Transfer All Evernote Data Into Other Apps

This script allows you to export all of your Evernote data (including notebooks & stacks) in a format that allows you to import into external applications such as Zim Wiki (in my case).

I wrote this because there seems to be no solution available that allows for exporting/importing all your notebooks and notebook stacks (rather than only notes) into applications other than Evernote. (The security/privacy hazard)

Basically this script exports all of your Evernote notes into a hierarchical directory structure based on your Evernote notebooks & stack database mappings. Additional (optional) features include converting all note syntax to markdown text or Zim Wiki syntax (to import into Zim Wiki).

Why Import Evernote into Zim Wiki? (Optional)

It is the most simple, intuitive, linux friendly, offline, semi-markdown compatible note taking app. (If you miss sync features, then just use your preferred cloud setup for that instead.)

How it works

• Queries your local Evernote database to grab all the notebooks and notebook stacks associated with your notes.
• Recursively walks the directory tree (of your exported Evernote backup) and does the following:
  • creates proper notebook structure & organizes your notes accordingly (based on your Evernote's database mapping)
    • copies all the notes to their respective folder (notebook) or nested folder (stack + notebook)
    • notes that do not belong to a notebook are copied into a directory named "uncategorized"
  • (beta / use at your own risk) (optionally) converts the html within files to markdown text,
  • (beta / use at your own risk) (optionally) further convert the notes to be importable into Zim wiki, which will do the following:
    • further modifies lists, headings, and images in order to comply with zim syntax
    • replaces all forbidden characters in filenames and directories (which are used as page names) with underscores
    • replaces .html file extension with .txt

The console output should look similar to the following:

Organizing notes by directory (based on notebooks & stacks)...
	notebooks/stacks exported: 68
Transfering the rest of the files that do not belong to a notebook...
	copied files/dirs: 2823
Converting note syntax...
	edited files: 2815
	
Process complete.

Instructions

Since Evernote does not natively allow you to export all notebook data (stacks/notebooks). You have to make sure to provide this script with the location of your Evernote database file.

1. if you haven't already, install the Evernote desktop client (in a VM if needed) and make sure your data is synced
   • In the top left side panel, right click "Notebooks" > "Export notes", to export all your notes
2. prepare the script by putting the full path of where your evernote data is located, then run it:

notes_dir = '/exported/notes'   # location of exported Evernote notes
db_dir = '/home/unknown/evernote/Databases/username.exb'    # location of Evernote database file
output_dir = '/home/converted_notes'    # location where you want to save all your newly constructed Evernote data

3. (Optional / Beta / use at your own risk) Import data into Zim Wiki:

   • click File > Open Another notebook, and select the folder where your converted Evernote data is.
   • optionally, you may set it as the Default notebook in the dropdown.

   "Rebuilding the index in may take quite some time, if you have added many pages. It may be advisable to click Tools / Re-build Index"

   • http://zim-wiki.org/manual/Help/Importing_external_files.html

Rant

Due to evernotes sheer carelessness / lack of consideration in not including notebooks/stacks with exported data. Soon after realizing that I will need the local Evernote database in order to grab the notebook/stack data, I wasted nearly an entire day trying to recover it from slack space on my drives (far from successful), though luckily I managed to find it on an old drive....Thanks you Evernote.

Credits

• html2text.py module by Aaron Swartz
  • https://github.com/aaronsw/html2text