DotNetIdeas' Blog mobile applications and more...

[Update 5/4/2015]

We just pushed out new release - Packing List 4.0.2, Chore Checklist 3.0.2, My Party Planner 2.0.0 and Grocery Helper 2.0.0 in Google Play. In these releases, we moved data storage location in an effort to resolve lists disappearing issue described below.  The data is now stored on device’s external storage privately owned by these apps. You will not be able to access those list files directly. But we added local "Backup and Restore" which allows users to backup data to SD card or other location. When you upgrade from lite to full version, you will need to backup your lists first from lite version and then restore them after installing the full version. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and feedback.

[11/10/2014]

We are currently having an issue on certain devices(Samsung) which were upgraded to Android KitKat(4.4+) in recent months. Some users lost their lists when they update our apps. We store user lists on SD card. It appears that Android KitKat and/or Samsung has locked third party apps from writing to the external storage. It allows third party apps to write data to "special location" on external storage. But when you uninstall or update the app, the device delete those data without warning.

Since it happens when you install new update of our apps and at that time our apps haven’t started running yet, there is nothing we can do about it. Please make a copy of \packinglist\ or \chorechecklist\ folders on your SD card before you get next update of these apps!!!!

Some users also reported data loss when they have certain system cleanup tool running (e.g. Clean Master). Please be careful when you run those tools. You may want to add our apps to “safe list” so those tools will not clean up files created by our apps.

Even if you don’t have Samsung device running Android KitKat(4.4+), we still strongly suggest you to backup your lists. The data is saved under app name folder on your SD card(except BizPack, see below). You should backup the whole folder. To restore the data, just copy the whole folder back. Please check below for the folder name of each app:

Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

2/23/2014 - V4.0.1

• Change data storage location to application own storage
• Add local "Backup and Restore"
• Add "Mass Change" in "Group By Luggage/Location" view
• Allow edit list detail in list detail view
• Allow check weather in list detail view (full version)
• Other bug fixes and improvement

If you just purchased and installed the Cloud Connector/Sync Provider from Google Play(or Amazon Store), you need to kill and restart the full version app in order for the app to recognize the new add-on. To kill the app, you can go to device’s “Settings”->”Applications”. Find the app(e.g. Chore Checklist Full). Click it and click on “Force stop”. Or you can simply reboot your device.

There is no direct way to import a CSV file into Packing List, Chore Checklist, or Grocery Helper app. But you can use our online editor's "Quick Add" feature to add multiple items at once. Create/Open a packing list online in our online editor. Add a category and then click on "Add multiple items to the category" icon (it is between the "+" icon and "delete" icon on the right side of category name). Then you can copy/paste items from your TXT/CSV file.

Please watch the video below to see how to do it.

7/16/2014 - V1.2.1

• Add start time for to-do items. Allow user to set time of a day an item needs to be started
• Group to-do items by due date
• Allow user to mass change start time for multiple items(full version only)
• Allow user to set reminder for multiple to-do items(full version only)
• Other improvement and bug fixes

2/25/2014 V1.1.0

• Allow user to choose dark or light theme(Android 3.0+ only)
• Allow editing of units
• Recompile for latest Android OS
• Other bug fixes

We uploaded some video tutorials to show how to use online editors and list catalog on our web site. The videos use Chore Checklist Editor and Chore Checklist – Full app(Android) as examples to demonstrate the steps in creating new lists, editing existing lists, syncing lists, sharing lists and using list catalog. The process also applys to Packing List Editor, Inventory List Editor and Shopping List Editor. Our iPhone/iPad or Windows 8 version of the apps offer the same features but with slightly different interface.

Create New Lists

This video shows you how to create a new list using Chore Checklist Editor

Edit Existing Lists

In this video, you will learn how to edit an existing list, re-order items and edit metadata.

Sync Lists

The following video shows you how to sync lists between Android device and cloud server. (Note: Chore Checklist Full app and Chore Checklist Cloud Connector are required on the Android device)

Share Lists

This video shows you how to share lists between two accounts. In this demo, user b@b.com shared one list with user c@c.com. You will see how user c@c.com download that list to his Android device.

Use List Catalog

This video shows you how to use list catalog. You can create list from list template in the catalog or add items from template to your existing list.

We just updated our site www.dotnetideas.com and re-wrote the online editors. We simplified the list editing user interface and made it easier to navigate throughout our site.

We also added list catalog to our site. It will allow you to add items from pre-made list templates or create new list from them.

We welcome suggestions and feedback from our users. If you have trouble contacting us using “Contact Us” form on our main site or here on this blog, please email us to this address support@dotnetideas.com directly. Thank you!

We are localizing our apps for different regions and we are asking our users for help. Currently we are working on Packing List on Android.

We have created several files containing the text need to be translated. If you are using Packing List on Android platform and would like to help, please contact us at support@dotnetideas.com. We will give you access to Google Docs which we use for collaborative editing. A contribution at any level would be so greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your help!

Many thanks to our current contributors:

Russian – Alex P.

German – Thorsten K., Michael G.

4/2/2015 - V3.0.2

• Fix bug in skipping chores when auto-reset is not midnight
• Allow sending chores in due date view
• Other improvement

3/28/2015 - V3.0.1

• Allow users to add view-only widget to the lock screen(Android 4.2+)
• Fix skipped color showing on non-skipped daily chores issue
• Other minor bug fixes

3/2/2015 - V3.0.0

All versions:

• Change data storage location from external storage to internal storage</li>
• Add local "Backup and Restore"
• Add search feature
• Other minor bug fixes and improvement

Full version only:

• Fix auto-sync issue when switching views
• Fix issue with manual sorting
• Fix chores reset issue in widget view when auto-reset is not midnight
• Allow clearing report history

12/4/2014 - V2.3.6

• Fix issue with checking off recurring chores in widget
• Other minor bug fixes

11/3/2014 - Version 2.3.3

• Fix items sometimes become non-responsive in widget issue
• Other minor bug fixes

10/27/2014 - Version 2.3.2

• Allow displaying different lists in different home widgets
• Sort lists alphabetically in list name drop down
• Allow setting start date for all chores at once
• Allow inserting a chore instead of always adding it to the end
• Other bug fixes and improvement

7/25/2014 - V2.3.0

• Add start/end date for chores
• Make note/description pop-up toast window movable
• Allow hiding chores due more than certain number of months in widget(full version)
• Add visual statistics display for daily chores in routine view(full version)
• Other bug fixes and improvement

4/14/2014 - V2.2.4

• Fix bug in syncing multiple lists(full version)
• Fix bug in resetting progress when reset time is not midnight(full version)
• Other minor improvement

3/6/2014 - Version 2.2.3

• Fix issue in sort manually
• Fix due date calculation issue when check off overdue chores in widget
• Fix issue with reminder going off for chores completed before due date
• Add more auto reset time option for PM hours
• Other bug fixes

2/4/2014 - Version 2.2.2

• Fix issue with calculating next due date from completion date
• Separate drag/drop re-ordering to its own mode. It is under "Sort Manually" now
• Fix issue with auto-sync when close the app(full version)
• Other bug fixes

1/7/2014 - V2.2.1

• Add old widget back for Android 3.0+
• Fix issue with clearing notification for chores due prior to today
• Allow user to change list name background color in Routine View(full version only)
• Fix issue with editing locations
• Other bug fixes

12/26/2013 - Version 2.2.0

All versions:

• Add scrollable & resizable interactive widget(Android 3.0+). Now user can scroll the list and check off items from home screen widget.
• Quickly add one-time chore from widget and due date view
• Allow time display 24-hour format
• Other improvement and bug fixes

Full version only:

• Allow user to choose dark or light theme(Android 3.0+)
• Export/Email history report

08/28/2013 - Version 2.1.2

Fix bugs in lite version

05/22/2013 - Version 2.1.1

• Fix color picker issue in Android OS 4.1.1
• Show calendar in date picker in Android OS 4.1.2
• Add option to hide list name in widget view
• Fix widget size issue in Android OS 4.0
• Fix issue with creating/syncing new list
• Add registration button in Login view(full version)

05/15/2013 - Version 2.1.0

Full version with Cloud Connector:

• Add auto sync between devices and cloud

All versions:

• Fix date picker cancel issue in Android OS 4.0+
• Make hide/show completed chores easier(add to menu)

• Highlight daily chores which was not completed the day before

• Allow moving routines between lists
• Allow moving chores between routines
• Allow emailing chores due on certain day
• Allow sorting chores by location
• Allow skipping non-overdue chores
• Other bugs fixes and improvement

02/06/2013 - Version 2.0.9

• Fix reminder setting issue when edit chores from widget view(full version only)
• Fix date picker title display issue in Android OS 4.0+(again)
• Allow changing text size of list view(full version only)
• Other minor bug fixes

01/27/2013 - Version 2.0.8

• Fix date picker title display issue in Android OS 4.0+
• Add "Delete Completed One-time Chores" option
• Allow copy/paste chores
• Add more font size options for widget
• Other minor bug fixes

09/18/2012 - Version 2.0.7

• Fix issue with opening widget view by default
• Allow editing chores in widget view
• Add syncing of lists in widget view

09/10/2012 - Version 2.0.6

• Fix select multiple lists for widget view issue
• Fix select multiple lists for reminder issue
• Remove network access in full version. (If you use Chore Checklist Cloud Connector, please get the latest version of it as well.)

05/08/2012 - Version 2.0.5

• Fix list renaming issue

• Fix routine fail to expand issue

• Fix report issue when week starts on Monday instead of Sunday

05/02/2012 - Version 2.0.4

• Fix issue with setting "reset progress time" to certain hour other than midnight

• Add Settings to allow user to choose not to be prompted when uncheck non-daily chores

• Add menu item for "Enable Widget For Lists" under "Settings"

04/11/2012 - Version 2.0.3

• Fix "Force Close" error when download list on some device

• Fix upload issue when default Locale is not US English

• Fix day pattern mismatch issue between server and mobile devices

• Fix issue with setting "reset progress time" to certain hour other than midnight
• Other minor bug fixes

03/30/2012 - Version 2.0.2

• Fix sync/upload issue with system pre-loaded list

• Fix "Force Close" bug when open the app

03/15/2012 - Version 2.0.1

• Fix widget not display chores from selected lists issue

• Fix "Force Close" bugs when open a report

03/12/2012 - Version 2.0.0

There are many new features in this release. Please read the help for more detailed instruction. You can access the help through "Menu"->"More"->"Help". Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

• Allow multiple lists and moving chores between lists
• Add color indicator when a chore is skipped 2+ times
• Fix bug with apostrophe in location
• Other minor bug fixes

Full version only:

• Statistics reports

• Allow user to customize notification text color
• Allow user to indicate whether to open widget view as default view. Widget view can be used as a dashboard to display multiple lists in one view now.

Finally, the most anticipated features*:

•    Sync and backup list to server

•    Share lists between users

*Separate purchase of "Chore Checklist Cloud Connector" is required for these two new features. You will also need to register on our site in order to download/upload/share lists. The registration is FREE and you will be able to use our FREE online list editor as a member.

11/15/2011 V1.5.2

• Make it easier to checked/unchecked chores
• Bug fix

Paid version only:

• Add option to show/hide due date
• Add option to not prompt for completion date
• Add option to show/hide completed chores

• Add option to change the color of checked chores

10/17/2011 V1.5.1

• Fix V1.5.0 running slow and "Force Close" issue

Paid version only:

• Add 4x4 widget
• Add new options to show/hide completion date
• Allow changing due date and completion date color

10/11/2011 V1.5.0

• Change the global setting of due date calculation to chore level and make it available in free version too
• Minor bug fixes

Paid version only:

• Add new widget view to allow user quickly check off chores
• Add timer in widget view
• Add more font size
• Add 4x3 widget
• Allow user to choose translucent color
• Allow user to set the auto reset time

5/31/2011 V1.4.9

• Improve performance when check off a chore
• Fix bug in checking off all chores in a routine
• Allow customizing text size in widget

5/27/2011 V1.4.8

• Fix date parsing issue for non-English locale
• Fix issue with alarms when there are more than one daily routines
• Allow moving to SD card (NOTE: if you choose to move to SD card, you will not be able to use widgets. If later you changed your mind, you will have to uninstall and reinstall the app)
• Other minor bug fixes

4/15/2011 V1.4.7

• Fix "Force Close" issue when choose to show chores overdue and due today only

4/11/2011 V1.4.6

• Add menu option to display chores overdue and due today only.
• Add setting to allow users to disable widget customization if they have issue loading the widget

4/8/2011 V1.4.5

• Add widget customization back (Full version only)
• Note: widget customization may not work on some devices. If it doesn't work for you, please contact us. We will either fix it or refund your money.

4/7/2011 V1.4.4

• Removed the change for widget customization since it causing "Problem Loading Widget" issue on some devices

4/4/2011 V1.4.3

• Fixed issue in resetting progress

• Allow changing background and text colors of the widget(Full version only)

3/28/2011 V1.4.2

• Fixed "Force Close" issue when set reminder in routine

• Other minor bug fixes

3/25/2010 V1.4.1

• Added date/time to notification

• Added toast for alarm date/time

• Added preference setting for changing the background and text colors for all the routines and chores (full version only)

• Added better color picker

• Fixed widget display issue

• Fixed notification issue

• Other bug fixes

3/17/2011 V1.3.4

• Fix widget display issue

3/16/2011 V1.3.3

• Add display options to allow user to choose which routine to be displayed in the widget and which routine to be always expanded in the list

• Allow carriage return in notes

• Do not pop-up date picker when complete one-time chores

• Fix bugs in auto resetting progress

• Fix display issue when screen orientation changes

• Fix bugs in multiple notification and clear notification bar when a chore is completed

• Other bug fixes

2/23/2014 - V4.0.1

• Change data storage location to application own storage
• Add local "Backup and Restore"
• Add "Mass Change" in "Group By Luggage/Location" view
• Allow edit list detail in list detail view
• Allow check weather in list detail view (full version)
• Other bug fixes and improvement

8/15/2014 V3.3.3

• Fix bug in entering unit/total weight when total weight is less than 1 lb
• Add "undo" bar when check items in "Hide Checked Items" mode
• Add quick change of location/luggage in "Group By Location/Luggage" view
• Other bug fixes and improvement

7/9/2014 V3.3.0

• Allow user to customize color of checked items
• Fix bug with shortcut not opening the correct list
• Fix bug with items not staying sorted in group by location/luggage
• Ignore case when sort alphabetically
• Add more options in Settings to improve usability
• Other bug fixes

3/14/2014 - V3.2.4

• Fix "Menu" not available in Tablet with Honeycomb issue
• Fix issue in sort manually
• Add master list in Russian and German
• Other bug fixes

1/27/2014 - V3.2.3

• Add new languages - Russian and German
• Separate drag/drop re-ordering to its own mode. It is under "Sort Manually" now
• Recompile for latest Android OS
• Allow insert item before an item

Full version:

• Allow user to choose dark or light theme(Android 3.0+)

11/11/2013 Version 3.2.0

• Move "Generate List" to "Mass Change" panel
• Allow user to enable lists for auto-sync(full version only)
• Add unit weight and auto-calculate total weight based on unit weight and quantity
• Allow item editing in group by location/luggage view
• Add "Active" indicator for items and allow user to hide inactive items
• Add luggage weight
• Add display of total/packed weight on category and list
• Fix list syncing issue when there is apostrophe in list name
• Other bug fixes and improvement

09/08/2012 - Version 3.1.3

• Fix issue with closing a list while in "Mass Change" mode

09/05/2012 - Version 3.1.2

• Fix syncing issue for lists with weight (Full version only)

07/02/2012 - Version 3.1.1

• Fix lists upload issue

• Fix "Check Weather" issue
• Other minor fixes

06/18/2012 - Version 3.1.0

• Add destination, departure/return date and notes to list and sort lists by departure date
• Add "Mass Change" mode which allow user to check items separately for mass change. Doing mass change will not mess checked items for packing anymore.

• Lite version has full access to "Mass Change" now

• Other minor bug fixes

Full version only:

• Quick quantity editing

• Allow user to check weather for destinations (need Internet connection)
• List syncing and sharing (separate purchase of Packing List Cloud Connector is required)

3/28/2012 V3.0.4

• Fix "Force Close" bug in group by luggage

9/19/2011 V3.0.3

• Add online packing list editor at www.dotnetideas.com
• Fix minor bugs

7/28/2011 v3.0.2

• Fix "Force Close" bugs in starting and other places
• Allow adding shortcuts for particular list to home screen
• Other improvement and bug fixes

5/23/2011 v3.0.1

• Fix bug in "Add items to existing list"

5/14/2011 v3.0.0

• Add new home screen displaying lists' name along with their last modified date, the count of the packed items and percentage.
• Add more settings to allow user to customize the background/text colors (full version only)

• Allow user to edit items in Group by Location/Luggage mode

• Add weight field to items. When group by luggage, the total weight will be calculated and displayed next to each luggage. User can choose to use "English Units" or "Metric" system in Settings.
• Add more mass changes in full version. Now you can copy and move multiple items between categories or delete them.
• Add mass change location/luggage in Group by Location/Luggage mode
• Add "Search" functionality
• Add sort by packed items
• Other minor enhancement and bug fixes

2/23/2011 v2.2.3

• Add notes for both categories and items
• Show unpacked items only

1/25/2011 v2.2.2

Allow application to be installed on SD card

10/25/2010 Version 2.2: Fix bugs with adding new items

10/17/2010 Version 2.1 update:

• Add luggage
• Allow re-order list by drag/drop items

• Add mass change (paid version only)

• Add help

8/22/2010 Added "Packing List - Full" as paid version. Right now it is as same as the "Packing List" except it doesn't have Google Ads. We are planning on adding more paid version only features to it soon.

8/19/2010 Version 2.0 update:

• Allow group by locations
• Add “Settings” in menu so user can choose between using icon or text for location.
• Fix rename list bug
• Add Google ads to keep this app free to the users

6/18/2010 Version 1.9 update:

• Add alphabetical sorting
• Allow user to send list by email, text message and etc.

6/6/2010 Version 1.8 update:

• Minor bug fix

4/28/2010 Version 1.7 update:

• Allow user to delete pre-loaded packing master list.

4/26/2010 Version 1.6 update:

• Allow user to add/edit/delete locations.

3/15/2010 Version 1.5 update:

• Fixed the “Forced close” issue when entering special character, such as ä.

3/19/2010 Version 1.4 update:

• Allow user to select items from a list and then add them to another existing list
• Add cross line when mark off things

• Auto select all when click on quantity for easy editing

3/2/2010 Version 1.3 update:

• Fixed a major bug with quantity field which caused most of the “force close” issue. (If you were using previous version and if you have changed any quantity to a number other than 1, you may need to reset it. Sorry for the inconvenience)

• Fixed bugs with “Generate List”

• Add copy/paste

2/6/2010 Version 1.2 update:

• Changed the UI to use expandable list so user can see the whole list in one view

• Add location to item and use icon for easy identifying
• Use color and count on category to notify checked items