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How to export data

Step-by-step guide for exporting collected data from your case — text messages, social media messages, and emails — as PDF, DOC, CSV, TXT, RSMF, or EML files.

Export collected data from a case — text messages, emails, social media messages, and files. The export workflow follows the same steps for all data types: open Case Exports, select your data sources, choose what to include, and download the files.


Step 1: Open Case Exports

Click Case Exports in the left sidebar from any page within a case.

You can also access exports from the review toolbar: click Tools, then Advanced Export.

Step 2: Start a new export

Click + New Export to open the export form. If you have previously exported data for this case, existing exports appear in the Export History table.

Step 3: Select data sources

The left panel lists all available data sources for the case. Check the sources you want to include in this export, or click Select All. Click a source to configure its export settings.


Phone

Select the phone data source to export text messages, including iMessage, SMS, and WhatsApp conversations.

Available formats:

  • PDF — Formatted conversation export with metadata, timestamps, and optional images

  • DOC — Word document format

  • CSV — Spreadsheet-compatible data export

  • TXT — Plain text export

  • RSMF — Relativity Short Message Format for eDiscovery platforms

By Conversation

Select individual conversations or click Select all to include every conversation. Use the search bar to find conversations by contact name. The "Hide exported" checkbox filters out conversations you've already exported.

By Tag

Click the By Tag tab to export only messages you've tagged during review. Select the tags to include. Use Context Window (Message Padding) to add messages before and after each tagged message for context — set to 0 for tagged messages only.


Email

Select the email data source to export collected emails from Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo accounts.

Available formats:

  • PDF — Exports email threads as formatted PDF documents

  • EML — Exports emails in their original format, compatible with email clients like Outlook

By Thread — Select individual email threads or check Select all to include every thread. Threads not previously exported are labeled Not Exported. Use the search bar to find specific threads.

By Tag — Click the By Tag tab to export only emails that have been tagged during review.


Social media

Select the social media data source to export direct messages from Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.

Available formats: PDF, DOC, CSV, TXT, RSMF

Selection: By Conversation or By Tag — same options as phone exports.


Documents

Select the Files data source to export collected documents, audio files, and other uploaded files. Use the By File tab to select individual files, or the By Tag tab to export only tagged files. Use the search bar to find files by name.


Step 4: Configure export settings

For each selected source, choose the export format, select the conversations or files to include, and set any date range or chunking options. You can select multiple sources — each source is configured independently. When all sources are ready, click Review & Export.

Step 5: Review and export

The Review & Export screen shows a summary of your selections:

  • Export File Prefix — Set a custom name to identify this export

  • Sources — Confirms the data source, item count, and format for each source

  • Download All Attachments — Downloads each conversation's attachments as a separate zip file

  • Send a Copy (optional) — Enter one or more email addresses to automatically send the export file when processing is complete

Click Create Export to start processing.

Step 6: Download or share

Track progress on the Case Exports page — the status shows the percentage complete. You'll also receive an email notification when the export is ready.

Click Download to save the files to your computer. If exporting multiple items, they are bundled in a ZIP file.

To share with someone else, click Share, enter the recipient's email address, and click Send.


Advanced settings

Advanced PDF settings

When exporting as PDF, toggle these options to control what appears in the output:

  • Phone numbers — Show or hide participant phone numbers next to names

  • Include comments — Include reviewer comments added during review

  • Recently deleted — Mark messages recovered from the iPhone's Recently Deleted folder

  • Print images — Show or hide message images as thumbnails

  • Include device logs — Add a log report of the extraction as an appendix

  • Deleted inline — Show deleted message gaps within the conversation

  • Hide video/file links — Show or hide clickable cloud icons for media file downloads

  • Include tags — Show tags applied to messages within the export

  • Deleted report — Generate a separate appendix of all deleted message gaps

RSMF format

When exporting as RSMF (Relativity Short Message Format), select how you want the files chunked for processing in eDiscovery platforms.

Date range

Use the date range presets (YTD, 1Y, 2Y, 5Y, All) or enter custom start and end dates to export only messages from a specific time period.


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If your export fails or takes too long, contact support@usehearsay.com for assistance.

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