Chat Logs - specific format required?

[chinesestunna 0]

Hi VJers,

So my wife and I are doing preparation work for her interview and one of the documentations that we are bringing is our chat logs both in MSN and Skype. Here's the issue:

1) For Skype, since I have 4.1 it doesn't give you the chat logs in a special window, but rather inline from the chat window. So what I have done is make the chat window display all our chats from the beginning and copy/pasted to a Word doc. My wife is insisting that this will not work, that it has to be within the specific "Skype History" window and screen captured instead of copy/pasted. She is also insisting that despite all the chat entries has my name on it, the call entries only say "Call to <my wife> " instead of "Call from <me> to <wife>", and that this will be a problem.

2) For MSN, same deal, since I don't use MSN but rather Trillian, my logs are not in the same format as MSN - not in a special history window but a txt file with all the time/dates and participants clearly marked.

She is adamant that the Consulate General will reject these documents because they are not in the "correct format" and I feel that's extremely unfair given that there are different software available and people can't control how the software renders the actually recorded content.

What do you guys think?

[dutchmatt 1]

Correct format? No one is required to submit chat logs, in fact I have none. I would take a cross section of chats over a few months, paste them into a word doc and call it a day. This is just one piece of evidence - no need to stress about it.

[Chris Me lil D 17]

Hi VJers,

So my wife and I are doing preparation work for her interview and one of the documentations that we are bringing is our chat logs both in MSN and Skype. Here's the issue:

1) For Skype, since I have 4.1 it doesn't give you the chat logs in a special window, but rather inline from the chat window. So what I have done is make the chat window display all our chats from the beginning and copy/pasted to a Word doc. My wife is insisting that this will not work, that it has to be within the specific "Skype History" window and screen captured instead of copy/pasted. She is also insisting that despite all the chat entries has my name on it, the call entries only say "Call to <my wife> " instead of "Call from <me> to <wife>", and that this will be a problem.

What do you guys think?

We are doing the same thing, and this is also what we sent to USCIS as a chat log history back in Feb 09

[youtube 0]

Hi VJers,

So my wife and I are doing preparation work for her interview and one of the documentations that we are bringing is our chat logs both in MSN and Skype. Here's the issue:

1) For Skype, since I have 4.1 it doesn't give you the chat logs in a special window, but rather inline from the chat window. So what I have done is make the chat window display all our chats from the beginning and copy/pasted to a Word doc. My wife is insisting that this will not work, that it has to be within the specific "Skype History" window and screen captured instead of copy/pasted. She is also insisting that despite all the chat entries has my name on it, the call entries only say "Call to <my wife> " instead of "Call from <me> to <wife>", and that this will be a problem.

2) For MSN, same deal, since I don't use MSN but rather Trillian, my logs are not in the same format as MSN - not in a special history window but a txt file with all the time/dates and participants clearly marked.

She is adamant that the Consulate General will reject these documents because they are not in the "correct format" and I feel that's extremely unfair given that there are different software available and people can't control how the software renders the actually recorded content.

What do you guys think?

the main thing is that you have a good representative examples - like once a month showing activity. there is 'no' format just that it shows that dates and time you where chatting. don't go too overboard, i.e., 1000 of pages.

good luck

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www.candleforlove.com for more help with China

[Tom and Milaren 0]

Hi VJers,

So my wife and I are doing preparation work for her interview and one of the documentations that we are bringing is our chat logs both in MSN and Skype. Here's the issue:

1) For Skype, since I have 4.1 it doesn't give you the chat logs in a special window, but rather inline from the chat window. So what I have done is make the chat window display all our chats from the beginning and copy/pasted to a Word doc. My wife is insisting that this will not work, that it has to be within the specific "Skype History" window and screen captured instead of copy/pasted. She is also insisting that despite all the chat entries has my name on it, the call entries only say "Call to <my wife> " instead of "Call from <me> to <wife>", and that this will be a problem.

2) For MSN, same deal, since I don't use MSN but rather Trillian, my logs are not in the same format as MSN - not in a special history window but a txt file with all the time/dates and participants clearly marked.

She is adamant that the Consulate General will reject these documents because they are not in the "correct format" and I feel that's extremely unfair given that there are different software available and people can't control how the software renders the actually recorded content.

What do you guys think?

Here is what I did on my Mac. Click on your wife's account and go into "Call History." This shows the date, time , and length of the call. I did screen prints for all calls so it was within the Skype window. The interviewer did not look at this documentation so I can't say it was accepted, but it offers the best possible proof. It shows all calls, even those of 00:00 duration because the connection did not go through. The cut and paste to Word is not as good. I would do everything possible to have it acceptable.

The "Call History" is different than the "Chat History." The "Call History" is a summary.

[garfield529 47]

If you are still concerned about extracting this information, just do a google search for SkypeChatExporter. It is a simple program that outputs your Skype logs into a much more user friendly format. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with this software, just in a similar boat.

Good Luck!