Move from Trello to Nextcloud Deck
one board at a time.
Deck's Trello importer runs on the server. Here is the export, the import command, and what to check afterwards.
An imported board is an ordinary Deck board, here in Deckloud on iPhone.
Before you start
Export each Trello board as JSON, map Trello members to Nextcloud users in a config file, and run occ deck:import on the server. Lists become stacks, cards keep labels, due dates, and comments, and Power-Ups stay behind.
The importer has no button in the Deck web app, and the Import board item in its sidebar reads only Deck's own JSON. Run it with occ on the Nextcloud server, or ask your admin or hosting provider. Scripts can reach it through Deck's REST API.
First create a Nextcloud account for each Trello member you want to keep. Cards can only go to existing users, and other people's comments are credited to the board owner.
Start with one active board, and keep it on Trello until you have compared the two.
What comes across
- Lists become stacks in the same order. Archived lists arrive as deleted stacks.
- Cards keep title, description, due date, labels, and archived state.
- Checklists become Markdown task lists in the description.
- Comments keep their date. One over 1000 characters becomes an attached Markdown file.
- Attachments stay on Trello, linked in a table at the end of each description.
Steps
Import a Trello board in five steps
01
Export the board from Trello
In Trello, open the board menu, choose Print, export, and share, then Export as JSON. Save it as trello-board.json. Every Trello plan can do this.
02
Match Trello members to Nextcloud users
List each Trello username with the Nextcloud user ID that replaces it, and create missing accounts.
03
Write the config file
owner is the Nextcloud user who owns the board, and color is its color as six hex digits. uidRelation maps Trello usernames to Nextcloud user IDs. Save it as config.json.
{
"owner": "anna",
"color": "0082c9",
"uidRelation": {
"anna_trello": "anna",
"ben_trello": "ben"
}
}04
Run the import on the server
Put both files in the Nextcloud folder, or use full paths. Run occ there as the web server user, usually www-data on Debian and Ubuntu. -v prints progress.
sudo -u www-data php occ deck:import --system=TrelloJson --config=config.json trello-board.json -v05
Check the board and fix sharing
Compare stacks, labels, and due dates with Trello in the Deck web app. Mapped members join read-only, so turn on Can edit in the Sharing tab for everyone who works on the board.
Details
What changes compared to Trello
Plan for the parts that do not move.
01
Power-Ups and Butler do not move
Deck has no plugin marketplace or built-in automation. Rebuild the rules you need with Nextcloud Flow or n8n, or drop them.
02
Large boards need the API importer
A Trello JSON export holds only the 1000 most recent actions, comments included. For older, busy boards, use --system=TrelloApi with a Trello API key, token, and board ID in the config.
03
Someone runs the server
Trello is hosted for you. Deck is as reliable as the Nextcloud that someone updates, backs up, and monitors.
04
Your data stays on your server
Boards, comments, and new attachments stay on your Nextcloud, shared with your users, groups, and Teams. Deck has no per-user fee.
05
Where Deckloud fits
Deckloud shows imported boards like any other after you sign in. Its own board import reads Deck JSON, not Trello files.