Migrating website data when switching from app store version of Integrity Plus / Pro to web download version

There are reasons why you might want to start using the web download version of Integrity Plus or Integrity Pro after buying the App Store version.

(We're happy to provide a key, with evidence of the App Store purchase as long as it's for the same user).

The App Store version is necessarily 'sandboxed', a security measure imposed by Apple for apps sold on their Store. However, this kills certain features, such as the ability to crawl a site stored as local files. So the web download version remains un-sandboxed (it pre-dates sandboxing).

The sandboxed and un-sandboxed apps store their data in different places. When switching from the web download version to the app store version, the migration is taken care of by the system (this is the way Apple want you to go and so they make this easy. Invisible in fact).

The app doesn't (yet) detect and automatically handle the reverse situation. But it's possible to do this manually.

Option 1. Integrity Plus / Pro have the option to export / import your websites. 

This requires you to export while you have the app store version installed, and import after you've replaced it with the web download version.

Option 2. Use these Terminal commands. 

They check for and remove any preference file which will be present if you've already run the web download version. Then copy the data from the sandbox 'container' to the location used by the web download version.

(This first set of instructions is for Integrity Plus. For Integrity Pro, scroll down)

First make sure Integrity Plus isn't running.

Then enter this into Terminal:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-plus.plist

(if it says there's no file there, don't worry.) Then this:

cp ~/Library/Containers/com.peacockmedia.integrityPlus/Data/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.integrityPlus.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-plus.plist

Important: now log out of the system and log back in. The system does some wicked things with caching these files. It's sometimes possible to make our change 'stick' using another Terminal command, but I've not found that as reliable for these purposes as logging out / in.

Now start the web download Integrity Plus and see whether your data appears.

Here are the corresponding instructions for Integrity Pro

Make sure Integrity Pro isn't running

First enter into Terminal:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-pro.plist

(if it says there's no file there, don't worry.) Then this:

cp ~/Library/Containers/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-pro/Data/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-pro.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.peacockmedia.Integrity-pro.plist

Important: log out of the system and back in.

Earlier in the year I made the business decision to sell our apps via the app store once again. It's working out OK, the store seem to have become much more user-friendly from the back end and we seem to be reaching more people with the apps.

Integrity, Integrity Plus and now the new Integrity Pro are all available at the store for those who prefer to obtain their apps that way, and for those who might not have discovered them otherwise.

Here are the links:

• Integrity on the app store

• Integrity Plus on the app store

• Integrity Pro on the app store

You'll be wondering which one suits you best. There's a handy chart here, which shows a broad outline of features and prices.

New Year - Thoughts on the Mac App Store, Integrity Plus available there once again

If you've asked me over the last few years why I don't sell my apps via the Mac App Store, I'll have answered that I hate the store. One day I threw a tantrum over a problem (a catch-22  involving version numbers following a few rejections with one of my apps) and I petulantly took all of my apps off the store.

A decision made with the heart rather than the head, which is in character. But I'd been frustrated with the store since day one. Back then Apple took 2-3 weeks to review an app... Fast fixes to problems weren't possible.

Sandboxing was introduced and then made compulsory for apps listed on the Store. This is a security measure which gives you hoops to jump through and makes certain features impossible.

The iTunesConnect site (used for upload / submission) was not very user-friendly early on (let's not get into why the default music player was involved with installing apps on your computer). Apps get rejected. All of this meant that getting an app listed on the store was time-consuming and frustrating. Then Apple took a whopping 30% of your revenue.

It didn't (and still doesn't) allow for trial periods, which has always been very important for me. Developers get around this by making the app free and offering a 'pro' version (which is something I already have with Integrity / Integrity Plus) or making the app free and offering in-app purchases or subscriptions to a service. Or using advertising. None of which I really like in other apps and won't get involved with myself (another emotional rather than business decision).

I've been waiting for the day that the only way to install an app is via the Store, or by 'jailbreaking' your Mac, as with iOS. That day hasn't come (yet) but Gatekeeper has steered people away from web-downloading apps - even a code-signed app requires a 'lower' security setting than installing apps from the app store.

With all of this said, I do find things much improved.

New year - new start. I have let my logical head overrule my feelings and made the business decision to list paid apps on the store once more. The reason is simple, I want as many people to discover and use my apps as possible. In return for the frustrations and giving Apple a big cut, you get more users.

There are many things to conform with  (screenshot sizes, compulsory fields, all of which is pretty reasonable). Uploading and submitting wasn't so painful. Sandboxing still applies, as does the huge cut Apple take. I was amazed to find Integrity Plus approved within hours of finally managing to submit it.

Future plans - I don't think that Scrutiny will appear on the Store again, it has some important features which aren't compatible with Sandboxing, such as the scheduling. But I am drawing plans for an 'Integrity Pro' which adds the SEO stuff that only Scrutiny has at the moment.

Me and the Mac App Store...

.. aren't getting on. I think it's time for the "we need to talk...." conversation.

I was surprised this morning to find that none of my apps are showing on the Store, something to do with contracts (I think they may want an annual fee from me, it may be my fault that it's lapsed)

So I duly clicked the 'agreements...' link, expecting to pay them more money and get my stuff back online, but see this...

It just doesn't feel like Apple are the friendly company they were when we met. We've grown apart.

It also feels like there are three of us in this relationship now. I really think Apple cares more about *her* (that plain and two-dimensional cow, iOS)

I need some space. I'm going to take some time out.

To be frank, getting an app available on the MAS is a real ball-ache (and I haven't even got any).

Submitting an app takes time. There are so many hoops to jump through and potential problems right there. Once submitted you sit back for maybe a couple of weeks waiting for Apple to get around to inspecting it and you may well get a rejection.

Once you've had a few rejections in a row, sometimes your own fault, sometimes not, and then run into a stupid submission problems that you can't get over, it simply becomes not worth the time and effort. This is what happened with Philips Hue app for OSX Hue-topia. Apologies to those who originally obtained it from the Store, but I've been more than happy to give those people a licence for the web version when they've asked.

(That's not to mention sandboxing, a security measure which is compulsory for apps available on the Store. It also makes certain features impossible).

If it weren't for the fact that I really want to make an iOS app to support my business software Organise (and have already spent a lot of development time) then I'd happily walk away right now and worry solely about my web sales (thank you Paddle for being easy to use and incredibly supportive). The whole monopoly thing, making the app store the only way to obtain iOS apps was a cold and calculating move. (Oh sure, 'it's all about security'. And you taking 30% of sales.) With each release of OSX I'm half expecting the same thing there.

Let me be absolutely clear to my wonderful users, lovely people all. My commitment to my apps is 110%. I will continue to develop and support, the only thing that's in question is my future with the Store. Irreconcilable differences and all that.