Frequently asked questions

Short answers about Starry Night Message Exhibit. Can’t find yours? Ask us.

Is it free?

Yes. Importing, previewing and downloading the PDF are free. Free PDFs have a light diagonal PREVIEW watermark across each page.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. Your browser reads the files and builds the PDF on your device. The page’s security policy only allows connections to this site, and the page only sends anonymous counters such as “a PDF was created”. File contents, file names, phone numbers, names and hashes are never sent. See the privacy policy.

Will a court accept the PDF?

We can’t promise that. Each court sets its own rules for exhibits, redaction and proving that evidence is authentic, and the judge decides what is admitted. The PDF is a clear, complete, dated copy with a record of its source; confirm what your court requires with the clerk, the local rules or an attorney.

Which files can I use?

Android text and picture messages saved by the SMS Backup & Restore app (.xml), and WhatsApp chat exports from iPhone or Android (.txt or .zip). You can add several files and combine them.

Can I use iPhone iMessages?

Not yet. The iPhone has no built-in export for Messages. See the options that work today; WhatsApp chats on iPhone work now.

What time zone are the times in?

Android backups store exact moments, so you choose the time zone and each time shows its zone abbreviation (for example EST or EDT). WhatsApp exports store the phone’s local clock time without a zone, so those times are shown exactly as written, and the PDF says so.

WhatsApp dates look wrong (day and month swapped). What do I do?

WhatsApp writes dates in the phone’s regional format. The tool detects the order automatically and shows how it decided. If it got it wrong, choose the correct order under “WhatsApp date order”.

Are photos and videos included?

Attachments are listed by file name, type and size, and for WhatsApp archives the PDF says whether each file is in the archive. The pictures themselves are not placed in the PDF.

Do emoji show up?

Yes, as black-and-white emoji symbols. Text in Latin, Greek and Cyrillic alphabets is supported. Some scripts (for example Chinese, Arabic and Hindi) are not yet covered by the PDF fonts; those characters appear as a replacement mark, the preview shows them correctly, and the source log counts them.

How large a file can it handle?

Android backups are read in small pieces and photo data is skipped as it is read, so memory use depends on the number of messages, not on the photos. We test with backups of well over 100 MB; a desktop browser handles big files best. WhatsApp archives are not unpacked in full: the tool reads only the archive index and the chat text.

How do I cite a specific message?

Every message has a number (#1, #2…) in the PDF, and every page has a Bates number. For example: “message #37, page DOE000004”.

What is a Bates number?

A unique page ID such as DOE000001, used to refer to pages across all the documents in a case. See Bates numbering explained.

What is the SHA-256 hash for?

It is a fingerprint of the original file. Anyone with the file can recompute it and confirm it is the same file the PDF was made from. See why a SHA-256 hash helps.

Can I leave out some messages?

Yes: by conversation, by date range, or by sender. The source log lists each filter and how many messages it left out, so the selection is transparent.

Who makes this?

Starry Night, an independent software publisher. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice.

How do I report a problem or ask a question?

Use the support form. Please don’t paste private message content you don’t need to share.