Syncing

On Mac/Windows - you should install the cloud provider app (iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive etc.) which will then create a ‘special folder’ into which you should save your maps (they will automagically be synced upto some server in California.) There is nothing to configure in iThoughts.

On iOS, however, things are somewhat different…

iThoughts v7 now uses the built in iOS document picker to select/open maps. This is provided by iOS itself and is the same technology used in the iWork and Files apps (see here.) This has the advantage that you can open maps directly in the various cloud providers (in the Locations area) and so there is no specific ‘syncing’ to administer. This works because the iOS document picker has a ‘plugin’ architecture. The various cloud providers (Dropbox, OneDrive etc) provide a plugin that does the syncing bit and the iOS document picker does the shiny user interface bit.

Below you can see a visual representation of what I’ve just said.

Summary: Don’t even think about syncing - just navigate to a Location (Dropbox, OneDrive etc) and open/create the map.

Now the confusing bit…

Prior to using the iOS Document Picker, iThoughts had its own document picker and built in syncing logic - called ‘Linked Folders’ (which would sync to Dropbox or WebDAV.) This syncing logic was really rather powerful - it could sync multiple formats simultaneously to multiple accounts - and many people relied on it.

If you had Linked Folders configured prior to updating to v7 then they will still be configured (and syncing.) You will find them in the ‘On my iPad’ location in the document picker. There is nothing (visually) to distinguish them as linked folders - but I would hope you’d recognise them as such by their name and contents. If you edit/create maps in these folders then they will continue to sync as before (indeed, the syncing should be even faster now since it’s done in the background!) If you want to change the configuration of the Linked Folders then close all maps and tap on the Gear toolbar item - where you’ll see a ‘Cloud’ option.

If you don’t see the Cloud option, it means you didn’t have Linked Folders configured previously. I wouldn’t recommend starting to use them now - but if you did want to then you can enable the option in the System Settings for iThoughts (scroll to the bottom and enable ‘Legacy Sync’.) The clue’s in the name…

Finally the REALLY confusing bit…

OK, so you’ve got some linked folders configured syncing nicely with Dropbox? You might now be tempted to use the Dropbox Location in the iOS Document Picker to open/create maps. Why wouldn’t you - it’s arguably quicker and more obvious. The problem is that this totally confuses my built in syncing logic - resulting in lots of ‘conflicts’ (duplicate files) being created.

So you should EITHER use the Linked Folders (in the On my iPad Location) OR use the Dropbox Location - but NOT BOTH.

Another picture to add to the confusion:


When does it actually sync?

If you’re using the Linked Folder approach then the rules are:

  • Will upload local changes each time you switch away from the app.

  • Will download remote changes each time the app is launched (but only if it’s been at least 2 minutes since it last tried.)

  • Will look in the iThoughts System Settings to decide if it can sync when on a cellular connection (and so costs money)

  • You can force a sync in the Cloud menu.

If you’re using the iOS document picker approach - there is no definition. Apple will sync when Apple is ready to sync. I’ve seen it happen in seconds and I’ve seen it happen in hours. There is no way to control or determine this.

Caveats and other weasel words…

The iOS Document Picker hides everything from the application. The app has no idea where its documents are coming from (or going to.) The app has no visibility or control over when, how or if a document is synced. This is all ‘by design’ (from Apple) in the name of privacy and security.

I know this is not very helpful - but when things go wrong there is no point calling the developer. We have literally no control or visibility over what happens in the iOS document picker. We can’t even debug it on our development machines - let alone your device.

All I can suggest is that you ensure all the apps (and iOS) are up to date then reboot.


NB1: Most cloud providers have a plugin (installed with their app) - but for those that don’t (eg WebDAV) there is an app that can help - see FileBrowser.

NB2: I’d recommend using iCloud or OneDrive over Dropbox. Recently (2019/2020) their integration with the iOS system has become a little ‘flaky’ (especially when your device is offline.)

NB3: The GDrive plugin from Google doesn’t work! The FileBrowser app above will plug into Google and it does work !?