClaw** | **MegaNova** | | -------------------------- | ------------ | ----------------------- | | Free-form personality text | Yes | Yes | | Boundaries & vibe | Yes | Yes | | YAML metadata | Optional | Full character metadata | | Scenario section | No | Yes | | Example dialogue | No | Yes | | Tags, model, temperature | No | Yes | If you drop a MegaNova-exported SOUL.md into OpenClaw: - OpenClaw reads the # System Prompt - Ignores MegaNova metadata - The agent embodies the persona immediately If you import a plain OpenClaw SOUL.md into MegaNova: - The entire body becomes the system prompt - You can expand it into structured sections later --- ## **Comparison with Other Export Formats** | **Format** | **Best For** | **Git-Friendly** | **Editable** | **Round-Trip** | | -------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------ | -------------- | | JSON | API backup | Partial | Hard | Yes | | CAK (.zip) | Full archive | No | No | Yes | | Character Card (PNG) | SillyTavern | No | No | Yes | | SOUL.md | Version control, OpenClaw | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Persona Only | Quick copy | N/A | Yes | No | SOUL.md is the only format designed for developers and creators who treat characters as structured assets. --- ## **Practical Tips** - Version control your characters in a characters/ folder - Every personality tweak shows up as a clean Git diff - Edit in VS Code with YAML highlighting - Share changes in pull requests for review - Batch export using the /export/soul-md endpoint This turns character design into a maintainable workflow rather than a one-time upload. --- ## **Final Thought** SOUL.md changes how characters live outside the platform. Instead of being trapped in a UI or binary format, your characters become readable, editable, and versionable identity files. Open any character in MegaNova Studio. Click Export. Download SOUL.md. And treat your characters like real assets.