Export Smart List to CBL

[LegendaryLass]

With the expansion of Kavita's server to really support CBLs in a fantastic way, I was a bit disappointed to learn that exporting smart lists to CBL from CRCE, though possible as a context menu option, exports an empty list. Can this be changed/fixed to export the smart list's current contents AND in the order of the current group/stack/sort settings for that list? (obviously it can't group and stack within the CBL, but the ordering options should be factored in along with the current sorting)

[maforget]

It already exists. Didn't know myself until I checked the code. But I've never really used *.cbl files.

But before I explain how, smart lists exports aren't empty, they just contain different data. When you export a smart list the it contains the "Matchers" (like Publisher is "Le Lombard") that are used to create that smart list. So it might not import the list of books,, but it does import the rules to re-create that smart list. Changing that would break existing functionality of sharing smart list.

If when exporting you change the save as type drop-down to ComicRack Reading List (Single Entries) (*.cbl) instead it will export the list of books like you wanted. Problem will probably be the order they are in, since they export based on their position (like regular lists) and for smart lists that changes on every refresh since they are added in parallel so the order can change depending on how your CPU might be feeling. Not sure how it does it, but I did a couple of Refresh (F5) and it arrived on the correct Series order a couple of times.

A change could be to add the sorting from the view to the list when exporting like you suggested, not sure how possible that is without having checked. Exporting the cbl and re-importing it to be able to manually re-arrange them is possible to do, but seems annoying. Maybe a feature to convert a smart list to a regular lists?

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Edit, right now the "easy" way to export it in the right order seems to be.

1. Export smart list as ComicRack Reading List (Single Entries) (*.cbl)
2. Import that list in a folder like Temporary Lists
3. Sort by Series (or any other way you want to sort)
4. Right-Click on a book -> Edit List -> Apply current Order
5. Re-export the list, now in the current order

[LegendaryLass]

yeah it's not going to be super helpful for me to multiply the number of lists I want to export with multiple clicks per list. I would definitely want to see it examine the list's current settings and sort the collected books that way. Otherwise I'll probably have to go with scripting something myself.
thanks for the info on the alt way to save but honestly, that's also more clicks-per. an alternative that would be have "Export List as CBL" and "Export Smarlist Criteria" as separate CBLs maybe? or even a folder-level "export all lists" (then I wouldn't mind having to pick a different "save As" drop down. that does introduce the question of nested lists... ideally it may be nice to "flatten" the folder names as prepends onto the script filename/title. like such:
[folder] Superman lists
---[list] Silver Age
---[list] Crisis
---[folder] Post-Crisis
------[list] John Byrne

...would produce these lists (filename and title):
Silver Age
Crisis
Post-Crisis-John Byrne

honestly, I used to beg cYo to add hooks into the scripting for the folder/list structures, but that was a lift even for him so I don't expect miracles.

[maforget]

I've added sorting for smart lists exports.

I've done some checking, exporting a folder is actually very easy. Just switching the folders type to a ShareableComicListItem, makes it exportable. It also has some other implications.

Such as:

• Exporting Folders as CBL (only single entries for now)
• Copy / Pasting Folders or Ctrl dragging them will now copy the folder and all it's children lists in 1 shot.
• You can now select folders to be shared using the server.
• Folders can now be added to the Quick Open.
• Probably more ...

Haven't seen any bugs doing the change. Doing so exports the folder as a single entry list. I've implemented your suggestion, although it doesn't flatten the hierarchy, it keeps it. Right now when exporting a folder will always exports as single entries.

For the multiples entries for export options, I don't want to change the behavior of the program too much or add too much clutter. I would rater add a dialog or some kind of option instead. So the current way of choosing the type seems fine even if not really obvious. But with being able to export a full folder itself as single entries, makes it so that you can just export a folder and be done.

Still need to figure out a way (for the user to specify) that would like to export a folder as smart lists and a way to add back some may to export a folder as a single list. But since exporting a folder is new that last one doesn't bother me as much.

[LegendaryLass]

That's all GREAT!! thanks so much! i will be eagerly awaiting the nightly to test

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On Sat, Aug 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM maforget ***@***.***> wrote: I've added sorting for smart lists exports. I've done some checking, exporting a folder is actually very easy. Just switching the folders type to a ShareableComicListItem, makes it exportable. It also has some other implications. Such as: - Exporting Folders as CBL (only single entries for now) - Copy / Pasting Folders or Ctrl dragging them will now copy the folder and all it's children lists in 1 shot. - You can now select folders to be shared using the server. - Folders can now be added to the Quick Open. - Probably more ... Haven't seen any bugs doing the change. Doing so exports the folder as a single entry list. I've implemented your suggestion, although it doesn't flatten the hierarchy, it keeps it. Right now when exporting a folder will always exports as single entries. For the multiples entries for export options, I don't want to change the behavior of the program too much or add too much clutter. I would rater add a dialog or some kind of option instead. So the current way of choosing the type seems fine even if not really obvious. But with being able to export a full folder itself as single entries, makes it so that you can just export a folder and be done. Still need to figure out a way that would export a folder as smart lists and a way to add back some may to export a folder as a single list. But since exporting a folder is new that last one doesn't bother me as much. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#192 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A5DSAFNAFD6FAG7A3C2NHQL3N6KNXAVCNFSM6AAAAACD7XYPQOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTIMJSHA4DAMA> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[maforget]

Just pushed the update

[LegendaryLass]

Awesome, thanks for the update!

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On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM maforget ***@***.***> wrote: Just pushed the update — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#192 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A5DSAFKNRCWQU75XVPQ4HOT3QXTWZAVCNFSM6AAAAACD7XYPQOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTIMRYHA4TMOI> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[LegendaryLass]

UH. MAZING. thank you!!! this saves me SO MUCH TIME.

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On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 3:44 PM Danielle Mendus ***@***.***> wrote: Awesome, thanks for the update! On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM maforget ***@***.***> wrote: > Just pushed the update > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <#192 (reply in thread)>, > or unsubscribe > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A5DSAFKNRCWQU75XVPQ4HOT3QXTWZAVCNFSM6AAAAACD7XYPQOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTIMRYHA4TMOI> > . > You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: > ***@***.***> >