A simple convertor in Python to take the backup.json file that is supplied by LinkWarden on clicking export or through the migration API and convert it into the Netscape bookmark HTML format which is supported by most other major bookmarking, read-it-later and link-saving applications

LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py

import json
import logging
from datetime import datetime

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(asctime)s %(message)s')

def date_to_timestamp(date_str):
    try:
        dt = datetime.fromisoformat(date_str.replace('Z', '+00:00'))
        return int(dt.timestamp())
    except ValueError as e:
        logging.warning(f'Error converting date: {e}')
        return None

def build_collection_tree(collections):
    # Create a dictionary mapping collection IDs to collections with empty children arrays
    id_to_collection = {col['id']: {**col, 'children': []} for col in collections}
    root_collections = []

    # First pass: add collections to their parent's children array
    for col in id_to_collection.values():
        parent_id = col.get('parentId')
        if parent_id and parent_id in id_to_collection:
            id_to_collection[parent_id]['children'].append(col)
        else:
            root_collections.append(col)

    return root_collections

def render_collection(collection):
    html = []
    html.append(f'<DT><H3>{collection["name"]}</H3>')
    html.append('<DL><p>')

    # Add links
    for link in collection.get('links', []):
        try:
            html.append(
                f'    <DT><A HREF="{link["url"]}">{link["name"]}</A>'
            )
        except KeyError as e:
            logging.warning(f'Missing key in link: {e}')
        except Exception as e:
            logging.warning(f'Error processing link: {e}')
    
    # Recursively add children collections
    for child in collection.get('children', []):
        html.append(render_collection(child))

    html.append('</DL><p>')
    return '\n'.join(html)

def json_to_netscape_html(json_data):
    html_output = [
        '<!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>',
        '<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=UTF-8">',
        '<TITLE>Bookmarks</TITLE>',
        '<H1>Bookmarks</H1>'
    ]

    collections = json_data.get('collections', [])
    tree = build_collection_tree(collections)

    for collection in tree:
        html_output.append(render_collection(collection))
    
    return '\n'.join(html_output)

# Main
with open('backup.json', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
    json_data = json.load(file)

html_content = json_to_netscape_html(json_data)

with open('bookmarks.html', 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
    file.write(html_content)

print("NetScape HTML file generated successfully.")

How do i use this together with my backup file? I have no idea sorry noob here

How do i use this together with my backup file? I have no idea sorry noob here

Pre-requisites: Python

You have to export the sites from linkwarden, that will generate a backup.json. In the same directory you have to create this LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py file. Afterwards you have to run in the command line "python LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py" in the directory that you have both files. If python is not found try "python3 LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py"

How do i use this together with my backup file? I have no idea sorry noob here

Pre-requisites: Python

You have to export the sites from linkwarden, that will generate a backup.json. In the same directory you have to create this LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py file. Afterwards you have to run in the command line "python LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py" in the directory that you have both files. If python is not found try "python3 LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py"

Thank you so much for your reply!

I do have Python installed. However, I am not able to copy both files into the folder where pyton is installed / running (WIN11) . The problem is that the directory (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.13_3.13.2544.0_x64__qbz5n2kfra8p0\python3.13.exe) is locked. So when I copy/paste your script into python I always get the following result:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 70, in
with open('backup.json', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'backup.json'

Tried to point it to the directory (in my case both your file and the backup.json are located in 1 folder) by changing the path

Main

with open('backup.json', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
json_data = json.load(open("C:\Users\User\Desktop\Linkwarden bookmarks")))

but get error when I hit enter :o(