This update removes the unintended limitation on the number of sections allowed in a group. It was set at 12, but now is unlimited.

Thanks to user Paul Waring for letting me know about the limitation!

After a few weeks a troubleshooting, it looks like we were able to isolate the issue to a configuration mistake on the x86 version of the app. So, you did not have this problem if you installed the app on an ARM (Surface or other tablet) or a 64bit computer.

I have both a Surface running Windows RT and a 64bit laptop running the full version of Windows 8, so I could not understand why it wasn’t working for many of you. Now I do.

We have submitted an update to the Windows Store and it is running through the certification process now. This can take up to 10 days before it is published and available for installation. I will post another update once Microsoft notifies me that it has started rolling out to users.

As always, thank you for your feedback.

Will
Creator, Writing Type

The latest version of the app has been released and should be showing up in your Windows Store notifications shortly. I appreciate your patience as we work through the issues caused by the last update.

This update addresses the issue some of you had with running the backup feature and issues with settings. Please install the update and let me know how it goes. I can’t/won’t move on to the next phase of updates (user interface and design enhancements) until I’m sure the major bugs have been fixed.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience and any delays in your writings this may have caused.

Will

“Something went wrong with your backup,try again.”

Yeah…that’s not good.

I’ve sent this out to the developer for a fix ASAP. I too received the error and could only resolve it by uninstalling and reinstalling the app. That is not a good option for anybody. Especially since there isn’t any other way to back up your data.

*sigh*

Thank you for your patience. I’ll get a new update up ASAP.

Please reply below if you are experiencing this or any other issue with this release. A couple others have been reported in the “Feedback” fly-out module.

Will

I also appreciate everyone who has provided feedback either by the floating feedback form in the site’s left sidebar, by email, the contact form, or especially by reviewing the app. I read each one carefully and thoughtfully.

As a result of your feedback the following features are going to be implemented in the next release, currently scheduled for release by the end of the month.

Export

The initial and current release lets you export your project or section using Windows 8′s built in Share charm. However, there are two assumptions that I made that prevented this from being a viable option for many:

1. I assumed that everyone knows about the Share charm and how to even use it.

2. I assumed you had an app installed that accepts text shares from other apps.

Windows 8 is a brand new operating system. Most people who know about the charms are technology early adopters–not the average user. Plus, Microsoft’s own design documents say that you should put key extended features of your app in the app bars (top and bottom hidden menus).

In the next version of Writing Type you’ll be able to export your writings to either a Word document or to a PDF.

When done from the Project level, the app will consolidate all sections into one document in the order you have them listed in the project. When you export from the section level (writing view), you will only export that particular text.

Backup

I realized leaving this feature out was a mistake from the moment I started using the first published version. As writers, we should backup our works as often as is convenient to our writing style and comfort level. As I was typing, a little bug in the back of my brain was speaking to me asking what I would do if my computer crashed and I couldn’t recover months and months of writing.

Thankfully, Writing Type saves everything to the local database automatically, so you don’t need to keep hitting a ‘Save’ button. But that doesn’t cover hardware failures.

So, in the next release we are adding a Backup and Restore feature. This will allow you to manually backup everything in the app to a single backup file and save it to a location of your choice. SkyDrive is my preferred choice since that is automatically saved into the “cloud” and available from anywhere. The backup will save all projects, groups, and sections and all associated texts along with the configuration order at the time of backup.

If you lose your computer, have to rebuild, or want to load it up from another computer, you can simple use the Restore feature to import the backup file. All your information will be there with no further configuration required!

Improved Snap View Support

The current version of the app only supports the large “Snap View”. Snap View is the Windows 8 app feature that allows you to have two apps on the screen at the same time. One app in Large Snap View (taking up about two-thirds of the screen) while the other app makes up the Small Snap View (the remaining one-third).

The next release will allow for a small snap view, so that you can view a web page or other document in large snap view while continuing to work on your writing. This is useful when you have a research document open that you need to refer to when you write.

Portrait View Support

Some of you are writing on tablets and as such you may want to have a more page-width type view of you document. Currently, Writing Type’s layout does not change to portrait view when you turn your tablet in this long view.

The next release will support this.

There will also be some bug fixes that have been reported as well.

Thanks again for your support and feedback. I really appreciate it.

Let me know if you have any questions and please use the feedback module to leave your ideas and report your issues.

Will Brown,
Creator, Writing Type

For those of you new to the Windows 8 platform, SkyDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage system. Documents, pictures, music, and video in your SkyDrive account is available to you from any computer that you log into. Additionally, you even have offline access to the data if you are disconnected from the network.

Microsoft has given Windows 8 app developers a means to connect their apps to SkyDrive to allow users to retrieve and store documents there from the app. Brilliant! Some developers have taken it a step further and are using the user’s SkyDrive to sync the local database to. This allows users the ability to have the same data and settings for the app on any computer the user logs into. This too is brilliant…with a catch.

As a result, a new directory appears in your SkyDrive folder that you may have or may not have approved of. Usually the folder is named similarly to the app’s name though. But the danger is that the user can inadvertently delete or alter this folder or its data as well which can cause a loss of all saved data.

So, as the person who is solely responsible for the features implemented in this app, I have a dilemma. Do I build this capability into the app providing a great, but potentially hazardous feature, or do I work on other ways to improve the app and the availability of your data.

This is a great concern for me. I’m writing a book right now using Writing Type and I would love to be able to work on it from either of my two Windows 8 devices. But I can’t. Sure my development team could probably implement this, but I don’t know if we should. There are other options available, but they are beyond the current budget of this app, but possible if the app continues to grow its user base.

So, what are we working on? The next release, which should be released by the end of January, brings key features that are needed even more than sync: Backup and Restore, and Project and Section Export to various file formats.

I don’t know about you, but as I’m writing what is sure to be the next great American novel (yeah…sure), I need to be sure that my words are safe if my computer crashes. The backup option will allow you to save all your projects anywhere you choose with a couple of clicks.  The Share Charm feature works now if you need to export a specific project or a section, but it is no backup.

I apologize for not having this out there sooner!

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, via the feedback form, or by a private contact message. Your input is key to making sure that I’m staying on track to make Writing Type the best Windows 8 tool for writers.

I hope that we’ve provided you with a great tool for a creative writing experience on Windows 8. This will be a actively developed application in that I hope that you provide feedback in ways that we can improve that experience.

Please use and abuse this app and let us know the results on the feedback page. We may have missed something in our testing and we want to live up to your expectations in your purchase and support. In fact, I’ve already discovered a couple of issues that I’ve sent over to the team, so look for an update soon!

Thank you for your support and Happy Writing!

Will

We hope to post a variety of topics on this blog including:

• Writing Tips
• App Updates
• Writing Industry News
• Writing Type App How-Tos
• Feedback on your feedback

Version 1 of Writing Type is just the initial release. Future updates will add new features and functionality and tweak the app to make your writing experience all the better.

Please provide use the feedback form to post suggestions, bugs, or questions publicly or use the contact form if you would like to send me a private message. I’ll respond within 24 hours.

I’m looking forward to getting to know you all.

Please subscribe to the RSS feed to know immediately of any new blog posts and subscribe to our newsletter for periodic updates and announcements.

Thanks for trying out Writing Type!

-Will