Export A-Go-Go January 8, 2025 8:10 AM Subscribe
The "Export My Comments" feature, linked from the profile page, supposedly downloads "a file that includes all of your comments across all MetaFilter sites", but its definition of "all" is out of date.
This is a feature I find handy for archiving (and recycling on my blog) things I've written here over the years... which was why I requested it back in the day. But recently I noticed that it exports comments from Metafilter, Metatalk, Music and Ask, but not Projects or Fanfare. Perhaps this is a product of when it was built; Projects and Fanfare must have come later. I've never posted on Jobs and IRL so can't tell whether those are also affected.
Would it be possible to include the missing sites in the export file?
I also kinda wish the feature included the text of your own FPPs, or that there was a separate "Export My Posts" feature. Showing "posts from All Sites" on the Activity page only gives the above-the-fold stuff, so capturing the whole post means going through each one individually. (This is what's prompted me to make this a post rather than just a message to staff, so that I can get a sense of whether I'm the only one using this feature/at all interested/would like to see this extra element included.)
Everything else about the tool is fine as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem with the once-a-week constraint to manage server load.
I don't use the "Export My Favorites" feature quite as often, but just checked that too—it includes favorites from Projects (as well as Mefi, Meta, Ask and Music) but not Fanfare. Again, I don't know about Jobs or IRL.
This is a feature I find handy for archiving (and recycling on my blog) things I've written here over the years... which was why I requested it back in the day. But recently I noticed that it exports comments from Metafilter, Metatalk, Music and Ask, but not Projects or Fanfare. Perhaps this is a product of when it was built; Projects and Fanfare must have come later. I've never posted on Jobs and IRL so can't tell whether those are also affected.
Would it be possible to include the missing sites in the export file?
I also kinda wish the feature included the text of your own FPPs, or that there was a separate "Export My Posts" feature. Showing "posts from All Sites" on the Activity page only gives the above-the-fold stuff, so capturing the whole post means going through each one individually. (This is what's prompted me to make this a post rather than just a message to staff, so that I can get a sense of whether I'm the only one using this feature/at all interested/would like to see this extra element included.)
Everything else about the tool is fine as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem with the once-a-week constraint to manage server load.
I don't use the "Export My Favorites" feature quite as often, but just checked that too—it includes favorites from Projects (as well as Mefi, Meta, Ask and Music) but not Fanfare. Again, I don't know about Jobs or IRL.
If I am going to export my comments/data, I would prefer to export them ALL. if that is what you are asking Brandon. I also want the 'more inside' from posts and asks. Who wouldn't if you are already trying to export your comments/data? Seems pretty logical to me.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:55 AM on January 8 [3 favorites]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:55 AM on January 8 [3 favorites]
That said, this sounds completely reasonable and we’d be interested in gauging how many users this is affecting.
As a data point: I definitely have FanFare comments that I'd like to export.
posted by mstokes650 at 11:34 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
As a data point: I definitely have FanFare comments that I'd like to export.
posted by mstokes650 at 11:34 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
I think that these days providing users with all of their information in a download is pretty much table stakes for a user-centric site, and that anything else should be considered inadequate. Not that it's an emergency requiring an immediate fix necessarily, but it should be on the dev path for the new version of the site.
In terms of the number of users being impacted, that seems like a question better answered by looking at the logs and finding out how many people are using these features.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:01 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
In terms of the number of users being impacted, that seems like a question better answered by looking at the logs and finding out how many people are using these features.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:01 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I would want them all: in for a dime, in for a dollar.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:16 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:16 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
I did not even know this feature existed until reading this thread but am very happy to hear it does and would definitely like it to grab everything particularly on Fanfare which in my opinion is the only subsite where I've ever said anything worthwhile
(that sentence had one comma, but then I deleted it, because that felt right. I've had too much caffeine today)
posted by Kybard at 1:39 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
(that sentence had one comma, but then I deleted it, because that felt right. I've had too much caffeine today)
posted by Kybard at 1:39 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
Yep, confirming: I just checked my download and my IRL comments aren't in there. It'd be great to have these included, if possible.
Hope you're feeling better soon, frimble.
posted by mochapickle at 3:59 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
Hope you're feeling better soon, frimble.
posted by mochapickle at 3:59 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]
Another vote for yes, please, I'd like everything.
Also another big bundle of wishes for speedy and easy recovery for frimble!
Thanks for asking this, rory.
posted by kristi at 4:25 PM on January 8
Also another big bundle of wishes for speedy and easy recovery for frimble!
Thanks for asking this, rory.
posted by kristi at 4:25 PM on January 8
it affects every user
posted by glonous keming at 8:02 PM on January 8
posted by glonous keming at 8:02 PM on January 8
I looked at my profile page (https://www.metafilter.com/user/111261) and I don't see link to export comments?
posted by tavella at 11:00 PM on January 8
posted by tavella at 11:00 PM on January 8
Ah, I see, it's from the edit your profile page, not the profile page itself.
posted by tavella at 11:13 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 11:13 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
Yes, sorry not to make that clear. It's on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'...
Be careful not to accidentally click the "Close Your Account" link right below it.
posted by rory at 6:42 AM on January 9
Be careful not to accidentally click the "Close Your Account" link right below it.
posted by rory at 6:42 AM on January 9
And yet far less cumbersome than finding literally any feature on facebook other than the default display (and now I'm curious if FB has the option to export your data anywhere...)
posted by TwoWordReview at 5:43 PM on January 9
posted by TwoWordReview at 5:43 PM on January 9
I should probably add that if I were to ever use this feature I would also want comments from all subsites included!
posted by TwoWordReview at 5:44 PM on January 9
posted by TwoWordReview at 5:44 PM on January 9
now I'm curious if FB has the option to export your data anywhere...
They do!
posted by mittens at 6:45 PM on January 9
They do!
posted by mittens at 6:45 PM on January 9
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That said, this sounds completely reasonable and we’d be interested in gauging how many users this is affecting.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 8:11 AM on January 8