non iCloud Backup Challenges (DropBox, Google Drive)

[George Cx]

I already am paying for DropBox and Google Drive, so I’m not keen to subscribe to yet another cloud service.
I’m on iPhone(7)/iOS(12.1.2) but I try to avoid iTunes as much as possible – I pretty much never have my phone plugged into my computer.

I also want to make sure that in case of loss or corruption I have a backup of a form
So on iOS I got to a form, click the action button on the top right, and select Export Forms Archive.
I then go to Tools/Files/Exports and select the file.
Approach 1.
If I select “Upload to Service” DropBox is grayed out, and I can’t seem to select. Google Drive I can select, and can upload the file. But when I go to Import, and navigate to the file its grayed out, I can’t download it.
Approach 2
I instead of selecting “Upload to Service” under Tools/Files/Exports I select “Share”. Then I get the option to “save to Dropbox” on the ios menu. I can navigate (although sadly not create a folder on the fly) but I can upload the .tfarc file.
When I go to Import, select the little folder on the bottom right, the DropBox option is now “live” and not grayed out. But when I select it it says it needs to authenticate. While trying to use either the code or my thumb, the screen goes blank and spins white, and never resolves. I have to quit out of the TF app and restart. Sadly, at this point TF remembers my DropBox preference, so now whenever I click on the little folder on the bottom right – it instantly jumps to DropBox and then immediately hangs. So my import folder use is now borked.

So my question is two-fold.
1) Is it possible to back-up and restore an archive outside of iTunes and iCloud? If so how.
2) Is it possible for me to somehow restore functionality to my import folder without having to delete the whole app and start over. Because (see above) I’m not able to back up.

Thanks for any insight on this

[Brendan]

Hi George,

There seems to be a glitch with Dropbox in that you first need to make sure you have the latest Dropbox client app installed on your iOS devices, AND you need to launch the Apple Files application. Once you’ve done that, then Dropbox will no longer be disabled in Tap Forms.

Also, a Tap Forms Archive file is just an archive for the one form selected. It’s great for sharing the contents of an individual form with other Tap Forms users.

If you want to make a backup file, go to the Tools screen, then tap on the Backup & Restore function. Then tap on the + button to create a new backup file.

Then you can use the Upload function there to upload the file to Dropbox or wherever.

To restore, open up any document, then go to the Backup & Restore screen, then tap on the Download button to download a file from Dropbox (or wherever) to Tap Forms. Then tap on the file and then tap on the Restore Backup button.

Hope that helps!

Brendan

[ElEspecialista]

I came here for the same question, but it turns out that in my case I can not get either DropBox or Google Drive. I have both applications updated, open and logged in the background.

Thousand Apologies George Cx!

I do not know if it seems good that the issue is being treated here as similar cases, or if I should open a separate issue.

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[Brendan]

Have you launched the Apple Files application separately yet?

Try that, then go back to Tap Forms and see what shows up.

And which iOS and Tap Forms version are you using? You should see a Browse Locations, Favourites, and Tags list on the left and then the selected cloud service displayed on the right.

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[George Cx]

Hello all! Brendan solved all my problems (well all my TapForm related ones anyway)

It turned out that the Files App on iPhone was not talking to the DropBox App.

There were a bunch of different things to fix and update – but one (which seems obvious, but surprised me I guess) is that Files and DropBox won’t talk to each other if DropBox lock is on.

My (incorrect) supposition was that once you told the apps that each other were trusted they built a bridge between them, and so unlock (either by fingerprint or code) wasn’t necessary.

That turns out not be true. What I had to do was have the DropBox app on the phone be unlocked – which I’m not crazy about – but then again I guess all my other apps are unlocked too (e.g. email, once you’ve unlocked the phone).

Once I unlocked DropBox, Files could then talk to DropBox and then TF could also get to it and upload and download files, so I’ve been archiving and restoring and its all very smooth and seamless.

Thanks y’all! Happy 2019!

[ElEspecialista]

Ah! Ok

I had not launched the Apple Files application separately. I did it! And I added and turned on Google Drive and Dropbox.

Then DropBox was grayed out, like it happened to George Cx.

I entered to Dropbox, then I returned to Tap Forms and now I can send backups to DropBox and Google Drive!!!! :D

My Tap Forms is 5.3.3 (896) version in an iPad Pro 9.7″ (6,4) A1674 with iOS 11.3.1.

Thank you all and Happy 2019 too!!!!

[Author]

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