Messages OS X - Backup My Archive / History ?

Hi,

iMessages does not use iCloud to sync.

The iMessages Server is it's own standalone Server.

It "pushes" info (Data of each iMessages) to each registered device (iPhone Number and a Apple ID using peice of hardware).

(iCloud can be used to Sync the Contacts List but that is as close as it gets.

However it does seem the Apple ID does have to be iCloud Registered now which was not the case in Messages 7, Mountain Lion's version).

You iMessages "history" is stored in various database items in ~/Library/Messages.

Chat.db being the main one but the others are also needed.

If you are using Saved Chats then these are stored in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive

To access the ~/Library you have to use the Finder > Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT key which then displays the Library.

You can also Copy the path(s) above and use the Finder > Go menu > Go to Folder and Paste them into the dialogue box.

Another way would be to use the FInder method to access the folder in it's current place

Then use the Time Machine icon in the Dock

This will show you the current folder.

If it is a clone of the original then you can go back in time and grab and "restore" the files.

This is more difficult with a drive that is not using the same Time Machine "history".

10:45 pm Friday; February 28, 2014

Hi,

What might be the case now is the "Ownership" of the files you have moved.

The files on one drive can be considered the same way as if they were on another computer or from another Mac User account.

When you create the first Mac User Account on the computer it is always an Admin Account.

It gets given a shortname that tends to be your real name with upper case characters and spaces removed (Ralph Johns becomes ralphjohns)

Everything that gets stored in /Users/yourshortname is Owned by you (or rather that shortname).

If like me you use the same name to create the first Admin Account then this Ownership is computer or Drive related and is not "passed on" if the Mac User Account happens to have the same name.

Return to those Files and highlight them and do a Get Info (CMD + i keys together)

This opens the Info Panel

At the bottom is the section on Ownership and Permissions

If there are two names (i.e. both the old drive and the new one) seem to be associated with it you may have some sorting to do.

Most likely the name looks "right" but belongs to the old drive.

Highlight the name (it may or maynot have (me) linked to it as the Mac User account) and then the Cogwheel icon beneath the list.

This should be dark text if you DO NOT already Own it.

Here is a pic of a file I do own for comparison.

The Mac User On this computer that I log in with is just called "Ralph" which is "ralph" in it's shortname form.

"Make "ralph (Me)" the owner" is greyed out as I already own this file.

In this pic I have moved a music file to an Account called "ralphjohns" on an external drive (/Volumes/Spare Boot in the top section but it is still owned by the "ralph" account.

You may have to make sure the file belongs to the "right" User Account on this current Drive.

7:49 pm Saturday; March 1, 2014

for the Points.

8:00 pm Saturday; March 8, 2014

Hi,

I am not sure whether I understand what you said correctly.

I have copied the stuff in ~/Library/Messages and ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive.

However, it's not showing in the iMessage on my new mac.

Is there anyway to make it appear again? like those chat history?

Hi,

On the new Mac in ~/Library/Messages are there the chat.db items ?

Depending on the age of the "old" Mac's system it might pay to copy across the (if there are any) .incompatible variations.

Next we are talking about who Owns the files.

Basically once you have started your computer and created the Mac User account then any app that can do "Save As" will save the item and you are the owner.

This means that taking TextEdit for example will tend to Save to the Documents folder (~/Documents)

Any iMovie items will be saved to Movies and the same with Pictures and other files you might save.

If you then move files from one computer to another they retain the Ownership from the other computer - even if on both computers you happen to be the same name.

If you new Mac has a User called YQX it will not be the same Owner if the old Mac also has a User called YQX.

You will also have the same issue between Mac User Accounts on the same Mac.

In My Users folder the original Mac User (Admin) Account and the Migrated Mac User Account which is the one I am logged in with are both Present.

As you can see I can't access the ralphjohns one.

However I can login as ralphjohns and then drop things in the Public folder of another account.

I would then have to change the Ownership of that file.

If you have moved files you have to change the Ownership of them.

You have to display the Info panel like the two pictures above that I posted

If it lists a Different Mac User then you have to add the current one.

Then you have to Unlock the Padlock and use "Make NewUser the Owner"

Migrating can help with this but things moved (copied) by Click and Drag may need sorting out.

Once this is done then the app is going to have to be restarted.

It may even pay to restart the computer.

7:38 pm Friday; May 9, 2014

Hi Ralph,

I'm about to do a clean install with new SSD,

is there a way to save one conversation?

Hi,

I would say no.

The chat.db items store the iMessages but there seems to be no real way to edit them down to what you want.

Saved Chats which would be more applicable to AIM, Bonjour and Jabber chats it would be possible to access the Archive folder and edit the contents down the folders you need.

(a longer chat overs days, weeks or longer will saved in several folders, 1 for each "Session" or day)

7:12 pm Sunday; December 4, 2016