BrickLink wanted list from a minifigure parts list: step by step

The BrickLink import usually fails on one small thing: the XML has to be pasted as text with all its tags, not uploaded as a file. Here is the procedure and the typical pitfalls.

What you need

  • A finished figure in FigForge with a color chosen for every part under “Confirm colors”.
  • A BrickLink account. You can only create a wanted list while signed in.

Step by step

  1. Open “Buy parts” in FigForge and find the buying option “BrickLink Wanted List”.
  2. Click “Copy XML”. The parts list is now in your clipboard as text.
  3. Use “Open BrickLink upload” to open the page at BrickLink. It is the “Upload to Wanted List” page.
  4. Switch to the “Upload BrickLink XML format” tab and paste the text into the field.
  5. Submit the import and check the wanted list: do part number, color and quantity match your figure?

Why the file upload does not work

The “Upload a file from your computer” tab only accepts BrickStock, LDraw, Digital Designer and Studio files, so no XML file. This is the most common pitfall. The XML from FigForge belongs in the “Upload BrickLink XML format” tab.

The error “Content is not allowed in prolog”

The message means BrickLink finds no valid XML at the start of the text. Typical cause: text copied from how the browser displays an XML file. The browser shows only the content, the tags are missing. The text has to start with <INVENTORY>.

  • Use the “Copy XML” button in FigForge. It passes the raw text with all tags.
  • If you downloaded the file, open it in a text editor, not in the browser, and copy all of the text.
  • Make sure nothing comes before <INVENTORY>, not even quotation marks.

What is in the list

Each line holds a BrickLink part number, a BrickLink color number and the quantity. The colors come from your choice in FigForge. A part in Reddish Brown, for example, carries the BrickLink color number 88, while Rebrickable calls the same color 70. The guide “Color names and color numbers” explains why.

Parts without a documented BrickLink mapping are not in the list. FigForge names them under “Why are some parts missing?” instead of guessing numbers.

Afterwards

  • Compare part number and color in the wanted list with your figure in the preview.
  • Only BrickLink shows price, availability and shipping. FigForge quotes no prices.
  • If no single store has every part, the figure ends up as several orders, each with its own shipping cost.