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How to search given string at all chat histories?
СTRL+F - search inside one chat, but I have a lot them, so I want find something in all saved chats?
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5
How to search given string at all chat histories?
СTRL+F - search inside one chat, but I have a lot them, so I want find something in all saved chats?
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In the Contact list or Recent list, simply click the contact or group you want to view the conversation history for and your conversation history is displayed.
The main.db database file where all chat history is stored. main.db is a standard SQLite database file and can be opened using any SQLite browser application. However, there is a free application, which is especially designed to read Skype’s chat and call data – SkypeLogView.
The main.db file is saved in one of the following (depending on OS).
On Windows 7 + : C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Skype\[Skype User Name]
On Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\Skype\[Skype User Name]
Following should work on all Windows versions, you can copy it into the Run prompt:
%APPDATA%\Skype
\[Skype User Name]
On Mac OS X: Library/Application Support/Skype/[Skype User Name]
For future, you may want to consider SkyHistory
Thanks for the links to 3rd party tools. I find that search in Skype itself is lame - some older time periods in the chat sometimes are collapsed and Skype ignores them when searching. I have to scroll through the chat first and expand all collapsed periods and only then I can find some text which was previously hidden in one of those collapsed periods. – JustAMartin – 2015-12-03T13:00:07.283
1Consider replacing [USER NAME]
with %USERNAME%
, so that your path becomes copy/pastable.
Also, "Skype name" was ambiguous to me (thought it was Skype's version or something O_o), I 'd update to "Skype username" – Balmipour – 2017-01-05T16:41:42.150
1Seems like the answer is outdated. Does anybody khow the way to seach Skype history in 2019? – userlond – 2019-11-07T08:50:52.243
@userlond have you got solution for search skype history? – Sangram S – 2019-12-02T08:46:45.200
2SkypeLogView - helps me, really nice tool. – coms – 2012-10-10T15:48:03.167
3SkyHistory still works with recent Skype. Thanks! – Vadzim – 2014-05-20T13:52:31.207
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Writing your own SQL queries using e.g. SqliteBrowser to search the Skype database, allows for more flexibility and functionality than using a 3rd party Skype-specific tool.
For example, this query will search for a text string in all your chats, and display the (local) time the message was posted, the message itself, the name of the chat (if it has a name), and who is in the chat.
select DISTINCT datetime(m.timestamp, 'unixepoch', 'localtime') as postedon, c.displayname as chatname, m.from_dispname as fromuser, m.body_xml as msgtext
from Messages m
INNER JOIN Conversations c ON m.convo_id = c.id
where m.body_xml LIKE '%my text%' --case insensitive
order by m.timestamp DESC
this isn't working (0 rows returned) on my current Skype version (7.33.0.105) – Facundo Colombier – 2017-03-28T13:13:22.147
@Facundo: I just tried it again with 7.34.0.102 and it still works for me. Make sure that the "%my text%" line is changed to something you're searching for (or comment out that line). – twasbrillig – 2017-03-29T09:54:19.247
@Facundo: I found my mistake; I was joining with the wrong table. Please try it again with the updated script above. – twasbrillig – 2018-03-26T19:11:55.660
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Skyperious also might be worth checking out. It has a few capabilities over SkypeLogView, such as
I just used Skyperious again to search for a word that I knew I used in a conversation years ago, but I forgot the person I was talking to. That would have taken ages to do if I attempted to click on each individual name and search the term. Thank God. – Jon Grah – 2016-12-11T15:13:12.863
3
I recently found a nice online tool for browsing Skype history: http://www.skypebrowser.com
Seems to be the best solution if you're not concerned about privacy issues.
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Following queries on main.db works for me:
Finds group chats
SELECT DISTINCT datetime(m.timestamp, 'unixepoch', 'localtime'), c.id, m.author, m.body_xml FROM
messages m
JOIN conversations c ON c.id = m.convo_id
WHERE c.type = 2 AND
m.body_xml NOT NULL
ORDER BY m.timestamp ASC
Finds private chat with your buddy
SELECT DISTINCT datetime(m.timestamp, 'unixepoch', 'localtime'), m.author, m.body_xml FROM
messages m
JOIN conversations c ON c.id = m.convo_id
WHERE m.body_xml NOT NULL AND
c.identity LIKE '%YOUR.BUDDY.NAME.HERE%' --case insensitive
ORDER BY m.timestamp ASC
In private chat with your buddy finds given word
SELECT DISTINCT datetime(m.timestamp, 'unixepoch', 'localtime'), m.author, m.body_xml FROM
messages m
JOIN conversations c ON c.id = m.convo_id
WHERE c.identity = 'YOUR.BUDDY.NAME.HERE' AND
m.body_xml NOT NULL AND
m.body_xml LIKE '%YOUR.SEARCHED.WORD.HERE%' --case insensitive
ORDER BY m.timestamp ASC
PS: sometimes your buddy name might be different than it is displayed in skype, so check this one first:
SELECT identity, displayname FROM conversations
and pick up one from identity
column
1
SkyHistory did not work for me - seems like it was not designed for 68MB of skype logs : )
One of the most powerful approaches is a also very simple - just use SQLite client. Here I wrote a simple manual: http://jehy.ru/articles/2014/05/26/searching-through-skype-history/
If you have more then 300 contacts and they have overlapping conversations – you understand that it’s impossible to find anything with simple Ctrl+F approach.
Fortunately, Skype uses SQLite database and we can make a direct connect to it and search there directly. So, you need to:
1) Download SQLite client (i used http://sqlitebrowser.org/ but you can install any client you like) 2) Find your history file as it is decribed on skype web site:
Hold down the Windows key The Windows key on your keyboard, then press R to bring up the Run window. If you are using a touch screen device on Windows 8, you can bring up the Run window from the Search charm. Type %appdata%\Skype into the Run window and press Enter. Open the folder named after your Skype Name. Find the main.db file in the folder, this file is your chat history.
3) Use your SQLite client to open this file. 4) Open database table “messages” 5) Use any SQL queries you want to search for message you need. Here’s an example of me searching for “git” word in conversations – but there are many field that you can use for searching and ordering.
4Knowing your operating system would help! – slhck – 2012-10-10T12:40:04.760
Have you looked here? http://shop.skype.com/apps/Search-Results.html?q=search#results
– Indrek – 2012-10-10T12:40:52.510