pas5

create: generate a backup

manifold pas5 create --source <anilist|registry> [flags]

Builds a source-free Paperback .pas5 archive. Every imported title has a canonical registry UUID, a registry-linked native MangaDex attachment, and MANIFOLD. MangaDex owns reading and chapter updates; the tracker owns canonical progress synchronization.

Use --source anilist to read the authenticated AniList list, or --source registry to read active entries and list state from the canonical registry. Registry metadata is hydrated through the recorded AniList/MAL links; the registry UUID and list state remain authoritative. Tombstoned entries, entries without a native MangaDex link, and AniList entries missing a registry UUID are skipped. Both sources require Manifold authentication; only --source anilist requires AniList authentication.

Verified restore procedure: start with an empty database

1. Export and keep the original Paperback backup.
2. Generate the new archive and ensure the native MangaDex extension used by its attachments is installed.
3. Restore into an empty Paperback database. The successful full-library test used a fresh installation and uppercase internal UUIDs.
4. Run Paperback’s database repair before opening imported titles.
5. Check saved state after leaving and reopening titles before discarding the original backup.

Repair alone did not fix every imported title in an existing database. Restoring may replace the on-device library.

filter: isolate providers in an existing archive

Filter an existing backup offline, without AniList credentials, registry lookups, or new IDs. Exclude providers with --exclude-source, --exclude-mangadex, or --exclude-tracker (MANIFOLD). --input and --out are required and must point to different files. Without --apply, this is a dry run.

manifold pas5 filter --input generated.pas5 --out mangadex-only.pas5 --exclude-tracker --apply
manifold pas5 filter --input generated.pas5 --out tracker-only.pas5 --exclude-mangadex --apply

This diagnostic subcommand deliberately retains tracker-only libraries. It preserves existing library IDs, tabs, timestamps, and retained source metadata. Entries without a remaining attachment are omitted and counted; missing provider links are never invented. Excluded sources, their chapters and progress markers, and unreferenced manga metadata are removed. Other providers are left unchanged.

Keep the original backup and test the outputs separately: restoring may replace the device library. A tracker-only archive tests saved/tracking behavior, not chapter reading. Normal generation still requires a native content provider.

Filter flags

--input <path>

Required existing .pas5 archive. The input file is never overwritten.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./filtered.pas5 --exclude-tracker

--out <path>

Required output path, different from the input path. Written only with --apply.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./filtered.pas5 --exclude-tracker --apply

--exclude-mangadex

Remove native MangaDex attachments and their provider data. Default: false.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./no-mangadex.pas5 --exclude-mangadex

--exclude-tracker

Remove MANIFOLD attachments and their provider data. Default: false. At least one exclusion is required. Entries with no remaining attachments are omitted.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./native-only.pas5 --exclude-tracker

--exclude-source <ids>

Remove attachments for a comma-separated list of exact Paperback source IDs, including sources no longer supported by Manifold. Other sources are retained.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./filtered.pas5 --exclude-source ExampleSource --apply

--apply

Write the filtered archive. Default: false; otherwise only report the result.

manifold pas5 filter --input ./original.pas5 --out ./native-only.pas5 --exclude-tracker --apply

Create flags

--source <anilist|registry>

Required input source; there is no default. anilist reads the live AniList list and resolves canonical UUIDs/provider links through Manifold. registry reads active canonical rows, recorded list state, and hydrated metadata without requiring a local AniList or MAL login. MangaDex is an attachment, not an accepted input source.

manifold login manifold
manifold pas5 create --source registry

--apply

Write the generated .pas5 archive. Without this flag, the command reports the titles and output it would generate without writing the archive.

• Default: false

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --apply

--tabs <value>

Choose which AniList or registry statuses become Paperback library tabs. Use auto to include all five mapped statuses, none to include all eligible titles without creating status tabs, or pass a comma-separated list of reading, paused, dropped, completed, and planning.

With auto or a status list, new titles without a mapped list status are skipped. This flag also filters imports, not just tab names. Use none for registry rows that have metadata/provider links but no list state. Existing base titles are enriched before this new-title filter runs.

• Default: auto

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --tabs reading,completed

--base <path>

Seed the generated archive from an existing .pas5 export. Existing tab IDs are reused when possible, which helps preserve device tab references. Titles already present in the backup are enriched with missing MangaDex attachments. Existing attachments with a different provider ID and ambiguous matches are reported and left unchanged. All ManifoldSource attachments are removed, along with retired-source attachments and their chapter data. Orphan source/info rows are pruned. Existing tracker-only libraries are retained so source retirement does not discard their saved library state; they cannot provide chapter reading until a native source is attached.

• Default: no base archive

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --base ./Paperback-Backup.pas5

--out <path>

Set the path for the generated archive.

• Default: Paperback-Generated.<date>.<time>.pas5

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --out ./backups/manifold.pas5

--limit <n>

Non-negative limit for a canary archive. For --source registry, select the first n active rows before metadata hydration and eligibility checks; skipped entries can produce fewer than n new titles. For --source anilist, stop after generating n new eligible titles. Existing base titles do not count as new titles; the limit does not trim the base archive to n total titles.

• Default: no limit

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --limit 10 --tabs none --apply --out ./Paperback-Registry-10.pas5

--anilist-token <token>

Optional AniList access token override for --source anilist; unused for --source registry. Resolve order: flag → MANIFOLD_ANILIST_TOKEN → login anilist keychain.

Example:

manifold login anilist
manifold pas5 create --source anilist

--api-token <token>

Personal API token used to resolve registry UUIDs and provider links. Falls back to MANIFOLD_TOKEN, then the login manifold keychain session. Required for both sources. A stale environment token overrides keychain login; see Manifold authentication.

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source anilist --api-token "$MANIFOLD_TOKEN"

--api-origin <url>

Personal API origin used for registry lookups.

• Default: https://manifold.jfa.dev/api (or MANIFOLD_API_ORIGIN)

Example:

manifold pas5 create --source registry --api-origin https://manifold.example/api

Usage

manifold pas5 create --source anilist
manifold pas5 create --source registry --apply
manifold pas5 create --source registry --apply --base ./Paperback-Backup.pas5 --tabs reading,completed

--tabs filters source statuses into library tabs. Install the MangaDex extension before restoring an archive that contains its attachments. With --base, existing tab IDs are reused when possible; restoring the generated archive on a device may replace the on-device library — keep a copy of the original backup.