---
title: Exports no longer always include ID and Handle
date: 2026-11-04
description: Exports no longer add ID and Handle when you clear them, and the export page warns you when no identifier column is selected.
tags: ["Exports","Altera CLI"]
categories: ["Changelog"]
url: https://www.getaltera.com/changelog/2026-11-04-exports-no-longer-always-include-id-and-handle/
---
Exports no longer always include `ID` and `Handle`. You can clear them and the other identifier columns, and your file has only the columns that you select.

### Improvements

- **Selected columns only** - new exports no longer add `ID`, `Handle`, `Variant ID`, `Variant SKU`, `Email`, or `Name` when you clear them.
- **Identifier warning** - the export page shows a one-line warning when an object has no identifier column selected.
- **Altera CLI** - `altera export create` also exports only the columns that you name.

### Heads-up

- **Importing the file back** - imports use the identifier column to find existing records, so keep one if you plan to import the file (see [How imports find existing Shopify products](https://support.getaltera.com/en/articles/17311859-how-imports-find-existing-shopify-products)).
- **Existing exports** - **Run again** and scheduled runs keep their current columns, so use **Duplicate** to create an export without them.
- **AI tools** - exports from connected AI tools still include an identifier column all the time.