Export Using Themes (pro)

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Don't have a Pro Licence? You can still Export to Figma using Token Sets

The allows groups of Token Sets to work together to perform various tasks. When you attach your Tokens to Styles and Variables by Exporting to Figma from Themes, there are some powerful workflow advantages:

Choose which Themes are attached to Styles and Variables.
- Styles can have Variable references.
- Variable collections with mode switching is supported.
Separate Figma Files can have Styles and Variables attached to different Themes.
- Also known as Non-local Variable references

How it works

Once you have created your Themes (pro) in the plugin, select the Styles & Variables Button from the Tokens page.

Choose the Export Styles & Variables option.

The Export Options menu will open and allow you to choose which actions the plugin should perform on the Tokens included in your export:

Export your Tokens as Variables, Styles or both.
Choose any Style export specific settings.
Choose any update specific settings.

Once you confirm your Options, you'll see the Export as Themes or Token Sets page. If you have a Pro licence for Tokens Studio, you'll be brought directly to the Themes page.

The Themes page is is where you choose which Themes are included in your export.

If needed, you can review or modify your Options before you Export by selecting the Options button at the bottom of the plugin to open the menu.

Once you select the Export to Figma button, the Plugin will apply your Export Options to all compatible Tokens included in the Export.

Each Theme Group will be mapped to a Variable Collection

If you've selected to Export your Themes as Variables, each Theme Group is mapped to a Variable Collection with the same name.

Each Theme within the Group is mapped to a Variable Mode with the same name.

Select Themes to Export

The Export from Themes page will display a list of all Themes you've already created.

If you don't see any Themes listed, (the example in the image below on the left) you'll need to create a Theme to complete the export.

To select which Themes to include in the Export, select the checkmark to the left of the Theme name. By default, all checkmarks are selected to be included for export.

Checkmark visible will be exported
Empty checkbox will not be exported.

Exporting as Styles?

Try exporting one Theme at a time.

This reduces the complexity of the export and reduces unexpected results.

If needed, you can review or modify your Options before you Export by selecting the Options button at the bottom of the plugin to open the menu.

Once you select the Export to Figma button, the Plugin will apply your Export Options to all compatible Tokens included in the Export.

Export as Variables feedback messages

When exporting Variables, you'll see a feedback message at the bottom of your Figma file depending on your configuration.

If you are creating new Collections of Variables or adding Variables within an existing collection, the message will show a count of what was created (right side of the image below).
If you are updating existing Variables, the message will tell you that no Variables were created, but will not tell you that Variables were changed (left side of the image below).

Error messages

It's also common to see a red message at the bottom of your file, indicating an error in the export.

Your Figma plan only allows for the creation of 1 mode

Your Figma plan only allows for the creation of 1 mode message will appear if:

You have a Free Figma plan.
The Figma file is in your Drafts instead of a Project.

The image below shows how to tell if your file is in your Drafts.

Move the file to a Figma project then Export to Figma as Variables again to create your other modes.

Your Figma plan only allows the creation of 4 modes

Your Figma plan only allows the creation of 4 modes message will appear if you have 5 or more Themes within your Theme Group.

The Plugin will export the first 4 Themes to your Variable collection (starting at the top of the Themes list) and skip the rest.

In the image below on the left, there are 5 Themes within the brands Theme Group, and on the right, the first 4 Themes have been created as modes within a Variable collection in Figma called brands.

The 5th Theme in our list at the bottom called black-berry was not exported.

Check your exported Styles and Variables

Once your Export has finished, check to ensure you have the output to Figma you expected. This depends on the combination of the Export Options and the Themes you selected to export.

Recall that each Export is limited to the Tokens in the Themes selected.

This means you may have to repeat the Export to Figma process with different configurations to update all of your Styles and Variables.

If you have unexpected results, you can select a guide below for more details that are helpful in troubleshooting.