Pinback Next
The backup and export tool Pinterest forgot, finally revived!
Pinback Next is a free, simple userscript that allows you to backup and export your Pinterest data. It runs privately in your web browser and exports your pinned links to a Netscape-Bookmark-flavored HTML file. This is the de facto standard among web browsers and services like Delicious, making your data safe and easily portable. “Netscape” also has that wonderful artisanal-aged, vintage-inspired sound to it, don’t you think?
How does it work?
- Install the “Pinback Next” userscript with your userscript manager of choice.
- Log in to Pinterest and visit your profile (pinterest.com/username).
- Click “Open Export Tool” in the context menu for Pinback Next, usually present in your script manager extension menu.
- Choose to export “All public pins” (all non-private pins, grouped by board), or an individual board (private boards must be exported individually).
- Save the exported HTML file to your computer.
See screenshots and read also the following sections for more usage information.
What can I do with the export?
Keep a copy of the HTML file on your computer or a cloud storage service as a backup. You can open it like a normal web page (just double click the file) to see a list or grid of your pinned items. Your pinned links are just a click away, and that amazing massaged kale recipe is safe from Pinterest outages, accidental deletes, and leafy-green-hating robot overlords.
You can also import your data into your favorite application or web browser. Here are some that are known to support the Netscape format:
It’s your data, do as you wish!
Features
- Exports to Netscape-Bookmark-flavored HTML file, divided in sections based on your chosen boards.
- It is either importable in other software, or viewable as a document, with both a standard list interface and an image grid one (the latter requires JavaScript).
- The document is divided into sections named as your boards, and they are independently collapsible for better viewing.
- Exports all of your pins, or just those of a single board.
- Handles pins of any kind, both internal and external links, both with descriptions and not.
- Includes useful data such as full titles, descriptions, and private notes (when present), and metadata such as pinning date and time, original author (for repins), and privacy status.
Weak points
- Currently not handling "board sections" at all.
- When exporting a single board that contains sections, only the root pins will be included.
- When exporting all boards, all pins will be included, but, in case some come from a section, they will only be listed at the same level as other pins of the parent board.
Disclaimer
Pinback Next is released under the MIT license, and is in no way affiliated or endorsed by Pinterest. Provided without warranty, use at your own risk.
This software is forked from "Pinback" to make it work as an userscript instead of a fragile bookmarklet, fix issues, and provide improvements. Credits for the initial code and the original idea go to:
