> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alterhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Share and Export Task Traces

> Export task conversations as markdown, share traces with the Alter team, and open subagent chats from the Tool Inspector

When Alter runs a **task-producing tool** — **Computer Use**, **Flow**, or other agents that spawn a sub-conversation — the parent chat shows a tool run in the **Tool Inspector**. From there you can **open the full task thread**, **export it as markdown**, or **share a trace** with the Alter team for debugging.

This workflow is separate from saving a normal Hub conversation with **Save Conversation as Markdown** (**⌘⇧S**). Task traces capture the **subagent's** back-and-forth, including tool calls the parent message triggered.

## When to use each option

| Action                                      | Use when                                                                         |
| ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Open in tab**                             | You want to read the full task conversation inside Alter                         |
| **Export Chat**                             | You need a local **.md** file for your records, docs, or offline review          |
| **Share trace**                             | Something failed or behaved unexpectedly — send diagnostics to the Alter team    |
| **Save Conversation as Markdown** (**⌘⇧S**) | You want the **parent** Hub/QuickHub chat exported, not just the task sub-thread |

## Where to find task actions

1. Run a task-producing tool (for example ask Alter to **Computer Use** a goal, or invoke **Flow**)
2. In the **Hub** or **QuickHub**, open the **Inspector** panel for the conversation (sidebar inspector toggle)
3. Select the **tool run** in the inspector — the row for `computer_use_task`, Flow, or another task agent
4. Scroll to the **task conversation** action block (highlighted accent background)

Three actions appear:

* **Open in tab**
* **Export Chat**
* **Share trace**

While a share is uploading, the button shows **Sharing trace...** and is disabled until the request completes.

For **Computer Use** runs that are still active, the inspector may also show **Watch preview** to reopen the floating live preview — see [Background Computer Use](/apps-tools/computer-use-background).

## Open in tab

**Open in tab** jumps to the **read-only task conversation** — the subagent thread with its own messages, tool calls, and results. Use this when:

* The parent reply summarized the outcome but you want step-by-step detail
* You need to copy a specific tool argument or result from the sub-thread
* You are reviewing a long **Computer Use** run before exporting

The task tab opens in the Hub context. If you triggered the tool from QuickHub, **Open in Hub** (**⌘O**) first when you need the full tabbed Hub layout.

## Export Chat

**Export Chat** saves the task conversation as a **Markdown document**:

1. Click **Export Chat** in the Tool Inspector
2. Choose a location in the save panel (defaults to **Downloads**)
3. Alter writes a `.md` file named from the task title (or **Task Chat** if untitled)
4. Finder opens the containing folder

The export includes the task title and formatted messages from the subagent conversation — the same content Alter uses for trace sharing, but saved **locally on your Mac**.

<Tip>
  To export the **parent** conversation (everything visible in the main chat, not just the subagent thread), use **Save Conversation as Markdown** — default **⌘⇧S** under **Settings → Shortcuts → Hub**.
</Tip>

## Share trace

**Share trace** uploads a diagnostic bundle to Alter's API so the team can investigate bugs, permission failures, or unexpected agent behavior.

### Requirements

* You must be **signed in** to Alter (a valid account JWT). If you are logged out, sharing fails with an authentication error.
* A task conversation must exist for the selected tool run — the inspector derives it from the tool result or the live task registry.

### What is sent

The upload includes:

* **Title** — task conversation title
* **Markdown** — formatted task messages (same as Export Chat)
* **Tool name** — for example `computer_use_task` or a Flow tool id
* **Task conversation id** — internal identifier linking parent and sub-thread
* **App version** — Alter build string for reproduction

On success, Alter shows **Trace Shared** — *The trace was shared with the Alter team.*

On failure, **Share Trace Failed** displays the error (network, auth, or server).

### Privacy expectations

Traces are intended for **support and debugging**, not public sharing:

* Content reflects what the **task subagent** saw and did — prompts, tool arguments, and results
* **Screen content**, window titles, and file paths from Computer Use may appear in the markdown if the agent captured them
* Home directory paths in Doctor reports are redacted when you use **Copy Report**, but task exports are **not** automatically redacted — review before sharing if the run touched sensitive apps

Do not share traces that include passwords, financial data, or confidential documents unless you intend to expose that information to Alter support.

## Save Conversation as Markdown (parent chat)

**Save Conversation as Markdown** — default **⌘⇧S** — exports the **active Hub or QuickHub conversation** to markdown via the Hub menu or shortcut. It does **not** replace **Export Chat** on a tool run:

* **⌘⇧S** → entire parent thread (your messages + assistant replies + tool summaries as shown in main chat)
* **Export Chat** (inspector) → subagent task thread only

Customize **Save Conversation as Markdown** in **Settings → Shortcuts → Hub**.

## Troubleshooting

**Task actions missing in the inspector**

* The tool must be a **task-producing** run with an associated sub-conversation
* Wait for the tool to finish starting — some agents register the task id after the first subagent message

**Export Chat beeps and does nothing**

* The task conversation was released from memory — re-run the tool or open the parent conversation while the task is still loaded

**Share trace fails with login error**

* Sign in under **Settings → Profile** or the account menu, then retry

**I need a shareable public link**

* **Share trace** uploads to Alter support; it does not copy a public URL to your clipboard. Use **Export Chat** and share the `.md` file through your own channels if you need a link outside Alter.

## Related docs

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Computer Use" icon="cursorarrow.rays" href="/apps-tools/computer-use">
    Goal-based agent that produces task conversations
  </Card>

  <Card title="Background Computer Use" icon="play.rectangle" href="/apps-tools/computer-use-background">
    Watch preview and Edge Bar sessions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shortcuts reference" icon="keyboard" href="/references/shortcuts">
    ⌘⇧S and Hub shortcuts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Doctor settings" icon="stethoscope" href="/how-to/settings-guide#doctor">
    Permission diagnostics when tools fail
  </Card>
</CardGroup>