ChatGPT app for Mac

So I went to the ChatGPT website to ask a question and got hit with a popover promo for the new Mac app version. So I got it. Here is the dialog that followed my first question (which is boring, so we’ll skip it), copied over from the ChatGPT website, where I went after this frustrating encounter:

Can I move my chat history from the web to here?

ChatGPT said:

Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to move chat history from one platform to another. However, if there’s specific information or conversations you’d like to continue or reference, you can copy and paste the relevant parts here, and we can pick up from there! If there’s anything specific you want to discuss or continue from a past conversation, just let me know.

You said:where here is my chat history?ChatGPT said:

Your chat history here is session-based, meaning it exists only for the duration of our current conversation. Once the session ends, the chat history isn’t saved. However, I can remember key details or preferences across sessions if you want, and you can also start fresh conversations at any time.

If there’s something specific you want to continue discussing from a previous session, you might want to copy and paste that information here.

You said:That’s useless. Thanks anyway.ChatGPT said:

I understand that can be frustrating. If you need any help or want to continue discussing something specific, I’m here to assist. Just let me know!

You said:I’m paying OpenAI for ChatGPT. I would hope that the app would offer advantages over the Web page.ChatGPT said

I can see why you’d expect some added benefits from the app version. While the app and web versions of ChatGPT share many of the same core functionalities, the app offers convenience for on-the-go use, such as notifications and a more optimized interface for mobile devices. However, both platforms currently have similar features in terms of chat history and session management.

If you have suggestions or feedback on features you’d like to see, sharing that with OpenAI could be helpful. They are continually improving the platform, and user feedback is a big part of that process.

Is there anything specific you’d like to see improved or added to the app?

You said:Yes. chat history.ChatGPT said:

Your request for chat history is completely understandable, especially for those who want to revisit previous conversations, continue complex discussions, or reference past information. While I can’t implement that feature directly, your feedback is valuable.

I’d recommend sharing this feedback directly with OpenAI through their official channels or within the app’s feedback options. They often use user feedback to prioritize new features and improvements, so expressing your need for chat history could help influence future updates.

If there’s anything else on your mind or another way I can assist, feel free to let me know!

You said:Can I copy this whole dialog and save it as text?ChatGPT said:

Yes, you can easily copy the entire dialog and save it as a text file. Here’s how you can do it:

Select the Text: Click and drag your cursor to highlight the entire conversation.Copy the Text: Right-click on the highlighted text and select “Copy,” or press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).Paste the Text: Open a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac), then paste the copied text by right-clicking and selecting “Paste,” or by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).Save the File: Once the text is pasted, you can save the file by going to “File” > “Save As,” then choose your desired location and file name.

This will allow you to keep a record of the conversation for future reference.

You said:It only works for the latest answer.ChatGPT said:

If you’re experiencing issues with selecting and copying the entire conversation at once, here’s a workaround:

Use the Browser’s “Select All” Feature:On the web or in an app, try pressing Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac) to select all the text on the screen. This should highlight the entire conversation.Then, press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy the highlighted text.Copy in Sections:If the “Select All” method doesn’t work, you might need to scroll up and copy the conversation in smaller sections.Highlight a section of the conversation, copy it, and paste it into your text editor. Then, repeat the process for the remaining sections.Browser Extension:If you’re using a browser, certain extensions or tools like “Evernote Web Clipper” or “Simplified Notepad” might allow you to clip the entire webpage or copy all text for easier saving.

Let me know if you encounter any issues, and I can try to guide you further!

You said:It still only works for the latest answer.

ChatGPT said:

If you’re only able to copy the latest answer, this might be due to the way the chat interface is designed, especially in some apps or browsers. Here’s an alternative approach you can try:

1. Screenshot the Conversation:If you can’t copy the text directly, you can take screenshots of the conversation. Most devices allow you to take a screenshot by pressing specific keys:Windows: Press Windows Key + Shift + S to select an area to screenshot.Mac: Press Command + Shift + 4 to select an area to screenshot.iOS/Android: Use the physical buttons on your device to take a screenshot.You can then save these screenshots as images for future reference.2. Use the Browser’s “Print” Feature:If you’re on a browser, you can try printing the page to a PDF, which will capture the entire conversation.On your browser, press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac) to open the print dialog.Choose “Save as PDF” instead of printing, and this will create a PDF file of the entire chat.3. Use Developer Tools (Advanced Method):For advanced users: In a browser, you can open the developer tools (F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I on most browsers), inspect the elements of the conversation, and manually extract the text from there. However, this is a more technical solution.

If these methods don’t work or you have further issues, let me know, and we can explore other options!

The UI is a small fixed-size window (like those chat windows you see on service sites), so screenshooting made no sense. And the other two options weren’t worth trying.

But when I went to ChatGPT on the Web, there was my history outlined in the left panel:

The top one was the dialog I just had, displayed in the Web interface. The app could have @#$%^ told me that was a feature.

But it didn’t, because it’s lame. So far.