Export a Bookmark List

Bookmark Buddy can export a bookmark list as Internet Explorer favorites, a Netscape/Mozilla bookmark file, an Opera Hotlist or a URL Organizer URL list:

To export to Netscape, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox or Yahoo Toolbar, use the Netscape bookmarks template.

Note that whilst exporting to MSN Explorer works in most cases, there appears to be a limit on the number of bookmarks MSN Explorer can hold. When the limit is exceeded, the entire bookmark list is erased by MSN Explorer. Since the limit appears to be above 1,000 bookmarks it should affect very few people.

Templates

Bookmark Buddy uses templates for exporting (except for Internet Explorer favorites and Start Menu shortcuts, which are stored as special Windows files). All templates are stored in a folder called Templates within the Bookmark Buddy program folder (usually C:\Program Files\Bookmark Buddy).

The templates are text files that may be edited and created using any text editor, such as Notepad. The format is simple yet powerful and is fully documented in the template called Blank (documented). When you are familiar with the formatting, you may want to adjust the existing templates and create new ones. As long as they are correctly formatted and saved in the Templates folder, Bookmark Buddy will automatically update the list of available export formats in the Export Bookmark List dialog window.

If you modify an existing template, it is a good idea to give it a new file name so that you can’t accidentally overwrite it when you install an update to Bookmark Buddy (the installer does ask first, but just in case you accidentally press the wrong button!) In any case be sure to keep a backup of your custom templates.

Merging bookmark collections

Internet Explorer & Start Menu: Each exported shortcut is saved with the following path name relative to the folder you select for export: <Category title>\<Subcategory title>\<bookmark title>. Beware of overwriting existing favorites/shortcuts if you export your bookmark list into an existing Internet Explorer Favorites folder. You may want to erase all your favorites/shortcuts before you export.

Opera: To merge your bookmarks with an existing Hotlist, export your bookmarks to a new Hotlist file. Then in Opera, right-click on the Hotlist window and select Insert File from the File menu, and select the exported Hotlist file. Note that Opera will not detect duplicate bookmarks if there are any.

Other formats: To merge your bookmarks with bookmark lists in other formats, you should import all the bookmarks into a single bookmark list in Bookmark Buddy, then export the combined list in whatever format you want.

See also: