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

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/

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.

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.

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/thread/4610133?answerId=20618414022#20618414022

You can also google search for more options.

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.

In response to AskMissAMay 28, 2014 2:18 AM

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>

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.

If you use a Mac, it's pretty easy.

1) Enable forwarding of text messages to your Mac.

On your iPhone:

Settings/Messages

Enable iMessage

2) Open Messages on your Mac

3) Open the desired message

4) Highlight the desired text

5) right click and select copy

6) Post into whatever application necessary

Note: I cut and pasted into the Notes application and everything copied correctly, INCLUDING the photos

Hope this helps...

I have tried the suggestions in the replies to your message (consolidate and forward), and have one observation: I was unable to get the time and date of the message, which seems a pretty fundamental requirement for documentation. Am I doing something wrong?

Agree 100%. Like in emails

Followed it all

Up to click spot on all txts but it then says go to new page i cant find that what fo I do please

Thank you

You are absolutely right. I think Chris j slinked off to whatever cave he came from. By the way, apple could you seriously simply fix this for us.

If you want to be helpful, try responding to the lucid points made by cinmarly. THAT I would like to see.