Add iTunes File Sharing support

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A relatively new feature in iTunes is the ability to transfer files to an app 
on a device through iTunes 
(iTunes File Sharing). Stanza and Good Reader, for example, take advantage of 
this capability. It 
would be nice if Frotz could too.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by Ek.Temple@gmail.com on 11 Apr 2010 at 3:40

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Clarification: This is an iPad-only feature.

Original comment by Ek.Temple@gmail.com on 15 Apr 2010 at 5:16

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I will likely do this in the next release, but I actually think the new web 
interface is easier to use than iTunes 
transfer would be, provided you have a w-fi network.

Original comment by spath...@gmail.com on 15 Apr 2010 at 6:22

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Actually, even better than iTunes transfer would be Dropbox support--store any 
file in your Dropbox folder on your computer's hard drive/upload it to your 
account (dropbox.com), and you'd be able to open it (using their free app) in 
Frotz. It's by far my preferred method. See here if unfamiliar: 
http://lifehacker.com/5530466/dropbox-adds-ipad-support-makes-transferring-files
-much-easier

Original comment by Ek.Temple@gmail.com on 28 Jun 2010 at 7:23

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Actually, this is not an iPad-only feature.  It works on iPhones as well (at 
least on my iPhone 4).  I just used it to upload some comic book CBR files to 
use with Comic Zeal.

I do have to say that it would be a nice way to be able to upload games.

Original comment by theg...@gmail.com on 31 Aug 2010 at 10:20

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Well, I've looked into it and I'm afraid iTunes File Sharing is a no-go, at 
least with the current iOS.

The File Sharing area in iTunes does not support Folders, and Frotz organizes 
its games, saved games, splash screens, and other metadata in separate folders, 
as well as making a separate folder for each story's saved games.  

Turns out, if there are folders in an app's shared Documents folder, you can 
see them in iTunes, but you cannot drag files into them, and you cannot look 
inside them (although you can drag the entire folder out, which is not so 
useful).

I am unwilling to completely reorganize Frotz's  file structure so that 
everything would be visible at the top-level in iTunes.  (For Saved games, this 
wouldn't even work because of naming collisions.)
If at some point the ability to use Folders in File Sharing is added to iTunes, 
I will add the capability to Frotz.

I will still look into adding Dropbox support, though.

Original comment by spath...@gmail.com on 8 Sep 2010 at 1:08

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Good news.  Although iTunes File sharing  didn't work out for now, I have been 
able to get the new universal file handling API to work.
This means Dropbox support will be available in the next version (for devices 
running iOS 3.2.x and 4.x).

Just so you know, when you view a Zcode file in Dropbox, it will say "Unable to 
view file" in the pane, which isn't very helpful and makes you think it's not 
going to work.   But you can actually click the "Open" button (top right on 
iPad, bottom right on iPhone) to get a menu that will let you open the story in 
Frotz.   (I would send feedback to the Dropbox devs and suggest they reword the 
"Unable to view" message when the filetype is supported by other installed 
apps.)  

You will also be able to launch Frotz with a Zcode attachment from Mail, or 
click on a Zcode download link in Safari.  (Which is actually kind of ironic 
since by SDK rules Frotz isn't allowed to download the file itself... it will 
now be much easier to deal with the restriction.  The downside is that Frotz 
won't know where the file came from so it won't know the long title or icon to 
use.)

Original comment by spath...@gmail.com on 11 Sep 2010 at 4:05

[GoogleCodeExporter]

More good news!

In addition to launch Frotz by selecting a file/attachment and using "Open 
In..." from Mail, Safari, Dropbox, Good Reader, and other apps, I was able to 
implement automatic synching of Saved Game files using Dropbox.

In Frotz 1.5, you can link Frotz to your Dropbox account and all saved game 
files will be available across multiple iOS devices running Frotz, or from any 
computer running Dropbox in /Frotz/Saves/<gamename>.d/ (or whatever folder you 
configure).

I am closing this issue for now, since I think these other features more than 
provide equivalent functionality, and I won't consider adding iTunes sharing 
until Apple makes folders work better with it.

Original comment by spath...@gmail.com on 5 Nov 2010 at 5:28

• Changed state: Fixed