Problems with Dropbox integration

[Mr. Kibernetik]

Apple rejected next smart BASIC update because smart BASIC can import files from Dropbox.

There are two possible variants:
- smart BASIC will not be updated anymore;
- smart BASIC will be updated, but Dropbox integration will be removed.

Any comments and suggestions?

[Dutchman]

Access to iCloud rather than Dropbox seems an obvious solution to me.

[Mr. Kibernetik]

Access to iCloud rather than Dropbox seems an obvious solution to me.

iCloud is also prohibited. Access via iTunes is also prohibited.
Any kind of "external code import" (as they understand it in Apple) is prohibited.

Guideline 2.5.2 - Performance - Software Requirements
During review, your app contains code related features which allow for the import of external code such as Dropbox integration, which is not permitted on the App Store.

They believe that BASIC programs are external code and I cannot make them understand that they are wrong and that these are just text documents.

[Mr. Kibernetik]

This is a long story with Apple.
At first they restricted using iTunes, and I removed iTunes support.
Then they restricted loading text files from Dropbox, and I fixed it.
Now they say that it is still possible to import BASIC programs and gave me last warning, called me a cheater and said that next time they will remove me from App Store.

[rbytes]

If Dropbox integration is removed, could we use a web downloader written in Smart Basic to import posts from the Forum? This is how Pythonista users import programs directly from GitHub in spite of Apple's restrictions.

A second method would be to use the data image method initially posted by Henk. I use it in several programs and have found it to be ultra-reliable. The only drawback is that it would require all contributors to post their code within data images, and we would have to establish a standard size, shape and scan method to ensure compatibility. I would propose my format and others could as well.

[Mr. Kibernetik]

If Dropbox integration is removed, could we use a web downloader written in Smart Basic to import posts from the Forum? This is how Pythonista users import programs directly from GitHub in spite of Apple's restrictions.

A second method would be to use the data image procedure initially posted by Henk. I use it in several programs and have found it to be ultra-reliable.

So, what is web downloader?
And what is data image procedure by Henk?

[Mr. Kibernetik]

So, what is web downloader?

Yes, I see. It requires the desired content to be uploaded to some server. Maybe it suits to download something from the Forum.

[rbytes]

I thought I had posted a web downloader example program last year but couldn't find it. I just posted it again in Basic Programs.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1885&sid=391a4cf8a ... cc1a436d2e

It will download the web page from the Forum where I just posted Stamper 3.0, and save it as a file. If you browse the file you can find the code for the program. You can also see links to the images so they could also be downloaded. I could expand the program with these options.

I will post an example later today of encoding data into an image and reading that back to a file.

[rbytes]

I have just posted Image Data V3. It allows the user to choose any file up to 100kb in size and embed it in an image which is saved to the Camera Roll. From there it can be texted, emailed or posted (e.g. on the Forum) as desired.

To read a data image, the user just saves it from a website, text or email to their Camera Roll. Image Data can import the file from there and extract the contents. At that point a file requester appears so that they can save the file where they wish.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1886&p=11513#p11513

[rbytes]

I hadn't actually replied to the choices you gave in your original post, Mr. K.

You asked whether we thought it would be preferable to remove Dropbox or stop updating Smart Basic. I definitely would not want to see the second option. We have already had a report that sB runs more slowly on iOS 11. Apple is likely to cause other issues with their regular updates, and I think we would quickly reach a point where our programs would stop running reliably.

So I am hoping we can find a workaround for giving up Dropbox.