View SMS & Restore Backup on PC - HUGE XML file

[tardus]

I use Textra and have 30,000+ SMS messages which is 1.6Gb in size. The messages go back 3 or 4 Android phones, LOL! Each night I upload this huge XML file using SMS Backup & Restore.

I would like to delete all messages from my phone but first need to reliably access the "old" messages from a PC. In addtion to SMS, I need to be able to view the MMS - (photos) as well.

The Carbonite (now maintains SMS Backup & Restore) site lists ways to view SMS backups on a PC, but it only works for a minimal (smaller) number of SMS messages. See: https://www.carbonite.com/en/apps/call-log-sms-backup-restore/edit-backup-files-on-computer/

Two options I've found and not tried yet -

Bluestacks - install Textra or another SMS app on the PC and view the backup XML file

Install Android SDK on a PC, maybe in a virtual machine and view that way.

Also, EditPad Lite 7 can edit huge XML files like mine, but can't view the MMS and not properly formatted.

Any suggestions? Again, I want to place this on a desktop - Windows (or LINUX) - in the OS or virtual machine, and be able to view that single snapshot.

I'm open to any reasonable suggestions. Hope I missed a simple solution!

Thanks!

 

[ManiacJoe]

Try opening the XML file in a web browser and see what happens. The XSD file should be in the same folder as the XML file.

 

[tardus]

Try opening the XML file in a web browser and see what happens. The XSD file should be in the same folder as the XML file.

I tried that - no luck since the file is too big. That was a recommendation from Carbonite as well:

View the backup data using a web browser:

Note: The following does not work on Google Chrome or Firefox due to security risks of opening local XSL files.

To be able to view the files on a computer, first make sure that the preferences for “Add XSL Tag” and “Add Readable Date” in the Preferences of the app are checked before taking a backup.

Copy the backup file to a folder on the computer.
For SMS Backup & Restore:
Download (right click on the link and select “Save Target As” or “Save Link As” or equivalent on your browser) sms.xsl for SMS Backup & Restore file and store it in the same folder as the xml file.
For Call Logs Backup & Restore:
Download (right click on the link and select “Save Target As” or “Save Link As” or equivalent on your browser) Calls.xsl file and store it in the same folder as the xml file.
Open the xml file in the browser. The browser will now display it in a friendly HTML format.

Surely someone has a huge SMS backup that they need to view on a PC?

 

[ManiacJoe]

As a software engineer, I have editors that will do jumbo size files, so this is not a problem for me.

That said, I would never think to keep that much data on my phone. What does not get regularly deleted as "not needed" gets backed up then deleted as "wanted but not needed on my phone".

Try opening the file in a spreadsheet program.

 

[tardus]

I've tried everything stated in the Carbonite link in the first post, including spreadsheet programs, and they don't work. Any possible solutions based on my requirements would be appreciated. Over the weekend I'll have some time to install and test Android emulators.

 

[ManiacJoe]

If you are willing to try breaking the file into multiple pieces by hand, the 64-bit version of Notepad++ should be able to open your 1.5gb file and understands XML files.
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/

 

[tardus]

I've tried everything stated in the Carbonite link in the first post, including spreadsheet programs, and they don't work. Any possible solutions based on my requirements would be appreciated. Over the weekend I'll have some time to install and test Android emulators.

Bluestacks 3 Android emulator works resonabley well. It's fast and works as expected on my i5 with limited virtualization support. Bluestacks is more of a platform for Android app gaming on a PC/MAC, but for my purpose works OK so far. Steps as follows -

-Installed Bluestacks 3 on the PC
-In settings had to use Directx instead of OpenGL, to resolve problem of very slow response time.
-From the Play store, installed Textra (the app I happen to use for SMS/MMS) and SMS Backup & Restore.
-Made SMS Backup & Restore the default messaging app
-Imported a recent SMS Backup & Restore XML file into Bluestacks
-Clicked on that file and did a restore of all messages.
-When done, made Textra the default messenging app, and did the Textra "Resync Textra" option - that's a Textra thing.
-Open Textra and all SMS/MMS going back 5 years+ appear.

Any questions, let me know. There are a few issues, such as message date display which I'll mention later if anyone is interested. But working on a solution to that.

 

[Latabia Woodward]

Bluestacks 3 Android emulator works resonabley well. It's fast and works as expected on my i5 with limited virtualization support. Bluestacks is more of a platform for Android app gaming on a PC/MAC, but for my purpose works OK so far. Steps as follows -

-Installed Bluestacks 3 on the PC
-In settings had to use Directx instead of OpenGL, to resolve problem of very slow response time.
-From the Play store, installed Textra (the app I happen to use for SMS/MMS) and SMS Backup & Restore.
-Made SMS Backup & Restore the default messaging app
-Imported a recent SMS Backup & Restore XML file into Bluestacks
-Clicked on that file and did a restore of all messages.
-When done, made Textra the default messenging app, and did the Textra "Resync Textra" option - that's a Textra thing.
-Open Textra and all SMS/MMS going back 5 years+ appear.

Any questions, let me know. There are a few issues, such as message date display which I'll mention later if anyone is interested. But working on a solution to that.

Were your pictures restored as well?