The iPad app would be so good. However, it is completely destructive if the file is saved automatically. I don’t want that. As a user, I must be able to decide whether the changes should be saved or not. So the app is unfortunately useless in conjunction with Dorico on my iMac. What a pity.
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This is, how iPadOS works, you can’t explicitly save a file, it’s all done in the background - in all iPad Applications.
Having said this, in Dorico for iPad there is at least an Undo command;
I don’t know, wether it would be a good idea to add a Done button -instead of Save or Enter (like in macOS).
Maybe copy the file as my file-working or something, and then rename to my file when you reach a good point? I sometimes do that anyway for various reasons, trying things, etc.
We could change Dorico for iPad to allow saving only on demand, but we try to provide an approach that feels appropriate for the platform on which the software is running. I don’t know of any other apps on iPadOS that provide manual saving in the same way as desktop software (though I dare say such software does exist).
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Thank you very much for your answers. Dorico is a professional tool. I really enjoy working with this tool on my iMac. But with a professional tool, I also expect it to react the way I need it to. That’s why we’re in the professional sector. This means that as a user, I should also be able to set this option on the iPad. Standard apps on the iPad save automatically. But I maintain that most of these are not professional apps. The Dorico app has been implemented as well as possible on the iPad, but the ease of use is not the same as that of a desktop application. Therefore, changes happen quickly without being intentional. If it is possible, please implement the option of manual saving. This could be implemented as an option in the settings. This would allow the users themselves to set the behavior accordingly. Thank you!
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I am sure, quite a lot of professionals do use the iPad version, too. But at the same time one has to remember that iPad users are a different section of the customers.
These might be a younger audience, or people who don’t use a desktop or laptop computer. There might be also first time Dorico users among them.
For those reasons I would not say, that certain software behaviours are mandatory…
Hi shining79,
I completely agree with you.
I don’t dare open files on my NAS with Dorico for Ipad.
The danger of unintentional mutilation is too great for me. (Thanks to the Open in Place feature)
See: Autosave function
Groet, Marien
The main problem I see with Autosave on the iPad is that it might potentially destroy changes made on the Mac. This happens to me more than I’d like: I open a file on the iPad and I save it but don’t close it. Then I edit on the Mac. Then I open it on the iPad. Dorico doesn’t recognize that the file has changed, because changes weren’t pushed on time to iCloud, or the Mac was offline, or the iPad didn’t get the new version, or it just doesn’t recognize the new file for whatever reason. Immediately upon closing the file or just making some changes, the iPad version, which is old, overwrites the Mac version on the cloud without warning. My work is lost.
That’s why I fear to leave any file open on the iPad. If I make changes on the Mac, I cannot be sure it won’t be overwritten.
To be clear, I like the idea of autosave on the iPad, and I’m not even against the idea on the Mac, but there should be a mechanism in place for conflict solving and versioning, like on Apple native apps like Pages and Keynote.
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I’m not (yet) a Dorico mobile user, but the idea that the app saves everything i do instantly really (really!!) horrifies me… 
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Estigy, you have an Undo button though.
I use it quite a lot…
Hi k_b
I think the undo function is to fix my own mistakes, and not the shortcomings or limitations of software.
I’m a big fan of Dorico on my iMac, but due to autosave, Dorico for ipad is a no-no for me.
Groet, Marien
Hi k_b,
This is not true.
There are a lot of apps on the iPad where you can manually save changes or, more importantly, choose not to save them.
I’ll mention a few that I use a lot:
ForScore, iReal Pro, GraphPad, mSecure, Bitwarden, Hue, Scaler 2 and Home Assistant
Groet, Marien
Marien, I should have said “in all iPad Applications I know…”
Also Apple since years is trying to break with the (in their eyes) old fashioned way of having to think of the Save command. It is somewhere in their UI guidelines, if I remember correctly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it is. But I shall never surrender the “close without saving” model of working on a computer. If there comes a day when sandboxing is no longer allowed and all software in the world becomes auto-save only, I will stop using computers.
I purchased a lifetime subscription unlock to Dorico for iPad when it was on sale but because of the automatic saves rarely use it.
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Hi Mike,
I am glad that I did not buy the lifetime subscription and was able to let my subscription expire
Unfortunately no Dorico for iPad for me…
Groet, Marien
I purchased the Lifetime option for the iPad version and was happy to support the Development Team. The reason I almost never use it is that Dorico Pro has spoiled me such that the quasi-Elements restrictions on the iPad seem restrictive.
If I really had to be away from my desktop Dorico Pro, I would likely need to buy a new laptop to run a copy of Dorico Pro.
I agree. I also wanted to support the Dorico team and knew about the automatic saving when I purchased the lifetime upgrade with the expectation that I will one day want to use the iPad version on a regular basis. However, iPads with at least 8GB of ram (for Iconica Sketch) are expensive and today I would more likely buy a new laptop than a more competent iPad.
I use Dorico on the desktop or the laptop, when I want to get work done. Still sometimes, being “off duty” I still like to take the iPad, just in case I get bored…
So here is a real life use case scenario:
I use Dorico iPad version mainly for proof-reading. I have the app set up, so it saves directly to iCloud (that’s were I have all my projects stored/synced to).
So yesterday I opened one of my longer choral work projects for 4-part choir and used some free time to go through the lyrics for each part, fixing little spelling or typing errors.
I start with the Soprano line. At the end of the flow I notice the Segno sign being a bit too early, so I shift it with my finger to a later rhythmical position, also notice, it’s being quite small, so I do a manual scaling to 180%. At some point here, Dorico becomes unresponsive, I can’t do anything - except force the app to quit.
I instantly go into the Files app to reveal the last point, the file had been automatically saved - it being just 4 minutes ago. A little relief, but: what was I doing 4 minutes ago?
I had to do a second run on the lyrics proof-reading - just to be sure, I had not missed anything.
In this case I would wish there was a button, like [done] or [save], so I could explicitly do the Save and know until which stage the work had proceeded. Of course the workaround would be to intermittently go to Share>Save as Dorico project - and overwrite the existing version…. A little button would be much better…
As this is my highly sensitive productive data, I also want to be able to determine when I actively save it. After all, time and money are also at stake in the professional sector. I would like to be in control of my data myself and not leave it to the software. The software should support me and not anticipate my decision! That’s the point!
Since @dspreadbury has already written that it would be possible, it would be fantastic if it were implemented in one of the next versions. Then the combination of Dorico OSX/Windows and iPad would also be useful and productive.
I was a “Finale” user and have been a Dorico user since version 2. I love Dorico! So please do it! Thank you!
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