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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.messagedesk.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Export a conversation

You can export any individual conversation to CSV or PDF directly from the conversation toolbar. Use exports for audits, compliance reviews, customer records, or handing context to a stakeholder outside MessageDesk.
Need to export across many conversations by date, contact, label, etc.? Use Data Center → Message History instead.

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Start an export

  1. Open the conversation you want to export from the Inbox.
  2. In the conversation toolbar, click the More Options ⋯ menu.
  3. Select Export.
  4. Choose a format:
    • CSV — best for data and reporting.
    • PDF — a shareable, human-readable record of the conversation.
The export runs asynchronously in the background—you can keep working in MessageDesk while it’s preparing.

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When your export is ready

When the export finishes, an Export Available button appears in the top nav. Click it to download your file. You’ll also get a notification on devices where you’ve enabled them:
  • Push notification on the MessageDesk mobile app
  • Browser notification in the installed app or in Chrome
Notifications only go to the user who triggered the export—they’re not sent to your whole team.
Manage where you receive these notifications in Notification Preferences.

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Export formats

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CSV

CSV exports contain message text and metadata—designed for analysis, reporting, and bulk archiving. Included for each row:
  • Message text
  • Direction (inbound / outbound)
  • Timestamp
  • Sender / recipient (participant info)
  • Channel / phone line
  • Internal comments alongside messages
  • Delivery status
CSV exports do not embed media. Use PDF if you need media in the file.

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PDF

PDF exports produce a shareable, human-readable record of the full conversation:
  • Messages and internal comments interleaved in order
  • Timestamps and participant info on every entry
  • Renderable media (e.g., images) embedded inline
  • Non-renderable media (e.g., videos and other unsupported file types) replaced with a direct S3 link to the file and the note “Could not load preview” so the attachment remains accessible from the PDF

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What’s included

ItemCSVPDF
Messages (text)✅✅
Internal comments✅✅
Timestamps✅✅
Participant info✅✅
Direction / channel✅✅
Renderable media (e.g., images)❌ (text only)✅ Embedded inline
Non-renderable media (e.g., video)❌ (text only)S3 link + “Could not load preview”
Deleted messages are still exportable. Deleting a message in MessageDesk soft-deletes it—the record is retained on the backend. Exports include soft-deleted messages so the conversation record stays complete for audits and compliance.

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FAQ

Who can export a conversation?
Anyone with access to the conversation can export it from the ⋯ More Options menu. Permissions follow your Inbox Access for the phone line the conversation lives on—see Team Management → Permissions for the full breakdown. How long is the export file available?
The Export Available button stays in the top nav until you download the file or sign out. If you miss it, just re-run the export from the conversation’s ⋯ menu. Are scheduled messages included?
No. Exports include messages that have actually been sent or received plus internal comments. Pending scheduled messages haven’t been sent yet, so they aren’t part of the conversation record. Once a scheduled message sends, it appears in future exports. Can I export many conversations at once?
Not from the per-conversation toolbar. For workspace-wide filtered exports across date ranges, labels, contacts, or channels, use Data Center → Message History. Is the export delivered by email?
No. Exports stay in MessageDesk—click the Export Available button in the top nav to download.

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See also