---
name: "smuxi-message-buffer"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "smuxi-engine"
version: "1.2.1-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/smuxi-message-buffer"
---

# smuxi-message-buffer(1)

converts and dumps Smuxi chat history

## NAME

**smuxi-message-buffer** – converts and dumps Smuxi chat history

## SYNOPSIS

**smuxi-message-buffer** \[**-dh**\] convert \[**--source-format**=*format*\] \[**--destination-format**=*format*\] *source-file(s)...* *destination-file*

**smuxi-message-buffer** \[**-dh**\] cat \[**--format**=*format*\] *source-file(s)...*

## DESCRIPTION

**smuxi-message-buffer** is a tool that manages the databases that Smuxi holds chat histories in. Currently, it can convert and dump databases.

Similar to commands like [git(1)](/git/1.md) ,  **smuxi-message-buffer** takes a command as the first parameter. These commands can be cat (dumps a JSON representation of the database to standard output) or convert. (changes the database from one format to another) Note that the destination file can be set to "-" or empty in the case of convert, in which case it will export to stdout.

The following options can be used. Some options will depend on what command you're using.

- **-d**, **--debug**

  Turn on debugging. Debug logs are outputted on the console.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Show the arguments Smuxi takes.

- **--source-format**=*format*

  - **--format**=*format*

  Manually specify a source format. Options include auto (figured out via filename), db4o, and sqlite.

- **--destination-format**=*format*

  Manually specify a source destination, if converting. Options include auto (figured out via filename), db4o, and sqlite.

## SEE ALSO

[smuxi-frontend-gnome(1)](/smuxi-frontend-gnome/1.md), [smuxi-frontend-stfl(1)](/smuxi-frontend-stfl/1.md), [smuxi-server(1)](/smuxi-server/1.md)

Website: https://smuxi.im/

## AUTHOR/CREDITS

Smuxi, including this tool, was written by Mirco Bauer.

This manpage was written by Calvin Buckley.