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Dec 5, 2016 2:00 PM
#1

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Jun 2014
18
Well, I know XML is useful and what not, but excel have a hard time importing my list every time, this XML is a definitive no-no for it...

To quote myself from a recent post:
lavratti said:
Yeah, i know its possible, excel does import the XML too, it's just that its a mess to re-arrange stuff that could be given ready for us.

The issue I want solved is not how to make some software open the XML or how to convert it to something more useful, but why not make things a little easier on non power-users or someone that just whats to save the file somewhere on their desktop and double click on it to open their anime/manga list.

But, that's why we have CSV, comma separated values, very, very useful... I think you should make that an option in exporting, it's much better than tinkering with a XML file.

Btw, if you guys can program in python, I made a some basic code that converts the XML into an CVS

I can program in PHP, Js if needed so... If I can help in anything, call me, I'm on vacation for some time and would love to do something

Edit: Now the script has a GUI

The code is here https://github.com/lavratti/MAL_to_csv/blob/master/import_gui.py
lavrattiDec 7, 2016 12:57 PM
Dec 5, 2016 2:03 PM
#2

Online
Jan 2009
102024
great suggestion

you have my full support on this one since the main benefit of CSV is its simplicity and easily can be imported on a lot of other softwares

i hope MAL developers will do this
Dec 5, 2016 2:08 PM
#3

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Feb 2015
13862
Wow... I don't know about this shit, but that dem look tasty...

Why didn't you create a poll or a quick survey dude?

lavratti said:
yeah, and its a very easy thing to do, if you want i can show you how to


What other stuff can it do other than importing stuff?
Dec 5, 2016 2:11 PM
#4

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Jun 2014
18
as of now, only read a xml and output a csv, but i'm working on in (actually, right now)
Dec 5, 2016 2:15 PM
#5

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Jan 2009
102024
_Ako_ said:

lavratti said:
yeah, and its a very easy thing to do, if you want i can show you how to


What other stuff can it do other than importing stuff?


another benefit is that you can edit a CSV file on a plain text editor like notepad, because all data are just separated by commas

here are an example content of a CSV file

Title, Episodes, Score
Naruto, 100, 8
Bleach, 200, 6
Clannad, 25, 9
Dec 5, 2016 2:16 PM
#6

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Jun 2014
18
j0x said:
_Ako_ said:



What other stuff can it do other than importing stuff?


another benefit is that you can edit a CSV file on a plain text editor like notepad, because all data are just separated by commas

here are an example content of a CSV file

Title, Episodes, Score
Naruto, 100, 8
Bleach, 200, 6
Clannad, 25, 9


here's some real data from my list

31646 ,3-gatsu no Lion ,TV ,23 ,0 ,0 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,Watching ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,

32998 ,91 Days ,TV ,12 ,0 ,12 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,9 ,None ,Hard Drive ,Completed ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,

12291 ,Acchi Kocchi (TV) ,TV ,12 ,0 ,12 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,8 ,None ,Hard Drive ,Completed ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,
Dec 5, 2016 2:18 PM
#7

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Feb 2015
13862
j0x said:
_Ako_ said:



What other stuff can it do other than importing stuff?


another benefit is that you can edit a CSV file on a plain text editor like notepad, because all data are just separated by commas

here are an example content of a CSV file

Title, Episodes, Score
Naruto, 100, 8
Bleach, 200, 6
Clannad, 25, 9


I still don't get it but okay... Looks much easier to understand, than just a bunch of nonsensical, mathematical symbols and stuff unrelated to English... xD


lavratti said:
j0x said:


another benefit is that you can edit a CSV file on a plain text editor like notepad, because all data are just separated by commas

here are an example content of a CSV file

Title, Episodes, Score
Naruto, 100, 8
Bleach, 200, 6
Clannad, 25, 9


here's some real data from my list

31646 ,3-gatsu no Lion ,TV ,23 ,0 ,0 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,Watching ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,

32998 ,91 Days ,TV ,12 ,0 ,12 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,9 ,None ,Hard Drive ,Completed ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,

12291 ,Acchi Kocchi (TV) ,TV ,12 ,0 ,12 ,0000-00-00 ,0000-00-00 ,None ,8 ,None ,Hard Drive ,Completed ,None ,0 ,None ,None ,0 ,0 ,0 ,


What's with the
0000000000


Does that do something very delicious?
Dec 5, 2016 2:21 PM
#8

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Jun 2014
18
_Ako_ said:

What's with the
0000000000

Does that do something very delicious?


It's the fields: my_times_watched, my_rewatching, dates, etc...
I'll be adding headers to the csv ASAP
Dec 5, 2016 2:23 PM
#9

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Feb 2015
13862
lavratti said:
_Ako_ said:


What's with the


Does that do something very delicious?


It's the fields: my_times_watched,my_rewatching,etc
I'll be adding headers to the csv ASAP


This is interesting... Mhhh... I'm not so quite familiar with this, but you can ask some random Forum Mod/Mod/Admin/Someone who knows this shit/Someone who knows MAL and just ask their opinion about this. That's what I'll do.

Will this be hard to do for the whole server, will this affect something? What will this affect other than "efficiency"?
Dec 5, 2016 2:30 PM

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Jan 2009
102024
_Ako_ said:

Will this be hard to do for the whole server, will this affect something? What will this affect other than "efficiency"?


in terms of computing resources, CSV are much cheaper to compute than XML, even with human eyes alone you can see how easily you can read the CSV files

the only reason XML is preferred is when the data table is more complex since CSV is just for simple data tables
Dec 5, 2016 2:33 PM

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Feb 2015
13862
j0x said:
_Ako_ said:

Will this be hard to do for the whole server, will this affect something? What will this affect other than "efficiency"?


in terms of computing resources, CSV are much cheaper to compute than XML, even with human eyes alone you can see how easily you can read the CSV files

the only reason XML is preferred is when the data table is more complex since CSV is just for simple data tables


Well, it seems that MAL is pretty much "complicated" enough to use XML, instead of CSV, but I'm sure you can use both right senpai?

Mhhh... So, let's just assume that this has been implemented, will the server be shut-down for some maintenance or some sort?
Dec 5, 2016 2:38 PM

Online
Jan 2009
102024
_Ako_ said:
j0x said:


in terms of computing resources, CSV are much cheaper to compute than XML, even with human eyes alone you can see how easily you can read the CSV files

the only reason XML is preferred is when the data table is more complex since CSV is just for simple data tables


Well, it seems that MAL is pretty much "complicated" enough to use XML, instead of CSV, but I'm sure you can use both right senpai?

Mhhh... So, let's just assume that this has been implemented, will the server be shut-down for some maintenance or some sort?


nah at the moment MAL tables of our anime and manga list are totally compatible with CSV, unless MAL developers will add more table features making it a complex table so if that happens then XML is still preferred

and no, CSV will not stress the servers more, in fact it will speed up things more or less
Dec 5, 2016 2:39 PM

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Feb 2015
13862
j0x said:
_Ako_ said:


Well, it seems that MAL is pretty much "complicated" enough to use XML, instead of CSV, but I'm sure you can use both right senpai?

Mhhh... So, let's just assume that this has been implemented, will the server be shut-down for some maintenance or some sort?


nah at the moment MAL tables of our anime and manga list are totally compatible with CSV, unless MAL developers will add more table features making it a complex table so if that happens then XML is still preferred

and no, CSV will not stress the servers more, in fact it will speed up things more or less


In short, nothing will happen, but will benefit something... Interesting... Probably... xD
Dec 5, 2016 2:43 PM

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Jun 2014
18
well, for a read-only access to your list, a csv is enough 99.99% of times, u just wont be able to follow links or re-import with ease....

here's an example of data that i outputted and saved into a csv file
lavrattiDec 5, 2016 8:13 PM
Dec 5, 2016 2:48 PM

Online
Jan 2009
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lavratti said:
well, for a read-only access to your list, a csv is enough 99.99% of times, u just wont be able to follow links or re-import with ease....

here's an example of code that i out putted and saved into a csv file


it will be better if there are column headers on that though
Dec 5, 2016 2:59 PM

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Jun 2014
18
About the headers... just did them


The circled cells are my own list's fault sry for not completing it so well :P

... Steis;gate is giving me some trouble Done!
...... and some other fields Done!
lavrattiDec 5, 2016 3:10 PM
Dec 7, 2016 12:31 PM

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Dec 2009
1591
xsl, http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xsl_intro.asp
In Open Office you can use xslt filter to import xml to it's spreadsheet.
Need some time to learn though.

Actually libreOffice has got an xml importer
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10534
bottleDec 7, 2016 12:37 PM
Dec 7, 2016 12:52 PM

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Jun 2014
18
Yeah, i know its possible, excel does import the XML too, it's just that its a mess to re-arrange stuff that could be given ready for us.

The issue I want solved is not how to make some software open the XML or how to convert it to something more useful, but why not make things a little easier on non power-users or someone that just whats to save the file somewhere on their desktop and double click on it to open their anime/manga list.
Dec 31, 2024 5:50 PM

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Jan 2009
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bumps
Jan 1, 8:07 AM

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I have a MAL API that gets userlists in JSON format, not hard to make a php page convert that into CSV


https://shaggyze.website/userlist/
Jan 1, 6:51 PM

Online
Jan 2009
102024
Reply to ShaggyZE
I have a MAL API that gets userlists in JSON format, not hard to make a php page convert that into CSV


https://shaggyze.website/userlist/
@ShaggyZE this is cool i hope mal devs take notes of this and implement it already on the official site
Jan 1, 6:57 PM

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May 2010
1090
Reply to deg
@ShaggyZE this is cool i hope mal devs take notes of this and implement it already on the official site
@deg I may improve it in next week or two to export xml, dark mode, and have genre/status support for custom/minimal lists, and some outputs need formatted better, but I just threw it together real quick with AI, MAL will probably never add it as it won't make them any money.
Jan 1, 6:57 PM

Online
Jan 2009
102024
Reply to ShaggyZE
@deg I may improve it in next week or two to export xml, dark mode, and have genre/status support for custom/minimal lists, and some outputs need formatted better, but I just threw it together real quick with AI, MAL will probably never add it as it won't make them any money.
@ShaggyZE i see i might use it sometime

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