There is a new version of wwriteLite now available. This is a big update with a number of new features. The biggest three are the support for Rich Text Files, a new re-arrange mode, and the ability to search.

Some other new features include localization support for Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. This includes localization for the ads as well. There are a couple of new settings, one that allows you to show ads, if you have purchased the "Remove Ads" in-app purchase, and the ability to disable searching of files.

There have also been some tweaks including a change to the default file name, an updated file format, a modified "About" screen, and an updated archive file name format.

There have also been a bunch of bugs fixed as well. The entire list of changes is outlined below.

wwriteLite is a free app with in-app purchases, including the "Space Icons" theme and the ability to remove ads.

New Features

• Significant re-write of under the hood items. This should make it easier to add new features in the future.
• File Names now have a new format, they are Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) instead of previously generated file name format. Existing filenames are preserved.

Re-arrange Files Mode

• Added the Ability to re-order files, and have their position remembered. This is done by tapping on the “Edit” button on the File List and then dragging and dropping the cells.
• 'Re-order mode' will have a red border around the screen and you will not be able to click on files or add new files.
• The “Edit” button will change into three lines and will be tinted red.

Spotlight Searching

• Unlocked files will now appear in spotlight search.
• You can disable all indexing within Settings.

Templates

• Templates now support rich text, which is enabled all the time.
• Added a “Randomize Template Colors” button that is available when creating a new template to provide a starting point.
• Added a "Duplicate Template" button on the "Choose Template to Customize" screen. This allows you to clone your TPS report templates.

Localization

Added localizations for the following languages:

• Dutch
• German
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Spanish

If you see an issue with any of the localization, please contact support.

Other Changes

• Expanded list of files types that can be imported. See the entire list in the new “Supported Files” screen in the About screen or in the Support Menu. If it is standard text file or a Rich Text File, it will likely be supported. If there is a file that you think should be supported, but is not, please contact support.
• New Settings screen that is now in-app.
• New setting to ‘Always show ads’. This will only be shown if you have the “Remove Ads” in-app purchase.
• Added an “In App” Ads that will allow ads to direct you to specific sections of the app.
• New Icon “Crazy Ones”.
• Changed keyboard shortcuts for some items to not conflict with running wwriteLite on macOS.

Tweaks

• Removed Drag and drop support for templates, because wwrite development has stopped and this feature is no longer needed.
• Removed "Appearance" setting. The app now matches the system all the time.
• Removed the keyboard shortcut for the Tools menu. Triggering it would not show the proper actions.
• Removed "Erase all data" option. Deleting the app and re-installing accomplishes the same thing.
• Updated Launch Screen to show a new image.
• Ad info now appears in a popover when you tap on the information icon.
• Added localization for the file name when importing or copying a file.
• Adjusted shortcuts on About screen to make more sense.
• New default file format.
• Changed archive file names format.
• Modified "Full Archive" to zip up entire documents folder, including existing archives.
• Adjusted key command for import to be command + shift + i, to allow for using italics with command + i.
• Adjusted "About" text to include the fact that Rich Text Files are now supported.
• Current app version of "Change Log" will be highlighted.
• Only the current and previous major version information will be shown in the Change Log.
• Added "Last Modified" to the Customize Template screen.
• Added localized strings to about screen.
• Changed the Icon set name of "2020 Icons" to "2020s Icons".

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where files on the Mac would presume they are locked, even when they were not.
• Fixed a bug where handoff between devices would crash the app.
• Fixed a bug where saving a template might cause the app to crash.Fixed a bug when selecting a font color in a template, the default font color was wrong.
• Fixed a bug where deleting the last archive, and then creating an archive, would not re-enable the delete button.
• Fixed issues with file list if the ability to lock/unlock was not present on device.
• Fixed an issue where you could not unlock files that were previously locked if there is no authentication mechanism on the device.
• Fixed bug that would cause some imported files not to be imported properly.
• Fixed an issue where unavailable in-app purchases would appear in the app when running on a Mac with Apple silicon.
• The app will no longer crash when trying to print.
• Fixed "Delete Template" hint text.
• Fixed a bug where the same screen may be shown in succession in the File List.

A new version of wwriteLite is available, version 6.3.0. This version makes a few changes.

New Features

• There is now a dedicated domain for the app, wwriteLite.app.
• The API urls have all been updated to use the new domain.

These changes should be transparent, but in case something is not working properly.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the app would crash when clicking on the Tools -> Support -> Twitter.

Tweaks

• The date and time labels for a file should no longer wrap by default.

If you have any issues be sure to use the Tools -> Support button and either email or reach out on twitter. As has been the case with the previous updates, this is free for all users running iOS 14.2, iPadOS 14.2, or a Mac with an M1 chip running macOS Big Sur. You can download it from the App Store.

When one starts out creating an application, it is usually with the intent of keeping it up to date with all of the latest enhancements and changes that newer operating systems might bring. That was my intention with my apps, wwrite, wwrite - iPhone Edition, and wwriteFree. However, as many have experienced, life sometimes gets in the way.

History

Back in March of 2010, before the iPad was launched but after it was announced, I got an idea for an app for the iPad: a plain-text editor. The idea was to use the iPad for productivity; which seems to be well ahead of the curve. I submitted my app to the iOS App Store in early April 2010 and it has been on sale ever since.

I kept it up to date on a semi-regular basis after that. That was up until June of 2014. In June of 2014, right before the introduction of iOS 8, I updated wwrite and wwriteFree to be compatible with iOS 7. I did this because I knew I would be spending the summer writing two e-books, iOS 8 for Users and Developers, and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for Users, Administrators, and Developers, so I would not have a chance to do any updates on the apps.

Back on August 10th, 2014, I removed the iPhone version of my app, wwrite - iPhone Edition, from sale. The biggest reason for this was that it was a lot of work to update the application and not many people had purchased it. To be honest, besides the lack of sales, there is the Notes app, which is absolutely free and included on all iOS devices.

Fast Forward

Part of the reason for not getting updates was just a lack of motivation. I have been toying with doing an update for over a year. One would have been a complete re-write using Swift, but this was a bit too daunting. I must have started this at least four times, but it never got that far. It may be bad for a developer to say, but I do not use my own application that often. This is mostly due to how bad it looks like on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Regardless, I did still want to update it, I just needed to get the motivation and time. The final push for motivation was this exchange on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/waynedixon/status/865998697942974464

https://twitter.com/jamesthomson/status/866012536172367872

In case you are unaware, James writes an application called PCalc. You should go and purchase PCalc as well as PCalc for tvOS.

So, a couple weeks ago I decided to really get down to updating my app. When I decided to update it, I knew I wanted to use be a Universal app (one that works on iPhone as well as iPad). The second thing I knew I wanted to do was make it work in Slide Over and Split Screen, just a James suggested. So that is what I have done.

wwrite 3.0.0 now supports full Split Screen and slide over. Here are the rest of the new features:

• Now a Universal application, supports iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
• Supports Split View and Slide Over.
• Keyboard Shortcuts for Save, New File, New File From Template, Help, Show/Hide file list, Do word count
• Ability to import plain-text files from other applications using the "Share Sheet".
• Fixed word count miscalculation
• Reworked Template Customization
• Jump Directly to App Settings from "Tools" drop-down
• Support for system Emoji within files.
• Other "under the hood" changes to bring everything up to date.

Pricing Model

Since its initial release in April of 2010, wwrite has always been a paid application and this will continue to be the case. wwriteFree was designed to be ad-supported with Apple's iAd platform. Since Apple discontinued their iAd platform, I have decided to change the way that the model for the two apps. wwrite will still be paid but it will have more up to date features. Whereas wwriteFree will stay free but will not always have the latest features. For instance, it does not support Slide Over nor does it support Split View.

wwriteFree has received a minor update to remove the advertising, and make it somewhat more up to date. Previously it required iOS 7, wwriteFree now requires iOS 9.

If you already have wwrite, it will be a free update. If you do not own, now is a good time to go and buy a copy.