Category: Storyist for iOS

Working with the Files Interface

Working with the New Files Interface

Don’t be surprised if the new start screen in Storyist 4 for iOS looks familiar. It should. Starting in version 4, the Storyist home screen is essentially the Files app with a few important additions. If you’re not familiar with the Files app, you’ll find information about how to use it in Apple’s tutorial.

Here are some of the new features it brings to Storyist.

Edit in Place

If you’re a long-time iOS user, you know that files originally “belonged” to the app that created them. One side effect of this model was that you needed to copy a file to another app before editing it in that app. If you weren’t careful, you ended up with multiple copies of the file in different apps and needed keep track of which modifications were made in which app. Some apps still operate this way.

However, when using apps that support the “edit in place” Files functionality (like Storyist 4 does), you can edit a file wherever it is stored without having to copy it. This means you can organize your work in whatever way suits your project while avoiding the multiple copy problem.

3rd-Party Cloud Storage Providers

Another main feature of the Files app is that it gives 3rd-party cloud storage providers like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive a single, Apple-approved, way to integrate their services with iOS.

While Storyist 3 supported only iCloud and Dropbox, Storyist 4 can use any provider that supports the Files app. For example, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive all support the Files app.

To set up a 3rd-party cloud storage provider:

  1. Download and set up the cloud storage app.
  2. Open Storyist 4.
  3. Tap Edit in the Locations list.
  4. Turn on the cloud services you want to use.
  5. Tap Done.

Folders, List View, Tags, and Searching

Storyist 3 showed all of your files at the same level as a grid of icons. Using the Files interface in Storyist 4, you can

  • Organize your files into folders.
  • Display your files as a list.
  • Tag your files with a label or color.
  • Sort by name, date, size, and tag.
  • Search across all storage locations on your device.

Share Sheets

The Files interface works with iOS share sheets so you can

  • AirDrop your files to other devices.
  • Send a copy of your file using Messages, Mail, or 3rd-party apps that provide a share extension.
  • Share your work with collaborators using iCloud Files Sharing. (More on this below.)

To share a file:

  1. Tap Select.
  2. Tap the file you want to share.
  3. Tap Share.
  4. Select the sharing method.

iCloud File Sharing

iCloud Sharing lets you share files you’ve stored in iCloud with friends and collaborators who have an Apple ID.

As with iCloud Photo Sharing, you can

  • Give access to the file to anyone with a link, or only to those you invite.
  • Set permissions to let them make changes or just view the file.

Recent Files

The Files interface gives you quick access to recently edited files both in the app and on the home screen.

To see your recently edited files in the app, just tap the Recents tab on the Storyist home screen. To see them on the home screen, press and hold the app icon.

Tapping a file in the Recents lists opens it in the app.

Version History

One thing that the Files app doesn’t offer is access to previous versions of your file. Storyist 4 lets you view and restore previous versions stored in iCloud and in the Storyist folder in the “On My iPad” location.

To view the previous versions of a file, press and hold the file icon and select Versions from the popup menu.

If you want to return to an older version of the file, just select the file and tap Restore.

Note that version history is only available for files stored in iCloud and for files stored in the Storyist folder on your device.

If you’re using a 3rd party cloud storage provider, you may also be able to get version history from the provider’s app or website. For example, both Dropbox and Google Drive support this feature.

For more information, see the “Backing Up Your Work” section in the Users Guide.

As you can see, the Files interface brings some powerful new file management features to the app. Storyist 4 for iOS offers a free trial, so download it and take it for a spin!


-Steve

Storyist 4 is out!

I’m delighted to announce that Storyist 4 for macOS and iOS are now available. As mentioned in the Sneak Peek, version 4 brings many new features and usability enhancements.

Storyist 4 for macOS

Dark Mode on Mojave—Storyist 4 for macOS sports a beautiful new content-aware dark mode when running on Mojave. Many apps only support dark mode when your Mac is in dark mode, but Storyist 4 takes it a step further. Dark mode is available even if your Mac is running with the Light appearance and you can choose either dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background.

Quick Navigation—Getting around your project has never been easier. You can use the new Go To command to get to any project view with a few keystrokes.

Enhanced PDF Export—Sometimes you just need to make a PDF from several files in your project. Storyist 4 lets you quickly assemble and export a PDF without needing to create a book. This is useful for adding a title page to a manuscript or for assembling a couple of chapters to send to your critique group.

And More—Storyist 4 comes with many other enhancements, including an updated outliner, a more flexible full-screen view, and animation, performance, and usability improvements.

Storyist 4 for macOS requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later.

Storyist 4 for iOS

Files App Support–The Storyist home screen is now based on the Files app, so you can:

  • Store files where you want and edit them in place.
  • Use 3rd party cloud storage solutions like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
  • Share files with others over iCloud using iCloud file sharing.
  • Organize your files using nested folders and tags.
  • View recently-edited files stored across multiple cloud storage providers.

New Themes–Storyist 4 includes several new themes, including both a light and a dark theme. Like the original theme? No worries, it’s still there. Tap the More button on the home screen and choose Themes to see the complete list.

Storyist 4 for iOS requires iOS 11 or later.

Free Trial and Upgrade Discounts

Storyist 4 is free to download on all platforms and offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test all features before purchasing. If you decide to keep the app after the trial period expires, just use the in-app purchase window to unlock the features permanently. Even if you choose not to purchase the app, you can use Storyist as a free viewer.

Enjoy!

As always, if you have questions, please feel free to contact support.

-Steve

Storyist 4 Sneak Peek

It’s been quiet around here. Maybe too quiet. Let’s change that. I’m happy to announce that Storyist 4 for macOS and Storyist 4 for iOS are currently in beta testing and will be available soon. Here’s a peek at what’s coming.

Storyist 4 for macOS

Dark mode on Mojave

Storyist 4 for macOS sports a beautiful new content-aware dark mode when running on Mojave. Many apps only support dark mode when your Mac is in dark mode, but Storyist 4 takes it a step further. Dark mode is available even if your Mac is running with the Light appearance and you can choose either dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background.

Quick navigation

Getting around your project has never been easier. You can use the new Go To command to get to any project view with a few keystrokes.

And More…

Storyist 4 for macOS supports High Sierra and Mojave and includes many other enhancements, including

  • Additional workflows for exporting PDF files and books.
  • Increased performance for large files.
  • Updated user interface elements.

Storyist 4 for iOS

Files App Support

The Storyist home screen is now based on the Files app, so you can:

  • Store project files where you want and edit them in place.
  • Use 3rd party cloud storage solutions like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
  • Share files with others over iCloud using iCloud file sharing.
  • Organize your files using nested folders and tags.
  • View recently-edited files stored across multiple cloud storage providers.
  • Open recent files from the home screen.

New Themes

Storyist 4 for iOS includes several new interface themes, including both a light and a dark mode. Like the original theme? No worries, it’s still there. Tap the More button on the home screen and choose Themes to see the complete list.

Updated User Interface

Storyist 4 for iOS requires iOS 11 or later. The UI has been updated and includes new icons, animations, and usability enhancements.

  • Commands are organized in a simplified More menu on each screen.
  • Expanded keyboard shortcuts include cut/copy/paste and undo.
  • The text and index card editors take better advantage of larger screens on X model iPhones.

Free Trials and Upgrade Discounts

Both Storyist 4 for macOS and Storyist 4 for iOS are free to download and offer 14-day free trials so you can test all the features before purchasing. Both versions also offer upgrade discounts for owners of previous versions!

Want to Help Test?

Storyist 4 will be out of beta later this quarter, but if you want to help test, there are still some slots open for both the macOS and iOS versions. If you’re interested in helping, please send an email to support@storyist.com and indicate which platform(s) you’re interested in.

What’s New in Storyist for iOS 3.3

Storyist for iOS 3.3 is available in the App Store–just in time for summer! Here’s what’s new.

iCloud and Dropbox Versions

Prior to version 3.3, you could browse and restore the previous versions (backups) of your projects that Storyist created on your iPad or iPad. Starting in version 3.3, you can access previous versions stored in iCloud and Dropbox too.

To do so:

  1. Navigate to the Storyist home screen.

  2. Tap Edit and then tap the Versions (umbrella) icon.

  3. Choose Show Previous Versions.

You’ll see a list containing the versions stored on your iPad or iPhone and the versions stored in either iCloud or Dropbox. (Please note that by default, Dropbox only keeps old versions for 30 days.) If you want to revert to a specific version, simply select it and tap Restore.

Smart Quotes and Dashes

It’s odd that the iOS text system doesn’t natively support automatic “smart” quote substitution. It’s a popular feature that the OS X text system has supported for years.

I’ve held off implementing the feature for a while now thinking that Apple would add support “any day now.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the iOS 10 text system will be any different, so I’ve gone ahead and added smart quote support to Storyist 3.3.

To enable smart quotes:

  1. Open a text file.
  2. Tap Tools > Edit > Substitutions.
  3. Turn the “Smart Quotes” switch on.

By default, Storyist follows the standard English conventions for smart quotes, but other languages have different conventions, and you can change the default behavior in the Preferences window.

  1. Open a text file.
  2. Tap Tools > Preferences
  3. Select your preferred single and double quote style.

Import and Export PNG and JPEG Files

Previously, you could add images to a Storyist project by selecting from the Photos app or by using copy and page. Storyist 3.3 adds the ability to import and export images using the document picker. Finally!

To import an image to a Storyist project using the document picker:

  1. Navigate to a project folder.

  2. Tap the Add (+) button.

  3. Select the cloud service (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc.) containing the image you want to import.

Similarly, to export an image from a Storyist project:

  1. Navigate to the project folder containing the image you want to export.

  2. Tap Edit, and select the image.

  3. Tap the Export button.

  4. Choose Copy to Location.

  5. Continue exporting as you would with other file types.

Bug Fixes and Stability Enhancements

As always, this release also contains bug fixes and stability enhancements. Here is the list:

  • Dragging outline items in the sidebar now works correctly in cases where the “Show Body Text” setting is off. Previously, dragging text to a chapter that contained a hidden body text section would result in the text being placed between the chapter title and the hidden section. It is now placed after the hidden section, matching the behavior of the index card editor.

  • Storyist no longer crashes in certain circumstances when undoing a drag in the outline sidebar. Previously, Storyist might crash if you reopened a project, dragged an outline item, and then executed an undo before doing any other undoable operation.

  • Folders containing images of different aspect ratios are now displayed more uniformly in the folder view.

  • Storyist now handles the case where some cloud services (e.g. Dropbox) deliver Scrivener files as zipped packages even though these packages have the proper “.scriv” extension.

  • Storyist now correctly handles the case where a Scrivener file contains a PDF that acts like a folder (i.e. the binder item has “children”).

  • Styles are now imported if necessary when you paste text from one file to another.

  • Storyist no longer appends an unnecessary newline when pasting text.

As always, thanks for using Storyist. And keep the feature requests coming.

-Steve

Storyist for iOS 3.2 is Out!

I’m delighted to announce that Storyist for iOS 3.2 is available in the App Store! It’s got support for dark mode, PDF title pages, and draft mode enhancements for iPhone.

Dark Mode

One of the most popular feature requests over the years (Storyist for iOS has been in the App Store since 2011), was for a dark editing mode. Storyist for Mac added the feature in version 3.1, and now it is available in Storyist for iOS.

Enabling dark mode is simple:

  1. Navigate to the Storyist home screen.
  2. Tap the More (…) button.
  3. Set the Dark Mode switch to on.

That’s it. Now you can write in ’till the wee hours without the glare of a white page to tire your eyes.

PDF Title Pages

Another frequent request, especially from screenwriters, was to be able to add a title page when exporting a PDF.

Now, when you select PDF as the output format, you’ll now have the option of choosing a title page from the project (or home screen) or having one generated from the file metadata.

Adjustable Font Size in Draft Mode on iPhone

Rounding out the trio of features is the ability to change the font size when in draft mode on iPhone.

To change the draft mode font size:

  1. Open a text file.
  2. Choose Tools > Preferences.
  3. Move the Draft Mode Font Size slider to the desired setting.

That’s about it. Enjoy! And keep the requests coming.

-Steve

Storyist and iPad Pro

Judging by the questions coming in to the support address, quite a few Storyist users are considering purchasing an iPad Pro to handle their day-to-day writing tasks. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help with the descision.

Does Storyist support the larger iPad Pro screen?

Yes. Storyist for iOS supports the larger 2732 x 2048 screen. It does not simply scale up the pixels from a standard 2048×1536 screen (something you’ll see on an app that hasn’t been updated with iPad Pro support). This means you can use the extra space for your text or for another app via Split View.

Does Storyist support Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture?

Yes. You can use Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture in Storyist.

  • Slide Over lets you temporarily overlay a second app on the right side of the screen.
  • Split View lets you display two apps side-by-side, and interact with both of them.
  • Picture in Picture lets you continue watch a video in a small, movable window while you write.

Additionally, Storyist uses the new Shortcut bar on iOS 9 to display extra keys and other shortcuts. Unlike the old extended keyboard row (available in many apps on iOS 8), the Shortcut bar is able to use the full width of the screen for the active view, which means your extra keys are still available to you when you’re using Split View.

Does Storyist support the new Apple Smart Keyboard?

Yes. The Smart Keyboard works great with Storyist. In fact, in the last post, I mentioned that Storyist 3.1 added a bunch of new keyboard shortcuts that make getting around even easier. Here’s a sample.

Navigation shortcuts

  • Use the arrow keys to select files or index cards.
  • Use return to start editing a selecteded file or index card.
  • Use ⌘ 1 and ⌘ 2 to switch between text and index card mode.
  • Use ⌘ option T to open and close the project view.
  • Use ⌘ [ to navigate back in your browsing history.

Text Editing Shortuts

  • Use ⌘ control C to insert a comment.
  • Use ⌘ option L to insert a link.

Press and hold the ⌘ key to see some of the available shortcuts. You’ll find the complete list in the documentation.

Does Storyist support the Apple Pencil?

Yes and no. Storyist does not do anything special to support Pencil. However, it does work great with several 3rd party “keyboards” that provide support for handwiting input. MyScript Stylus, for example, is perfect if you want to write “long hand” for a change of pace.

If you have other questions, please feel free to send a quick email to the support address.

Taking Advantage of the New Keyboard Shortcuts

With iOS 9 now available and iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard on the way, it’s a great time to mention the new keyboard shortcuts in Storyist 3.1 for iOS.

As many of you know, Storyist for iOS has long provided shortcuts to make text editing with an extenal keyboard a productive experience. Version 3.1 brings a bunch more to the table. Here’s a sample.

Navigation shortcuts

  • Use the arrow keys to select files or index cards.
  • Use return to start editing a selecteded file or index card.
  • Use ⌘ 1 and ⌘ 2 to switch between text and index card mode.
  • Use ⌘ option T to open and close the project view.
  • Use ⌘ [ to navigate back in your browsing history.

Text Editing Shortuts

  • Use ⌘ control C to insert a comment.
  • Use ⌘ option L to insert a link.

You’ll find the complete list of keyboard shortcuts in the documentation. Take ’em for a spin.

And if you forget a shortcut (and are running iOS 9 or later), just press and hold the ⌘ key to see the list of available shortcuts.

Should I Store My Files in iCloud or Dropbox?

Storyist 3 for iOS can store files in (sync with) both iCloud and Dropbox. Both work great, but there are some subtle differences between the services. Which one should you choose? Here is some information to help you make your decision.

iCloud

  • Works better with large Storyist projects. Storyist projects are zip archives. When you edit a project, Storyist saves your changes and compresses the project files into an archive for you. Unlike Dropbox, iCloud is able to tell which elements of the zip archive have changed, and sync only the parts of the archive that have changed to the cloud. If your project contains lots of images, storing your project files in iCloud could save considerable network time and battery life.

  • Easier Setup. If your iPad or iPhone is signed in to your iCloud account, you’re all set. There are no additional accounts to create or passwords to enter.

  • Better sync conflict handling on Mac. Since iCloud is integrated into OS X, apps like Storyist 3 for Mac that support iCloud can automatically update to a new version from another device or handle a sync conflict as soon as it occurs.

There is something to be aware of, however.

  • When you sign out of iCloud from the iCloud pane of the Settings app, files stored in your iCloud account are no longer available in Storyist. This may be what you want, or may scare the Dickens out of you. Note that when you sign out, your files are still safe in the cloud and will be available in Storyist when you sign back in to your iCloud account.

Dropbox

  • Keeps old versions of your files for at least 30 days. This is a big deal. Dropbox keeps old versions of your files in the cloud, so you can revert a change even after it’s been synced with your other devices.

  • Allows easier collaboration. If you have a cowriter or editor you can share folders and work together from a single folder.

  • Ability to change sync folders. You can change which Dropbox folder you sync with simply by re-running Cloud Setup and choosing a different folder.