GPT Exporter — Usage Guide

This document explains how to use GPT Exporter from the end-user perspective.
The instructions assume that the user is on Windows and uses the official ChatGPT data export.

GPT Exporter is an offline desktop viewer that processes your ChatGPT export ZIP and converts it into readable chat files, which are then opened in a built-in local viewer.

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1. System Requirements

- Windows 10 or Windows 11
- Python is not required when using the portable EXE
- No installation needed
- No network access required (the app runs fully offline by default)

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2. Getting GPT Exporter

Download from:
https://gpt-exporter.com/downloads

You will receive:
- GPT-Exporter.exe (portable)
- ZIP package
- SHA256 checksum file

Run the EXE directly — no setup.

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3. Exporting Data From ChatGPT

To obtain your full chat archive:

1. Open ChatGPT
2. Navigate to: Settings → Data Controls → Export Data
3. Confirm the export request
4. A ZIP file will be sent to your email
5. Download this ZIP to your computer

GPT Exporter uses this ZIP file as input.

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4. Processing Your ZIP File

1. Launch GPT-Exporter.exe
2. Press “Choose ZIP”
3. Select your export archive
4. Press “Export”

The program will:
- unpack the ZIP into a temporary folder
- detect supported conversation source files inside the archive
- read newer ChatGPT exports based on `export_manifest.json` and sharded files like `conversations-000.json`
- fall back to legacy `conversations.json` when present
- convert all detected chats into individual JSON files
- save everything inside:

<folder_with_exe>/chats/first/

A live log will show every step.

During export, temporary working folders are created next to the EXE inside:

<folder_with_exe>/.gpt-exporter/

They are removed automatically after export finishes.

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5. Opening the Viewer

After export completes, press:

Open local viewer

Your default browser will open a local address like:

http://127.0.0.1:<port>/

This is the local viewer.
Everything displayed is loaded entirely from your disk.

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6. Navigating Chats

Left panel:
- List of all chats
- Sorted by index
- Click any chat to open it

Right panel:
- Full message list
- Formatted text and code blocks
- Automatic deep links that reflect scroll position

Example deep link:
#v=chat&f=<filename>&m=<message_index>

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7. Copying Text and Code

Each message bubble has a copy button.
Each code block also has an independent copy button.

Clicking copies the content directly to clipboard.

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8. Where Your Data Lives

GPT Exporter stores everything locally.
No user data is uploaded anywhere.

Extracted chats are stored under:
<folder_with_exe>/chats/first/

Temporary export working folders are created under:
<folder_with_exe>/.gpt-exporter/

Temporary folders are removed automatically after export.
You may delete or move the chats folder anytime.

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9. Troubleshooting

Viewer does not open automatically:
– Open the local address manually from app.log
– Ensure your browser allows localhost access
– Ensure no local software is interfering with 127.0.0.1

Chats list is empty:
– ZIP is not an official ChatGPT export
– supported conversation files are missing, incomplete, or damaged

Some chats have empty messages:
– These nodes exist but contain no text (ChatGPT internal structure)

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10. Summary

1. Export data from ChatGPT
2. Run GPT Exporter
3. Choose ZIP → Export
4. Press “Open local viewer”
5. Browse your chats offline

GPT Exporter is private, transparent, and beginner-friendly, with an architecture prepared for future extensions.

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