Claude Session Manager

Overview

Claude Code stores session transcripts as JSONL files under ~/.claude/projects/<project-key>/<session-id>.jsonl. Use the bundled manager to list candidates or export sessions into project-organized Markdown transcripts with a digest, a clean user/Claude conversation, and linked tool-call details.

Default output folder: ~/.claude/session-markdown. Tell the user before exporting there, and mention any custom output folder they requested.

Quick Start

Let the user's wording choose the mode when it is clear; otherwise ask them to choose before exporting:

• Full mode: export all matching sessions. Use this for archive, backup, broad search, or "convert all sessions" requests.
• Specific mode: list candidate sessions first, ask the user to pick one, then export only that session.

Run from any directory:

python3 /path/to/claude-session-manager/scripts/manage_claude_sessions.py

Equivalent explicit form:

python3 /path/to/claude-session-manager/scripts/manage_claude_sessions.py \
  --source ~/.claude/projects \
  --output ~/.claude/session-markdown

Useful options:

• --mode full: export all matching sessions. This is the default.
• --mode specific --list-candidates: print a numbered candidate table and do not export.
• --mode specific --pick N: export the Nth candidate from the same filtered candidate list.
• --project <text>: only export project folders whose key contains this text.
• --session <text>: only export sessions whose id or filename contains this text.
• --since YYYY-MM-DD: only export sessions modified on or after this date.
• --limit N: export the N most recently modified matching sessions.
• --include-tool-details-inline: embed full tool inputs/results in the main session Markdown. By default, the main transcript keeps compact collapsible tool summaries and links full payloads through the sidecar file.

Specific Mode Candidate Flow

Use this flow when the user wants one session, is unsure which session they need, or asks to inspect recent sessions before converting.

1. Run a candidate list command. Use --limit 20 by default unless the user asks for a different count.

python3 /path/to/claude-session-manager/scripts/manage_claude_sessions.py \
  --mode specific \
  --list-candidates \
  --limit 20

2. If the user gave a project hint, date, or session id fragment, pass it through the same filters:

python3 /path/to/claude-session-manager/scripts/manage_claude_sessions.py \
  --mode specific \
  --list-candidates \
  --project my-repo \
  --since 2026-06-01 \
  --limit 20

3. Present the numbered candidate rows to the user. The candidate table includes modified time, project key, short session id, cwd, and first user prompt excerpt. These are the selection signals; do not ask the user to inspect raw JSONL paths.
4. After the user chooses a number, rerun with the exact same filters and --pick N:

python3 /path/to/claude-session-manager/scripts/manage_claude_sessions.py \
  --mode specific \
  --pick 3 \
  --limit 20

If the user already gives an exact session id or unique fragment, use --mode specific --session <id-or-fragment> --list-candidates first when there is any ambiguity. Export with --pick 1 only when the candidate list has exactly one match.

Output Layout

The exporter writes:

~/.claude/session-markdown/
├── index.md
└── <project-key>/
    ├── index.md
    ├── <session-id>.md
    └── tool-details/
        └── <session-id>.tools.md

Keep the original Claude project key as the folder name. It is stable and avoids guessing at path decoding.

Each session Markdown includes:

• Digest: source path, project key, session id, cwd, timestamps, event/message/tool counts, and first user prompt excerpt.
• Linked tool details file when tool calls or results exist.
• Timeline: all events are emitted under a ## Timeline section as numbered third-level headers in ISO-8601 format: ### N. user - <ISO> for user turns and ### N. assistant - <ISO> for assistant turns.
• Message content in the main conversation should avoid Markdown heading syntax too; convert headings to bold lines outside code fences so regular Markdown readers do not render oversized headings inside the flow.
• Compact tool references such as <tool_call_000001> Bash - command: npm test - result inside the relevant assistant turn, with matching sections in the sidecar details file by default.
• Metadata and attachment events (### N. attachment - <ISO>, ### N. permission-mode, ### N. file-history-snapshot, ### N. last-prompt, etc.) and [thinking] blobs in assistant turns are emitted as their own numbered events in the timeline. Readers should skip them as noise; they do not carry conversation content.

Reading Exported Sessions

• Read the main session Markdown first. The conversation and compact tool references should be enough to understand the flow.
• Treat each <tool_call_000001> reference as a pointer into tool-details/<session-id>.tools.md.
• Only open the tool details file when exact command input, file content, search results, or full tool output matters.
• Do not load the whole sidecar by default for large sessions; search for the specific tool reference.

Workflow

1. Confirm the source folder. Default to ~/.claude/projects.
2. Ask the user to choose full mode or specific mode if they did not already make the choice.
3. Confirm or announce the output folder. Default to ~/.claude/session-markdown.
4. For full mode, run the exporter script with any needed filters.
5. For specific mode, list candidates, get the user's chosen number, then export with --pick.
6. Report the number of sessions exported, output index path, and any parse warnings.
7. If the user wants a specific session explained, read the generated Markdown first; load the sidecar tool details only when exact tool inputs/results matter.

Notes

• Treat transcript data as private. It can contain prompts, file contents, command output, secrets accidentally pasted into chat, and tool results.
• Do not delete or modify original .jsonl files.
• Prefer sidecar tool details for large sessions. Inline tool payloads can make Markdown hard to search and load.