Export a forum - unicorn

edstem threads export saves a unit’s forum to a folder of plain Markdown: every thread, its replies, and the files attached to them.

Export a unit

edstem threads export UNIT --dest ./archive
edstem threads export UNIT --dest ./archive --since 2026-07-01 --no-files
edstem threads export UNIT --dest ./archive --force

Export accepts the same filters as threads list (--category, --since, --unanswered and the rest), but has no default limit and no ten-request cap: without filters it exports the whole forum.

Flag	Effect
`--dest <directory>`	Where to write the archive.
`--no-files`	Keep attachment links pointing at Ed instead of downloading the files.
`--force`	Rewrite threads that were already exported.

What the archive holds

Path	Contents
`index.md`	One row per thread: number, title, category, author, date and reply count.
`threads/0042-title.md`	One file per thread, with its answers and comments.
`files/0042/<attachment>`	Ed-hosted files from the thread and its nested comments. Links in the thread file point here.
`manifest.json`	The unit, when it was exported, and which threads it holds.

Resume and refresh

A thread file that is already complete is skipped on the next run, along with its downloads, so an interrupted export picks up where it stopped. Pass --force to write every thread again. An export is a snapshot. Running it again adds threads that are new, but does not update threads that changed or remove files for deleted threads. Use a separate destination for each unit. Export never marks threads read and never moves the catch-up marker. Progress goes to stderr; stdout prints a short summary of the destination and how many threads, skipped threads and files the run handled.

Command reference: threads export

Full syntax for threads export.

​Export a unit

​What the archive holds

​Resume and refresh

Command reference: threads export

Export a unit

What the archive holds

Resume and refresh