feat: add import/ directory for user database and config files

- Created import/db/ for custom SQL files
- Created import/conf/ for configuration overrides
- Added comprehensive README with usage examples
- Created example files for NPCs and playerbots config
- Updated import-database-files.sh to support new directory
- Maintains backward compatibility with database-import/
- Includes .gitignore to prevent accidental commits of sensitive data

import/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Ignore all files in import directories by default
+db/*
+conf/*
+
+# But keep the directory structure and examples
+!db/examples/
+!db/examples/**
+!conf/examples/
+!conf/examples/**
+!.gitignore
+!README.md

import/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+# Import Directory
+
+This directory allows you to easily import custom database files and configuration overrides into your AzerothCore server.
+
+## 📁 Directory Structure
+
+```
+import/
+├── db/          # Database SQL files to import
+└── conf/        # Configuration file overrides
+```
+
+## 🗄️ Database Import (`import/db/`)
+
+Place your custom SQL files here to import them into the database on server startup or deployment.
+
+### Supported Files
+
+- `auth.sql` - Authentication database updates
+- `characters.sql` - Character database updates  
+- `world.sql` - World database updates
+- `*.sql` - Any other SQL files will be imported automatically
+
+### Usage
+
+1. Place your SQL files in `import/db/`:
+   ```bash
+   cp my_custom_npcs.sql import/db/world.sql
+   cp my_accounts.sql import/db/auth.sql
+   ```
+
+2. Deploy or restart your server:
+   ```bash
+   ./scripts/bash/import-database-files.sh
+   ```
+
+### Example Files
+
+See `import/db/examples/` for sample SQL files.
+
+## ⚙️ Configuration Import (`import/conf/`)
+
+Place module configuration files here to override default settings.
+
+### Supported Files
+
+Any `.conf` file placed here will be copied to the server's config directory, overriding the default settings.
+
+### Common Configuration Files
+
+- `worldserver.conf` - Core world server settings
+- `authserver.conf` - Authentication server settings
+- `playerbots.conf` - Playerbot module settings
+- `AutoBalance.conf` - AutoBalance module settings
+- Any other module `.conf` file
+
+### Usage
+
+1. Create or copy a configuration file:
+   ```bash
+   cp storage/config/playerbots.conf.dist import/conf/playerbots.conf
+   ```
+
+2. Edit the file with your custom settings:
+   ```ini
+   AiPlayerbot.MinRandomBots = 100
+   AiPlayerbot.MaxRandomBots = 200
+   ```
+
+3. Apply the configuration:
+   ```bash
+   ./scripts/bash/configure-server.sh
+   ```
+
+   Or use the Python config tool for advanced merging:
+   ```bash
+   python3 scripts/python/apply-config.py
+   ```
+
+### Configuration Presets
+
+Instead of manual configuration, you can use presets from `config/server-overrides.conf`:
+
+```ini
+[worldserver.conf]
+Rate.XP.Kill = 2.0
+Rate.XP.Quest = 2.0
+
+[playerbots.conf]
+AiPlayerbot.MinRandomBots = 100
+AiPlayerbot.MaxRandomBots = 200
+```
+
+See `config/CONFIG_MANAGEMENT.md` for detailed preset documentation.
+
+## 🔄 Automated Import
+
+Both database and configuration imports are automatically handled during:
+
+- **Initial Setup**: `./setup.sh`
+- **Deployment**: `./deploy.sh`  
+- **Module Staging**: `./scripts/bash/stage-modules.sh`
+
+## 📝 Notes
+
+- Files in `import/` are preserved across deployments
+- SQL files are only imported once (tracked by filename hash)
+- Configuration files override defaults but don't replace them
+- Use `.gitignore` to keep sensitive files out of version control
+
+## 🚨 Best Practices
+
+1. **Backup First**: Always backup your database before importing SQL
+2. **Test Locally**: Test imports on a dev server first
+3. **Document Changes**: Add comments to your SQL files explaining what they do
+4. **Use Transactions**: Wrap large imports in transactions for safety
+5. **Version Control**: Keep track of what you've imported
+
+## 📚 Related Documentation
+
+- [Database Management](../docs/DATABASE_MANAGEMENT.md)
+- [Configuration Management](../config/CONFIG_MANAGEMENT.md)
+- [Module Management](../docs/ADVANCED.md#module-management)

import/conf/examples/playerbots.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Example Playerbots Configuration Override
+# Copy this file to import/conf/playerbots.conf and customize
+
+[worldserver]
+
+###################################################################################################
+# PLAYERBOTS SETTINGS
+###################################################################################################
+
+# Number of random bots
+AiPlayerbot.MinRandomBots = 100
+AiPlayerbot.MaxRandomBots = 200
+
+# Bot movement speed modifier (1.0 = normal speed)
+AiPlayerbot.BotActiveAlone = 1
+
+# Allow bots to form groups with players
+AiPlayerbot.AllowPlayerBots = 1
+
+# Bot gear update frequency (in seconds)
+AiPlayerbot.BotGearScoreUpdateTime = 600
+
+# Enable random bot login
+AiPlayerbot.EnableRandomBots = 1

import/db/examples/custom_npcs.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+-- Example: Add a custom NPC vendor
+-- This file demonstrates how to add a custom NPC to your world database
+
+-- Add the NPC template
+INSERT INTO `creature_template` (`entry`, `name`, `subname`, `minlevel`, `maxlevel`, `faction`, `npcflag`, `scale`, `unit_class`, `unit_flags`, `type`, `type_flags`, `InhabitType`, `RegenHealth`, `flags_extra`, `ScriptName`) 
+VALUES 
+(900000, 'Custom Vendor', 'Example NPC', 80, 80, 35, 128, 1, 1, 0, 7, 0, 3, 1, 2, '');
+
+-- Add the NPC spawn location (Stormwind Trade District)
+INSERT INTO `creature` (`guid`, `id1`, `map`, `position_x`, `position_y`, `position_z`, `orientation`, `spawntimesecs`, `MovementType`) 
+VALUES 
+(900000, 900000, 0, -8833.38, 628.628, 94.0066, 0.715585, 300, 0);
+
+-- Add some items to sell (optional)
+-- INSERT INTO `npc_vendor` (`entry`, `item`, `maxcount`, `incrtime`, `ExtendedCost`)
+-- VALUES 
+-- (900000, 2901, 0, 0, 0),  -- Mining Pick
+-- (900000, 5956, 0, 0, 0);  -- Blacksmith Hammer

scripts/bash/import-database-files.sh

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copy user database files or full backup archives from database-import/ to backup system
+# Copy user database files or full backup archives from import/db/ or database-import/ to backup system
 set -euo pipefail
 
 # Source environment variables
@@ -9,7 +9,15 @@ if [ -f ".env" ]; then
   set +a
 fi
 
-IMPORT_DIR="./database-import"
+# Support both new (import/db) and legacy (database-import) directories
+IMPORT_DIR_NEW="./import/db"
+IMPORT_DIR_LEGACY="./database-import"
+
+# Prefer new directory if it has files, otherwise fall back to legacy
+IMPORT_DIR="$IMPORT_DIR_NEW"
+if [ ! -d "$IMPORT_DIR" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A "$IMPORT_DIR" 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
+  IMPORT_DIR="$IMPORT_DIR_LEGACY"
+fi
 STORAGE_PATH="${STORAGE_PATH:-./storage}"
 STORAGE_PATH_LOCAL="${STORAGE_PATH_LOCAL:-./local-storage}"
 BACKUP_ROOT="${STORAGE_PATH}/backups"