There is a round X3 button at the top of the adjustment user interface. If you click there all your settings are safed into the original x3f-file. No need for sidecars ;-)
The export function comes in if you want to transfer your presets to another computer. You could even share your settings with somebody else. Look at my presets:
<Color>
<Custom>
<Settings>
<Setting Name="sbcolor 1">
<Tone Blackness="-2,00" Contrast="1,00" Exposure="-1,00" Highlight="1,00" Saturation="0,30" Sharpness="0,70" FillLight="1,00"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="1,000000" ColorAdjustG="0,912011" ColorAdjustB="0,954993"/>
<WhiteBalance WhiteBalance="6"/>
</Setting>
<Setting Name="sbcolor 2">
<Tone Blackness="-2,00" Contrast="2,00" Exposure="-1,00" Highlight="0,50" Saturation="-0,10" Sharpness="1,50" FillLight="1,00"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="0,616595" ColorAdjustG="0,831764" ColorAdjustB="1,000000"/>
<WhiteBalance WhiteBalance="6"/>
</Setting>
<Setting Name="sb bw 1">
<Tone Blackness="-2,00" Contrast="2,00" Exposure="-1,00" Highlight="0,50" Saturation="-2,00" Sharpness="1,50" FillLight="1,00"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="1,000000" ColorAdjustG="0,912011" ColorAdjustB="0,954993"/>
<WhiteBalance WhiteBalance="4"/>
</Setting>
<Setting Name="bw 2">
<Tone Blackness="-0,80" Contrast="0,60" Exposure="-0,90" Highlight="0,40" Saturation="-2,00" Sharpness="-2,00" FillLight="1,40"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="0,093325" ColorAdjustG="0,309030" ColorAdjustB="1,000000"/>
<WhiteBalance WhiteBalance="3"/>
</Setting>
<Setting Name="bw3">
<Tone Blackness="-2,00" Contrast="1,80" Exposure="-1,00" Highlight="0,50" Saturation="-2,00" Sharpness="-2,00" FillLight="1,20"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="0,891251" ColorAdjustG="0,812831" ColorAdjustB="1,000000"/>
<WhiteBalance WhiteBalance="3"/>
</Setting>
</Settings>
</Custom>
</Color>
<BnW>
<Custom>
<Settings>
<Setting Name="hardcontrast1">
<Tone Blackness="-1,60" Contrast="0,30" Exposure="-0,20" Highlight="-0,80" Sharpness="0,80" FillLight="0,30"/>
<Color ColorAdjustR="0,000000" ColorAdjustG="0,180000" ColorAdjustB="0,820000"/>
<FilmGrain State="ON" Size="60" Roughness="60"/>
</Setting>
</Settings>
</Custom>
</BnW>
You can safe this as setting.xml (or use the attached file) and use the import function of SPP. My settings will be appended to your ones.
Uwe 8-)