Exports & Targets

Exports are platform-specific files (title, description, hashtags) written under yt_pipeline/outputs when you run Generate Metadata (see Pipeline). Export status is shown in the Details panel (Metadata section and platform columns) and in the Jobs table. Targets and Visibility are stored per row and control which platforms you intend to publish to and how (e.g. YouTube privacy).

Where exports are stored

All pipeline output lives under yt_pipeline/outputs (or your configured pipeline output path):

• Metadata — outputs/Metadata/.json: central metadata per video (source path, per-platform title/description/hashtags). The is derived from the video filename (and path hash to avoid collisions).
• Exports per platform — Each platform has its own folder with one set of files per video (same stem):
  • outputs/Exports/YouTube/: .title.txt, .description.txt, .hashtags.txt, .json
  • outputs/Exports/Instagram/: same file names
  • outputs/Exports/TikTok/: same file names

So each platform gets a single folder containing all videos’ export files (identified by stem), not a subfolder per video.

Open exports vs Open outputs

In the Details panel, with a row selected, open the Metadata accordion:

• Platform dropdown — Choose YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok to view and edit that platform’s metadata for the selected row.
• Open exports — Opens the Exports folder for the currently selected platform (e.g. outputs/Exports/YouTube). You see all videos’ export files for that platform in one folder. The button uses the platform selected in the dropdown, not a per-row “target.”
• Open outputs — Opens the root outputs folder (yt_pipeline/outputs), where you can see Metadata and Exports/YouTube, Exports/Instagram, Exports/TikTok.

Targets (YT / IG / TT)

Targets are per-row toggles (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok) meaning “I intend to publish this video to this platform.” They are stored with the row and persist. They do not create scheduled jobs by themselves; scheduling happens when you set a time via the Schedule dialog (per platform) or Plan. Until then, targets only record intent and drive which platform columns and export status are relevant.

Visibility

Private, Unlisted, or Public is stored per row and is used for YouTube (e.g. upload privacy). Other platforms (Instagram, TikTok) use manual assist at publish time; visibility in the app is YouTube-focused.

Steps in the UI

Step 1 — Run the pipeline first

Run Generate Metadata for your rows (see Pipeline). Exports and metadata are written under yt_pipeline/outputs (Metadata + Exports/YouTube, Exports/Instagram, Exports/TikTok).

Step 2 — Targets and export status

Select a row. The Details panel shows platform columns (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok) with export status and metadata. Set Targets (YT/IG/TT) per row as needed.

Step 3 — Open export or outputs folder

In the Metadata section, pick a platform in the dropdown. Open exports opens that platform’s Exports folder (e.g. Exports/YouTube). Open outputs opens the root yt_pipeline/outputs folder. Exports contain title, description, hashtags, and platform-specific formatting.

Common issues

• Exports not there — Run Generate Metadata (Pipeline) first; exports are created when the pipeline runs.
• Open exports — Opens the folder for the platform selected in the Metadata dropdown (YouTube/Instagram/TikTok), not a separate “per-row” folder.
• Open outputs — Opens the main yt_pipeline/outputs folder (Metadata + all Exports subfolders).