Takoboto-to-Anki

I created this Python code to

1. tranfer saved entries in Takoboto Japanese dictionary to Anki as flashcards, and
2. modify the format of cards imported to Anki from Takoboto into a more preferred format.

Feel free to change the code to fit your needs.

Transferring Authored Takoboto lists to Anki

Requirements

• tako_to_anki_own.py
• Takoboto app
• AnkiDroid or AnkiWeb

Advantages

• Do not need to have AnkiDroid app installed
• Able to immediately download all 'Authored lists'
• Contains all different readings of the word entries

Limitations

• Only includes 'Authored lists' created by yourself, does not include 'Downloaded lists'
• Does not include additional information, e.g., example sentences

Instructions

1. Go to the word lists view in the Takoboto app (... > 'Lists of words')
2. Export entire collection as a .csv file (... > 'Export to file...' > 'SAVE')
3. Move the .csv file to be the same file location as tako_to_anki_own.py
4. From within tako_to_anki_own.py, edit INPUT_CSV variable to match the name of the .csv file.
5. Run tako_to_anki_own.py

Reformatting Anki Cards Exported from Takoboto App (Recommended)

Requirements

• tako_to_anki_reformat.py
• Takoboto App
• AnkiDroid
• AnkiWeb

Advantages

• Able to make/modify cards for 'Downloaded lists' as well as 'Authored
• Contains additional information, e.g., example sentences.

Limitations

• Need to have AnkiDroid app installed
• Can only export each deck one by one to AnkiDroid, which can be time consuming if you have many decks.
• Only contains one reading of the 'head' Japanese word in the dictionary entry.

Instructions

1. Export own 'Authored lists' or 'Downloaded lists' from within the Takoboto app to AnkiDroid. (... > 'Lists of words' > Open a list > ... > 'Send to AnkiDroid')
2. Download the 'Takoboto' deck from within AnkiDroid or Anki Desktop (Select a deck > 'Export deck' > Export format: 'Notes in Plain Text (.txt)'; Include: 'Takoboto') > 'OK')
3. Open the .txt file and copy all file contents using Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C.
4. Open Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, paste the contents (Ctrl+V), and save as a .csv file.
5. Move the .csv file to be the same file location as tako_to_anki_reformat.py
6. From within tako_to_anki_reformat.py, edit INPUT_CSV variable to match the name of the .csv file.
7. Run tako_to_anki_reformat.py

Importing CSV files to Anki

Instructions

1. From the AnkiWeb homepage, select 'Import File' and select the desired output file to import into Anki.

File

2. Change 'Field separator' to 'Comma', and make sure the columns in the table preview look correct.
3. Enable 'Allow HTML in fields'

Import options

4. Select the correct deck which the cards should be imported to under 'Deck'
5. Under 'Existing notes', select 'Update' to replace already existing cards, 'Preserve' to avoid replacing already existing cards in the deck, or 'Duplicate' to create a second card if a card with the same word already exists.
6. To tag all newly imported cards, type in a tag under 'Tag all notes', e.g., 'TAKOBOTO' (and under 'Tag updated notes' if you have 'Update' selected under 'Existing notes')

Field mapping

7. Ensure the correct columns from the table preview match the selections for the card 'Front', 'Back', and 'Tags'.

8. Select 'Import' at the top of the screen.

Planned future improvements

• Change output CSV file generation to have words separated into different files by their tag names