Boxergirl

Q: how do I copy a very long iPhone text thread and email to myself?

I would like to copy and email myself a long text thread on my iPhone to save as a permanent document in text format.  I only see now that I can do two possible things:

 

#1)     Screen Shot page-by-page and then email to myself those photo images of the text conversation (but they will not be in text format)

 

OR

 

#2)     Select each reply, one by one, and then forward those to my email.  This could take an entire week to do.

 

Does anyone know of a better option?

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Oct 29, 2013 3:15 PM

Close

Q: how do I copy a very long iPhone text thread and email to myself?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by WiseJD,Apple recommended

    WiseJD WiseJD Oct 29, 2013 3:34 PM in response to Boxergirl
    Level 4 (1,666 points)
    Oct 29, 2013 3:34 PM in response to Boxergirl

    If you open the Message, you can hold your finger on one of the Message Segments until a pop-up shows up and click More ...then you can tap on each circle to the left of each Message Segment, then at the bottom of the screen you will see a curved arrow, click on it.  All you message segments will now be integrated on another page.  Then you can click on that and choose Select All and you can Copy and put it in an Email.

  • by eliotandstephanie,

    eliotandstephanie eliotandstephanie Mar 16, 2014 3:16 PM in response to WiseJD
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 3:16 PM in response to WiseJD

    See, instead of having to go through and select your messages one by one to forward, you only need to go through and select your messages one by one, then forward them. Much easier.

  • by AskMissA,

    AskMissA AskMissA May 28, 2014 2:18 AM in response to Boxergirl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 28, 2014 2:18 AM in response to Boxergirl

    Would be nice to have a "Select All Messages" option.

  • by KitteeCathee,

    KitteeCathee KitteeCathee Dec 9, 2014 3:44 PM in response to Boxergirl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 3:44 PM in response to Boxergirl

    I don't think there is any quick way.  Apple has some odd quirks for Mark All or Select All.  In my opinion, they should have it all across the board for text messages and emails, but somehow it doesn't exist for text messages.

  • by KitteeCathee,

    KitteeCathee KitteeCathee Dec 9, 2014 3:45 PM in response to WiseJD
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 3:45 PM in response to WiseJD

    Seriously?  Not to be rude, but please see question above.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Dec 9, 2014 3:51 PM in response to KitteeCathee
    Level 9 (59,085 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 9, 2014 3:51 PM in response to KitteeCathee

    Seriously??? You joined today to make a post to a thread that is over a year old and complained about someone's response? Actually, at this time, the best way is to purchase some 3rd party software and copy the thread that way. Try TouchCopy from Wide Angle Software.

  • by KitteeCathee,

    KitteeCathee KitteeCathee Dec 9, 2014 4:06 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 4:06 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Yes, seriously.  I wasn't complaining, but the solution was essentially a recap of what Boxergirl was trying to get around.  I didn't think it mattered or is relevant that the post was a year old nor that I signed on today.  In any event, sincere apologies if you thought my comment was rude.  I shouldn't take out my frustrations with text messaging limitations on others.

    Thanks for the app suggestion.  Unfortunately, I am a Mac user so I think I am back to the drawing board.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Dec 9, 2014 4:16 PM in response to KitteeCathee
    Level 9 (59,085 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 9, 2014 4:16 PM in response to KitteeCathee

    Well, you didn't mention Mac, but to my knowledge, TouchCopy works on both platforms. And, my understanding of the OP was to send each one individually, whereas WiseJD was referring to selecting them all so you could copy them all and send, rather than emailing each individual piece.

     

    It wasn't that I thought it was rude, but that it was a complaint about something that someone said a year ago. You did not come here to ask a question, or indicate at all that you were looking for a solution to a similar question. It was just that you came on, slammed a response and left it at that. Those of us that take the time to answer people's questions as volunteers and users just like you. If you spend a great deal of time here, you will see a lot of different types of questions/comments that can get on your nerves. Here is a link for TouchCopy and it does work on both platforms. http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/

  • by KitteeCathee,

    KitteeCathee KitteeCathee Dec 9, 2014 4:31 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 4:31 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Okay, point taken.  And humbly so.

     

    I think I read Boxergirl's issue differently than you did and it seemed like WiseJD was suggesting more or less exactly what she was trying to avoid.  But it's irrelevant because you are right -- when I stepped back and looked at it from your perspective, I can see how I didn't say that I was here looking for a solution to the same problem and it might have just looked as though I was being snarky.  I guess in my mind, the only reason why I would be on here is simply because I am looking for a solution and this thread came up in my search.  I will exercise greater care in future.

    I'll give the TouchCopy a try.  Thanks for the tip.  I have a very lengthy hread I need to copy and forward for work purposes and WiseJD's suggestion as you spelled it out for me is still way too time consuming.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Dec 9, 2014 4:37 PM in response to KitteeCathee
    Level 9 (59,085 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 9, 2014 4:37 PM in response to KitteeCathee

    I agree with it being time consuming. I am troubled, not by you, but by others that use text messaging for something so important that they need to save huge threads. While the program that I provided you the link for will allow you to save the threads, they are not formatted easily. It seems that people have gotten by the real purpose of SMS, short messaging service, and are using it for important business conversations, which it was never intended to be used for. But, I'm not going to debate all of that here. There really isn't a good solution for saving these large threads, and I believe it is because of the reason I stated above. Good luck with it, and I hope you find your time at ASC better after this. I'm sorry I jumped at you. Guess I was being snarky too. Have a great evening.

  • by appdataf,

    appdataf appdataf Dec 9, 2014 7:18 PM in response to Boxergirl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 7:18 PM in response to Boxergirl

    The two ways you provided are all very time-taking. Actually there are some third party software that can scan your iPhone and extract the messages into text format and save it to your PC or Mac.

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/20618414#20618414

    You can also google search for more options.

  • by zootrainer,

    zootrainer zootrainer Apr 11, 2015 1:29 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 1:29 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    ChrisJ - I don't think it's fair to assume that those of us looking for a solution to this problem are all interested in saving some type of long business thread. I agree that business communications shouldn't be done via text.

     

    In my case, I lost my spouse two years ago, and since that time, I have saved long threads of messages between myself and my kids, and other close family and friends. I occasionally go through and delete meaningless stuff, but want to keep the meaningful and/or funny little text message conversations. At the same time, I need to delete as much as possible from my phone due to Apple's ridiculous requirements for space for an upgrade. Solution - find a way to export the threads I want to keep.

     

    I will be using WiseJD's suggestion.

  • by AutumnStays,

    AutumnStays AutumnStays Oct 20, 2015 10:10 AM in response to AskMissA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 10:10 AM in response to AskMissA

    Would be nice to have a "Select All Messages" option.

     

    Yes, it sure would be nice, and it's completely predictable that someone might want this functionality.

     

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by CurlyCabbage,

    CurlyCabbage CurlyCabbage Sep 29, 2016 4:01 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 4:01 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    There are many legitimate reasons why someone might want to send a lengthy text conversation by email. In my case I am selling a car and the buyer contacted me initially by SMS. After a lengthy text conversation it turned out to be a scam. The police asked me if I can send them a copy of the conversation which is why I need to do this.