Mod Info Lister — Export Your Mod List to CSV Fast

Mod Info Lister: Streamlining Modpack Documentation for Creators

Assembling a custom modpack for Minecraft is a rewarding but chaotic endeavor. You meticulously select each modification, balance gameplay mechanics, and test for compatibility. Then comes the part every pack creator dreads: documentation. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of mods, each with its own version number, author, and unique identifier. Keeping track of all that information manually is a recipe for errors and wasted time. This is precisely where Mod Info Lister steps in, offering a straightforward, no-nonsense solution to a very specific problem.

What Exactly Is Mod Info Lister?

Mod Info Lister is a specialized utility tool designed for the creators of Minecraft modpacks. Unlike gameplay-enhancing mods that add content or change mechanics, this tool performs a purely administrative function. Its single, focused purpose is to scan all the mods installed in your client and export their essential metadata into a structured CSV file. There is no complex configuration screen, no user interface to navigate, and no settings to tweak. You simply place the JAR file into your mods folder, launch the game, and let the mod do its work. Once the game reaches the post-initialization stage, the mod automatically generates a comprehensive list.

How the Data Extraction Works

The operational mechanics of Mod Info Lister are integrated directly into the standard Minecraft loading process. The mod activates during the fifth stage of the game's initialization sequence. It then scans all active modifications and writes the results to a file located at ./ModInfoLister/modlist.csv. The output file is structured with five distinct columns, each providing a critical piece of information:

• The display name of the mod.
• The version number of the mod.
• The official URL for the mod's page.
• The author or list of authors.
• The unique Mod ID used by the game engine.

This specific set of fields covers the vast majority of needs for creating compatibility lists, formatting modpack pages for CurseForge or other platforms, or simply conducting an inventory of your client's contents.

Data Handling and Formatting Nuances

The developer has implemented several thoughtful details in how the data is processed. The CSV file uses a vertical bar, or pipe symbol (|), as its delimiter. This choice is deliberate, as it significantly reduces the risk of conflicts with commas that frequently appear within mod names or descriptions. Furthermore, any pipe characters found within the mod's own information are automatically replaced with spaces. For example, a mod ID like opencomputers|core would be output as opencomputers core. This ensures the data remains clean and parseable. If a mod lacks a specified URL, the corresponding cell will contain the placeholder unspecified. Similarly, missing author information is filled with the value none. The file is completely overwritten on each subsequent launch, guaranteeing that you always have an up-to-date snapshot of your current build.

Practical Scenarios for Using Mod Info Lister

The primary use case for this tool is generating a ready-to-publish mod list. Imagine you have built a server pack based on a popular modpack like All The Mods 3, but you have added a few extra mods for your community. You need to provide your players with an accurate list of what is installed. Manually typing out every mod name, version, and author is tedious and prone to mistakes. With Mod Info Lister, you get a complete, formatted list in seconds. The developer even provides an example of an output generated for ATM3, showcasing how clean and readable the result is after being imported into a spreadsheet application. This list can be directly pasted into your server description or used to verify that all authors are correctly credited according to licensing requirements.

Another valuable scenario is debugging conflicts. When a server crashes during the loading phase, it is often helpful to compare the versions of mods between two different environments, such as a development client and the live server. The exported CSV file allows you to do this with just a couple of clicks. By setting up conditional formatting in Excel, you can easily highlight any version discrepancies, making the troubleshooting process significantly faster and more efficient.

Importing the CSV into Spreadsheet Software

Because of the non-standard delimiter, a direct import of the CSV into spreadsheet editors might initially display the data incorrectly. For Microsoft Excel, the recommended procedure is as follows:

1. Open a blank worksheet, avoiding the File > Open command.
2. Navigate to the Data tab, select From Text, and locate the modlist.csv file.
3. Ensure the Delimited option is selected, then click Next.
4. Uncheck the Tab box, check the Other box, and type the pipe symbol | into the provided field.
5. Click Finish and confirm the placement of the data on your worksheet.

For Google Docs, the process is even simpler. The import wizard will immediately prompt you to specify the delimiter character. Just enter the vertical bar, and the table will be populated automatically. This seamless integration makes Mod Info Lister a perfect bridge between the chaotic mods folder and a well-organized documentation file.

Compatibility and Supported Versions

Mod Info Lister has been tested and confirmed to work on Minecraft versions 1.8.x, 1.10.x, and 1.12.x. Importantly, the same single JAR file is used across all these versions, simplifying distribution. The developer notes that it will likely function on 1.9.x and 1.11.x as well, as there are no significant architectural differences in the mod loading process between these branches. However, the tool is not intended for version 1.7.x, and there are no plans for a backport. If you require a similar utility for older builds, you can look into a separate project called Mod-list generator by Dragon2488, which supports versions 1.7.2 and 1.7.10.

For those looking to streamline their workflow further, the mod can be easily integrated with a modern launcher. Many users find it convenient to download Mod Info Lister: Streamlining Modpack Documentation for Creators for Minecraft through their preferred launcher, which often provides direct mod downloads and compatibility checks with the selected game version. This saves considerable time when you are actively curating the contents of a server or client build.

Limitations and Scope

It is important to understand what Mod Info Lister is not. It is not a comprehensive modpack analyzer. It does not check for dependency conflicts, build compatibility graphs, or diagnose runtime errors. It is strictly a lister, a tool that methodically iterates through the loaded JAR files and records their metadata. For a deep, holistic audit of a modpack, you will need to use additional utilities. However, for the initial inventory and documentation phase, its capabilities are more than sufficient.

The target audience is also specific. This is not a mod for the average player who just wants to play the game. It is designed for content creators, server administrators, and dedicated enthusiasts who are serious about constructing and maintaining custom modpacks. If you are looking for a more interactive or gameplay-oriented tool from the same developer, you might want to explore other projects, but for this specific administrative task, Mod Info Lister excels.

Final Thoughts on Mod Info Lister

Mod Info Lister solves a narrow yet highly demanded problem within the Minecraft modding ecosystem. Its minimal interaction, predictable output, correct handling of special characters, and support for multiple game versions make it an indispensable companion for anyone involved in modpack creation. If you frequently experiment with dozens of mods and need to keep your projects organized, this tool will save you hours of tedious manual work. The process is simple: you download Mod Info Lister: Streamlining Modpack Documentation for Creators, place it in your mods folder, and let it generate the documentation for you. Knowing how to install it is straightforward, and the benefits are immediate. It helps you maintain order and professionalism in projects of any complexity, ensuring that your documentation is always accurate and up to date.