Writing App Scrivener Gains New 'Dark Mode' on iOS

And what about adding iCloud Drive support?

It's a bit ridiculous they're still holding back on this, given their reasoning behind it now seems nullified.

Hello,

Why do you think the reason behind it has been nullified? I'd love to provide iCloud support (I'm the developer), but unfortunately iCloud just isn't compatible with Scrivener's file format (or Scrivener isn't compatible with iCloud if you prefer to put it that way). The problem is that Scrivener is a bit of a hybrid between a shoebox and a document-based app. So, each project is really a folder full of files. iCloud supports that to an extent, but not in the way Scrivener requires. When you open a project in Scrivener, not all of the project is loaded into memory - only the bits of the project (the documents in it) that you open at any one time. It works like this so that the memory footprint is low even for enormous projects and so that you can import massive amounts of research.

And that's the problem. Because a project is never fully open in memory, but only the parts currently in use, you could end up with a horribly corrupted project if parts of it synced in the background while other parts were open. Projects would become unusable. For instance, suppose Scrivener started to sync automatically but then lost its internet connection; it would have to tell you that you couldn't use the project until you found an internet connection and it was able to continue syncing. So it needs complete control over sync (thus an "archaic" manual sync), and iCloud doesn't allow for this. Of course, if you are only working on one device at a time and you have a constant internet connection on all devices, the potential for such problems is low. But I have to consider situations where a project has been edited on several devices with intermittent internet connections and the chaos that could cause if I had no control over which files in the project were uploaded or downloaded and when.

I have spoken to Apple about this, using their developer tech support system to look for some solution to implementing iCloud, but their suggestion was that Scrivener would need to download separate copies of your files to a separate, temporary container (doubling the space required for each project) and to move them into place when safe (still using a manual sync). So it would offer no benefits over Dropbox sync and would (temporarily) take up twice as much space.

(I know you mention iCloud Drive support rather than iCloud per se, but all of what I say here applies on the iOS end of things.)

iCloud is wonderful, but it works best with "flat" file formats, with individual files, or with package-based file formats that are opened in memory all in one go, and as yet there is, unfortunately, no magic solution for getting iCloud to work with Scrivener. I understand that Scrivener is unusual in this regard, and that some users find this an annoying limitation, but I'd pretty much have to rip out Scrivener's core features to implement iCloud support the way things stand. And I'd rather users complain about a lack of iCloud support than about losing data. :) That said, I am always watching developments in iCloud and would genuinely love to find a solution in the future.

All the best,
Keith

P.S. Many thanks to Tim for mentioning our 1.1 update on MacRumors!

P.P.S. If there's an experienced iCloud developer reading this who thinks I am speaking nonsense, please get in touch! :)

Your open approach to your customers and very friendly attitude, is highly respected Keith.

Looking forward to the release of Scrivener 3 for macOS. Will be buying it on release day.

Many thanks for the kind words all! I appreciate it.
Keith

No, thank you. It's developers such as yourself who make machines like the iPad Pro worth it. I've tried the Scrivener variants, and they are competent, functional, well-priced apps but I live in Scrivener on the Mac, and my experience changes little when I open a project on the iPad.

There are times I prefer to travel with the iPad and use it to write over my MBP.

Scrivener and Final Draft are 90% of what I do, and on the iPad, I'm soaring.

After hearing what's going on with 1Password, and what's already happened to YNAB, Daylite, Adobe, Avid, and others, please please PLEASE don't go the subscription route.

I'd rather pay $45 for every significant update. Better yet, just raise the price.

We have no plans to go the subscription route, don't worry! The 3.0 macOS update will work the same as the 2.0 update, with a discounted update fee for existing users (although that might not be possible on the Mac App Store, which doesn't offer upgrade routes, unfortunately).

And what about adding iCloud Drive support?

It's a bit ridiculous they're still holding back on this, given their reasoning behind it now seems nullified.