Why would I need to transfer data?

Some programs or mishandled patches have a chance to corrupt your ROM. Without a backup, you have to transfer data to a new ROM.

How do I make backups?

You can copy and paste your ROM away from where you might accidentally modify it - move it to, for example, an external drive or Dropbox. Alternatively, you can rely on Lunar Magic's automatic sysLMRestore feature, which is turned on by default. You need a clean SMW ROM to use this feature. sysLMRestore can be configured and disabled in Options > Restore Options.

I don't have a backup. How do I transfer all my work in Lunar Magic?

To save most of your ROM data to files to transfer to a new ROM:

1. Press to make a Map16 file
2. Press and to extract all graphics
3. Go to File > Palettes > Extract Shared Palettes from ROM and save the palettes
4. Go to File > Levels > Export Multiple Levels to Files and save the levels to a folder

Then, import them in a clean ROM or base ROM.

What's the difference between a clean ROM and a base ROM?

Clean ROMs are unmodified copies of the original. A base ROM would have many of your basic, functional resources (e.g. patches, sprites) already inserted. It is recommended to have both.

How do I transfer the overworld?

Open the Overworld Editor with the old ROM, then open the new ROM in same Lunar Magic window. Click back onto the Overworld Editor but do not reload the map. Save the overworld.

How do I transfer credits and the title screen?

With the same exact approach as above while editing the title screen/credits.

I lost my graphics changes when I was trying to transfer everything over!

You must have extracted the graphics from the new ROM in the same directory as the ROM you're transferring everything from. It's a good idea to have a backup ROM where you've already converted graphics to extracted the graphics and reinserted graphics converting them to 4bpp, and a backup of your graphics.