auto generate the ignore list then we can manually adjust for locked drawers

README.md

@@ -36,10 +36,15 @@ python fccs_scan.py
 
 Reads the restored FCCS backup directory and writes all drawer IDs (subfolder names) to `drawer_ids.txt`. It also:
 
-- **Flags prefix clashes** — if one drawer ID is a prefix of another (e.g. `02218` and `02218A`), searching the shorter ID in FCCS pops up a selection box that breaks automated navigation. These are reported so you can export them manually or ignore the shorter ID.
+- **Flags prefix clashes** — if one drawer ID is a prefix of another (e.g. `02218` and `02218A`), searching the shorter ID in FCCS pops up a selection box that breaks automated navigation. These clashes are reported, and the shorter (prefix) IDs are auto-seeded into `ignore.txt` for review.
 - **Reports ignored drawers** — any IDs listed in `ignore.txt` that exist in this backup are shown as ones the export will skip.
 
-**Ignoring drawers:** To exclude specific drawers from export (e.g. password-protected folders that would stall the automation), add their IDs to the file at `ignore_file` (default `C:\Migration\ignore.txt`), one per line. `drawer_ids.txt` stays a full inventory; the export skips anything in the ignore list. Lines starting with `#` are treated as comments.
+**Ignoring drawers:** The scan creates `ignore.txt` (at `ignore_file`, default `C:\Migration\ignore.txt`) if it doesn't exist and pre-fills it with the clash prefixes — searching those in FCCS shows a selection box that stalls the automation, so they're skipped by default. Open the file and:
+
+- **Delete or comment out** any clash prefix you actually want exported (then handle it manually in FCCS).
+- **Add** any other drawers to skip (e.g. password-protected folders), one ID per line.
+
+Re-running the scan never overwrites your edits — it only appends newly-discovered clashes. `drawer_ids.txt` stays a full inventory; the export skips anything active in the ignore list. Lines starting with `#` are comments.
 
 ### Step 2: Export Documents
 

fccs_scan.py

@@ -13,6 +13,61 @@ from fccs_config import (
 )
 
 
+_IGNORE_HEADER = [
+    "# Drawer IDs to SKIP during export (one ID per line).",
+    "# Lines starting with # are comments and are ignored.",
+    "#",
+    "# Add password-protected or otherwise-excluded drawers here.",
+    "#",
+    "# The IDs auto-added below are prefix clashes: searching them in FCCS",
+    "# pops a selection box that breaks the automation, so they're skipped by",
+    "# default. DELETE or comment out any you actually DO want exported (then",
+    "# handle them manually), and keep the rest.",
+    "",
+]
+
+
+def update_ignore_file(ignore_file, clashes, log):
+    """Create ignore.txt if missing and seed it with clash prefix IDs.
+
+    Never overwrites existing entries — only appends clash prefixes that
+    aren't already present. The shorter (prefix) ID of each clash is the one
+    that triggers the FCCS selection box, so it's the candidate to skip.
+    Returns the list of IDs that were added.
+    """
+    existing = set(load_lines(ignore_file))
+    file_exists = os.path.exists(ignore_file)
+
+    to_add = [(short, matches) for short, matches in clashes
+              if short not in existing]
+
+    # Existing file already covers every clash — leave it untouched.
+    if file_exists and not to_add:
+        return []
+
+    lines = []
+    if not file_exists:
+        lines.extend(_IGNORE_HEADER)
+
+    for short, matches in to_add:
+        lines.append(f"# clashes with: {', '.join(matches)}")
+        lines.append(short)
+
+    mode = "a" if file_exists else "w"
+    with open(ignore_file, mode, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        if file_exists:
+            f.write("\n")  # separate the new block from prior content
+        f.write("\n".join(lines) + "\n")
+
+    added = [short for short, _ in to_add]
+    if not file_exists:
+        log(f"Created ignore file: {ignore_file}")
+    if added:
+        log(f"Added {len(added)} clash prefix ID(s) to ignore list: "
+            f"{', '.join(added)}")
+    return added
+
+
 def main():
     args = parse_args()
     cfg = load_config(args.config)
@@ -37,14 +92,6 @@ def main():
 
     log(f"Found {len(drawer_ids)} drawers, written to {output_file}")
 
-    # Report which drawers are set to be ignored (skipped by the export).
-    ignored = set(load_lines(ignore_file))
-    if ignored:
-        present = sorted(ignored & set(drawer_ids))
-        log(f"Ignore list ({ignore_file}): {len(ignored)} IDs, "
-            f"{len(present)} present in this backup — these will be SKIPPED "
-            f"by fccs_export.py: {', '.join(present) if present else '(none present)'}")
-
     # Flag prefix clashes: FCCS search on the shorter ID pops a selection box.
     clashes = check_for_clashes(drawer_ids)
     if clashes:
@@ -52,15 +99,23 @@ def main():
         log(f"WARNING: {len(clashes)} potential drawer ID clash(es) found.")
         log("Searching the shorter ID in FCCS may show a selection box "
             "instead of navigating directly, which breaks the export.")
-        log("Consider exporting these manually, or add the shorter ID to "
-            f"the ignore list ({ignore_file}).")
         for short, matches in clashes:
-            flag = " [ignored]" if short in ignored else ""
-            log(f"  {short}{flag}  ->  also matches: {', '.join(matches)}")
+            log(f"  {short}  ->  also matches: {', '.join(matches)}")
+        # Seed ignore.txt with the clash prefixes for review (never overwrites).
+        update_ignore_file(ignore_file, clashes, log)
+        log(f"Review the ignore list: {ignore_file}")
         log("-" * 60)
     else:
         log("No drawer ID prefix clashes found.")
 
+    # Report which drawers will be skipped by the export.
+    ignored = set(load_lines(ignore_file))
+    if ignored:
+        present = sorted(ignored & set(drawer_ids))
+        log(f"Ignore list ({ignore_file}): {len(ignored)} IDs listed, "
+            f"{len(present)} present in this backup — these will be SKIPPED "
+            f"by fccs_export.py: {', '.join(present) if present else '(none present)'}")
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()