To protect a Cheese Paper project, keep a separate copy of its local project files and make a Story Export when you need a portable manuscript. These are different outputs: the project files preserve the editable story structure and notes, while Story Export combines included scenes into one Markdown file.
What to keep: project files and exports
Cheese Paper stores projects on your computer. The developer describes the app as offline and says users who want to use projects on multiple computers must arrange syncing themselves. Its project files use Markdown for prose and TOML metadata for scene summaries and notes. Cheese Paper’s official site explains that files can also be edited outside the app, where changes are automatically detected and processed.
| What you keep | What it contains | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Project files | Individual Markdown and TOML-based files for the project’s prose, structure, and notes. | Preserving the editable project and continuing work in Cheese Paper or a text editor. |
| Story Export | A single Markdown file combining scenes that have not been excluded. | A portable manuscript for review or conversion. |
| Outline Export | A single notes-focused file without story prose. | Sharing planning material separately from the manuscript. |
The developer does not say that either export replaces a copy of the full project. Keep project files as well as any export you may need.
How to back up Cheese Paper project files
- Find the project files. Keep the project in a location you can identify on your computer.
- Make a separate copy. Use your computer’s file-copy or backup tools to copy the project files to another location. A separate physical destination, such as an external SSD, is one option; Cheese Paper does not prescribe or bundle backup hardware.
- Check the copy. Confirm that the copied files are present and readable. This is a practical check, not an official Cheese Paper restore procedure.
The official sources do not document a dedicated backup command, a prescribed schedule, or step-by-step restoration instructions. Do not assume syncing alone is an independent backup: the developer lists Syncthing, Nextcloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox as examples of services for syncing local project files between computers, but does not describe them as a built-in backup feature.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
How to export a story or outline
Export a manuscript
Use Story Export to create one Markdown file from the scenes that have not been excluded. The Flathub listing describes this as a combined story Markdown export. The Cheese Paper Flathub listing does not establish a current menu path, so consult the interface in your installed version for the exact control.
Export planning notes without the prose
Use Outline Export for a single file containing notes but not story prose. This is useful when you want to share planning material separately from the manuscript.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Convert an exported Markdown file
The exported story Markdown can be converted to formats such as EPUB, DOCX, HTML, or PDF with programs such as Pandoc, according to the Flathub listing. The developer’s FAQ names Pandoc as its preferred option for converting an exported .md file to EPUB. The sources describe conversion possibilities, not a guaranteed result for a particular manuscript; inspect formatting in the converted file before sharing or publishing it.
Cheese Paper’s developer also says smart quotes are converted to normal quotes while editing and added back on export.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Privacy and project ownership
The developer states that Cheese Paper is offline, has no telemetry, and does not collect users’ writing. The official site says the only network request is an update check at startup when update checking is enabled. It also describes the project as open source under GPLv3 and says users retain rights to work produced in Cheese Paper. These are the developer’s published statements; product details and network behavior can change with later releases.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
- Plug-and-play expandability
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
