Frequently asked questions

You provide the standard WhatsApp ZIP export (with or without media). ChatFormats parses the chat, detects timestamps, participants, deleted messages, and attachments. Then it generates a complete evidence package: Bates‑stamped PDF exhibit, HTML review interface, privilege log CSV, full chat CSV, tabular review CSV, Concordance .dat/.opt, Relativity LOADFILE, and organized media folders. All processing happens offline — no cloud upload.

No. ChatFormats runs 100% offline on your Windows machine. All processing — including OCR, voice transcription (Moonshine), privilege detection, and load file generation — happens locally. Client chat never leaves your environment. Only license validation contacts our servers (metadata only, never message content). For air‑gapped deployments, we offer offline license options.

Both Android and iOS exports are supported. Use "Export Chat" from WhatsApp → choose "Without Media" or "Include Media". The app accepts the resulting ZIP file and automatically finds the correct _chat.txt or export text file. Even large 500MB+ exports are handled using a streaming parser.

Yes. The Small Firm and Enterprise tiers include custom keyword management. You can add firm‑specific privilege triggers, client codenames, or practice‑area terms. Custom lists are applied across all exports and can be updated easily.

By design, yes. Because the software processes evidence locally, no personal data is transmitted to us or any third party. You remain the data controller. We can provide a Data Processing Addendum (DPA) for enterprise customers. The software does not include cloud storage, telemetry is disabled by default, and we never access your evidence.

ChatFormats calculates SHA‑256 hashes of the original ZIP and the extracted .txt file. Those hashes are embedded in the PDF exhibit, the HTML review header, and a separate Chain of Custody TXT report. The PDF also includes generation timestamp and case metadata — giving you a defensible narrative from source to exhibit.

Yes. Enterprise tier supports offline license verification and manual update installation. All required AI models (Moonshine, spaCy, Tesseract) can be pre‑installed without internet access. We can provide a deployment package and guidance for secure environments.

You get Concordance .dat/.opt (pipe‑delimited with OPT control file), Relativity LOADFILE + images.csv, and a 17‑field tabular review CSV. Media files are copied to a structured folder with stable naming. All files are ready for direct ingestion into Relativity, Concordance, Reveal, iCONECT, or Excel-based review workflows.

Absolutely. You define a custom Bates prefix (e.g., "LAW", "SMITH") and the software produces a professional PDF with page‑level Bates numbering, case caption, court name, docket number, and chain-of-custody footer. The PDF is print‑optimized for hearing binders and e‑filing.

Yes, ChatFormats uses Moonshine (open‑source) locally on your machine. It supports M4A, OPUS, MP3, WAV, AMR, and many other audio formats. The software automatically matches transcribed text to the original audio message, and you can export word‑level JSON timestamps for hearing preparation. No cloud API calls.

Yes. ChatFormats integrates Tesseract OCR locally. Extracted text becomes searchable in the HTML viewer, appears in the OCR_Text column of the tabular review CSV, and can be appended to message text in exports. Great for screenshots, photos of documents, and whiteboards.

Yes. The parser detects deletion patterns and records metadata: who deleted the message (if identifiable) and approximate deletion time. Deleted messages are clearly marked in the HTML viewer, included in the export CSV with a "Deleted" flag, and appear in the review interface — critical for spoliation arguments and credibility analysis.

We offer one‑time licenses: Solo Legal ($249, 1 user, 1 year updates); Small Firm ($899, up to 5 users, 2 years updates); and custom Litigation Support/Enterprise (unlimited users, on‑prem/air‑gapped, dedicated support). See our pricing page for full details. All include core features; Firm adds Concordance/Relativity load files, custom privilege keywords, and advanced NER.

We offer a guided live demo (30‑40 minutes) where we process a sample WhatsApp export and walk through every output: PDF, HTML, CSV, load files, privilege log, and voice transcription. Schedule a demo →.

The license is valid for 1 year from activation. After the license period ends, the software will stop working and you will need to renew your license. We offer a 20% renewal discount for existing customers. Enterprise agreements often include custom renewal terms.

Windows 10 or 11 (64‑bit), 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended for large exports + voice transcription), 500 MB disk space for the application. For voice transcription models (Moonshine), allow an additional 8–12 GB free disk during first use. No administrator rights required for normal operation (installers may need elevation).

The parser streams the chat file line by line, never loading the entire file into memory. This allows processing of 500MB+ exports (millions of lines) without crashing or excessive memory use. Media files are copied once and deduplicated.

Yes. ChatFormats is available for Windows (64‑bit), macOS, and Linux. Choose the version that works best for your environment.