> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sealsecurity.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sealsecurity.io/discovering/package-discovery-mode/imported-manifest.md).

# Imported manifest

In imported manifest mode, you give Seal a single file describing your dependencies. The Seal Platform parses the file once and uses that snapshot as the Seal Project's picture of your environment. The mode is well-suited to one-shot evaluation and to importing data from another tool, but it does not refresh.

## What it sees

Imported manifest mode sees whatever was in the file you uploaded, and nothing more. Supported file types include:

* **Dependency manifests** (`package-lock.json`, `requirements.txt`, `pom.xml`, `composer.lock`, and other ecosystem-specific files).
* **Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)** files in CycloneDX or SPDX format.
* **Snyk exports** (CSV from a Snyk project, or via the Snyk integration).

What imported manifest mode does not see:

* Anything that changes after the upload. The snapshot ages from the moment it is uploaded; subsequent commits, builds, or pulls do not refresh it.
* Anything not in the file. If the manifest only declares direct dependencies, Seal does not infer transitives.

## What Seal needs

The file. No SCM connection, no CLI integration, no artifact-server pull required.

## When to choose this mode

* You want a quick evaluation of Seal against an existing snapshot of your environment, without setting up an integration.
* A vendor or another team has provided you with an SBOM you need to assess.
* You have an existing Snyk export and want to bring its data into Seal.

For ongoing remediation, you will eventually want a higher-reliability mode (CLI or source code). Imported manifest mode is most useful as a starting point or for one-shot work.

## Setting it up

To upload a file, see [Importing manifests & SBOMs](/discovering/importing-manifests.md).

## Related

* [Importing manifests & SBOMs](/discovering/importing-manifests.md): the upload flows for each supported file type.
* [How Seal discovers your packages](/discovering/how-seal-discovers-your-packages.md): how imported manifest mode compares to the other three.