How to create a list template by using CSOM?

Question

For creating a list template programmatically by using server object, I'm using the SaveAsTemplate() function.

SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges(delegate
{
  using (SPSite oSPsite = new SPSite(strSiteURL))
  {
    oSPsite.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;
    using (SPWeb oSPWeb = oSPsite.OpenWeb())
    {
      oSPWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;

      SPList list = oSPWeb.Lists[strListName];
      string bkpTemplateName = "bkp" + strListName + ".stp";
      list.SaveAsTemplate(bkpTemplateName, bkpTemplateName.Replace(".stp",""), "Description", true);

      list.Update();
      oSPWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = false;
    }
    oSPsite.AllowUnsafeUpdates = false;
  }
});

But, is there a way to do the same by using CSOM?

Answer 1

The method SaveAsTemplate is not exposed in CSOM API, there is a general suggestion opened: Expose List.SaveAsTemplate() for CSOM API

Basically you can create lists using already existing custom templates, but programmatically you cannot create new ones.

Site.GetCustomListTemplates(web);
Web.ListTemplates

What you can do is define the list schema xml and use it every time you have to create a new list programmatically, using the ListCreationInformation CustomSchemaXml property.