Support Center

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Kimico apps.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What's the difference between the free and the pro versions?

The pro version removes the 50 item limit imposed on the free version. Aside from this limit, all the features are exactly the same. This gives our users a clear picture of what they will be getting once they decide to purchase the pro version.



Are there any plans to add Android or macOS support?

We are currently focusing our development efforts on iOS, and there are no plans to support additional platforms at this time. Sorry about that!



Do I need to purchase the app for my iPhone and my iPad separately?

Not at all. Purchase any of our apps only once. All our apps are universal which means they are designed for both iPhone and iPad devices. Install the same app on both device types.



Can I access my library online?

There is currently no companion website to view your library online. However, you can export your library to a standard format file and upload it to a storage service such as iCloud Drive or Dropbox. You should then be able to view your library on any device connected to the internet.



How can I restore my In-App Purchase?

In some cases, it may be necessary to restore your previously purchased “Pro Features” which were applied via an In-App Purchase. This may be necessary after uninstalling/re-installing the app, or after installing the app on another device. To restore your previously purchased “Pro Features”, follow these steps:

  • Download and open the free app on your device.
  • Select Settings > Upgrade.
  • Select "Restore Purchase".
The app will be upgraded and no charge will be applied. NOTE: When restoring your purchase, be sure your device is signed into the same Apple account that was originally used for the purchase.



Can I create a Wish List?

Sure. Go to the main page and select the leftmost button in the bottom bar. In the Wish List page, select the + button at the top right corner to add as many items as you like.



What is the difference between categories and tags?

Both categories and tags are generic classification methods. However, while an item can only be assigned to a single category, it can be assigned multiple tags. To choose whether to use categories or tags to classify a specific criterion, ask yourself the following question: “Does each item in the library match only one value, or might multiple values fit this criterion?” If the answer is “only one”, then use categories to classify this criterion. Otherwise, use tags. Here are some examples:

  • Assume you wish to track which items are in your home and which are in your office. Ask yourself: “Can an item be located only in one of the places, or in both at the same time?”. Since the answer is clearly “only one place at one time”, you should use categories to classify this criterion.
  • Assume you wish to track which animals appear in each of your nature movies. Since several animals can appear in each movie, use tags to classify this criterion.



Why can't I read a backup file?

Backup files are not readable documents. They are intended only for internal use by our apps for the backup/restore functions. If you wish to view your library in a readable format, you can export it via Settings > Import & Export > Export tab, and specify the desired file format (HTML or CSV).



Basics

How do I sort authors by their last name? (BookBuddy App)

Go to Settings > General > Sort Author, and select “Last, First”.



How can I get the app to ignore leading articles ("The", "An", and "A") when sorting by title?

Select Settings > General > Sort Title, and turn “Ignore Prefixes” on. You can even control exactly which leading words or articles to ignore when sorting by title.



How do I back up my library?

To back up your library to a storage service such as iCloud Drive or Dropbox, select Settings > Backup > Back Up Library. We highly recommend creating backups on a regular basis so that your hard work is saved at all times!



How do I transfer my library from the free version to the pro version?

To use Dropbox:

  • In the free version, select Settings > Backup > Dropbox tab > Back Up Library, and wait until the backup process completes.
  • In the pro version, go to Settings > Backup > Dropbox tab, be sure the Dropbox account shown is the same one used in the free version, and select “Restore Library from Backup”.
To use a different service:
  • In the free version, select Settings > Backup > Any Service tab > Back Up Library, select a folder in a storage service such as iCloud Drive, and select “Add”. Wait until the backup process completes.
  • In the pro version, select Settings > Backup > Any Service tab > Filename, and browse to the file where you backed up the free version. Then select “Restore Library from Backup”.
After the restore process completes, you’re ready to go!



Can I move an item to a different category?

Sure. Select the desired item. In the Details page, scroll all way down and select the Move button.



How do I add an item to a specific category?

First select the desired category, and only then select the + button at the top right corner.



How do I create a series and then add items to it?

Select an item to be included in the series, and select Edit. In the Edit page, select the “Series” field. Enter a new series name in the search box, or select a series name from the list. Select “Save” at the top right corner.

After a series name is selected, an additional field named “Volume” appears below the “Series” field in the Edit page. Select the “Volume” field to enter the volume number of the item in the series, and save it.

NOTE: To filter items by a specific series name, go to the main page, select the “Series” filter, and select the desired series name.



How do I add a new Genre value?

Select an item to be included in the genre, and select Edit. In the Edit page, select the “Genre” field. Enter a new Genre value in the search box, and select “Save” at the top right corner.



Where do I indicate an item’s format, such as “DVD”/“Blu-ray” for a movie, or “hardcover”/“paperback” for a book?

Use the field named “Format”. Select the desired item, and select Edit. In the Edit page, scroll all way down and select Add Field > Format. NOTE: To set a default Format value for new items, go to Settings > General, and in the New Item Defaults area, select Format. To always display the Format field on the Edit page, select Settings > General, and in the Behavior area, select Fields to Edit > Format.



Can I email my wish list to myself or to others?

Yes. Go to Settings > Import & Export > Export tab. Depending on the app, select “Book Lists” or "Movie Lists" or "Album Lists". Ensure that only “Wish List” is turned on and that the other options are turned off, and return to the Export tab. In the “Export To” field, select Email, and return to the Export tab. Choose the desired file format (HTML or CSV), and select Export at the bottom of the page. Voila! The wish list file is attached to an email ready for you to send. You can even customize the email subject and body.



What is “Uncategorized” and why does it include items?

“Uncategorized" appears when there are items (books, movies, or albums) that are not associated with any category (i.e. “Personal" or “Professional”). This is kind of a reminder for you to categorize these “Uncategorized” items so that each item in your library is meaningfully categorized. To categorize your library, select "Uncategorized" on the main page and then select any item in the list to open the Details page. Scroll all the way down, select the Move button, and select the desired category for the current item. Repeat this procedure for all uncategorized items. When all items have been categorized, “Uncategorized” will no longer appear. Of course, categorizing your library is completely optional and should only be done in a way that makes sense to you. If you don’t wish to categorize your library, you can select the Edit button at the top left corner of the main page and delete all categories. After you select Done, “Uncategorized” no longer appears.



How to add a new book by ISBN number?

To add a book by typing its ISBN, select the + button on the top right corner to add a new book, select one of the barcode scanner options (Scan Single Barcode or Scan Multiple Barcodes), tap the “keyboard” icon at the bottom right corner, and then type the ISBN code.



Troubleshooting

Importing a file from another app failed. Why?

Our app analyzes the file to be imported to detect which app created it. Then it uses predefined rules designed to convert data from that specific app. This allows our app to seamlessly import files from various sources without user intervention.
However, if the data to be imported is modified in any way, such as through a spreadsheet application, its structure could change. This could cause the detection described above to fail. For this reason it’s essential that the file remain “as-is” once it is exported from the other app.
We recommend that you export the file again. Do not modify or even open it. Then import it into our app. If the import still fails, please contact us so we can take a closer look.



Importing my existing catalog failed. Why?

The file to be imported must be in CSV format with:

  • comma (“,”) as the field delimiter
  • UTF-8 encoding

We recommend saving the CSV file using OpenOffice or Apple Numbers due to compatibility issues with some versions of Microsoft Excel.

For more information see “How do I import my existing catalog?” in the “Import, Export, Print” FAQs.



Why was I charged twice by Apple for purchasing the same app?

There are two separate apps in the App Store for each of our products. For example, BookBuddy is available as both:

  • “BookBuddy” which is free to download.
  • “BookBuddy Pro” which is a paid app.

The only difference between these two apps is that the free “BookBuddy” app has a 50-book limit. A “BookBuddy” user who wishes to remove this limit can purchase the “Pro Features” upgrade from within BookBuddy via an In-App Purchase.

On the other hand, some users prefer purchasing the “BookBuddy Pro” app, which has no book limit, directly from the App Store. Both of these purchase methods involve the same fee and offer the exact same app features and capabilities.

A duplicate purchase occurs when a user purchases the “BookBuddy Pro” app from the App Store, and also the “Pro Features” In-App Purchase from the free app. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t provide a way to link between purchases made through separate apps, and so we have no way to prevent users from making duplicate purchases.

That being said, we believe that if you ask Apple for a refund by explaining your use case, they would fully refund your fee. To submit a refund request, we suggest that you follow this link: http://www.imore.com/how-to-get-refund-itunes-app-store.



How can I tell if the sync is working properly?

First ensure that the same sync service (iCloud or Dropbox) is selected on all devices. Then select Settings > Sync on each device and check the value in “Number of Items”.

If the values are not identical on all syncing devices, select “Sync Now” and wait a few minutes. If the values are still not identical, then the devices are not in sync. (See the next FAQ, "How do I fix sync issues?")

Note that it may take several hours to complete the initial sync.



How do I fix sync issues?

Before starting with sync troubleshooting, be sure to back up the library on your primary device (the one with the largest library) by selecting Settings > Backup > Back Up Library. This important step safeguards your library in case something goes wrong! After your library is backed up, follow these steps:

  1. On each device to be synced, open Settings > Sync. Make sure that the version number that appears in the “App Name” field is identical on all devices.
  2. Completely restart all devices to be synced. (Hold the power button and then "slide to power off".)
  3. Open the app again on each device, and check if the sync is working properly. (See the FAQ “How can I tell if the sync is working properly?” above.)
  4. If the sync is still not working, on each device select Settings > Sync > Sync Now.
    • If the “Last Sync” field on all devices is updated with the current time, then the data should eventually sync successfully across all devices. Contact us if the data has not synced after waiting several hours.
    • If the “Last Sync” field is not updated with the current time on any device, then a sync error occurred. Continue to the next step.
  5. Be sure your service is not out of space.
    • If the sync service is Dropbox, check the available space in your Dropbox account. If your Dropbox space is full, free some space and try syncing again.
    • If the sync service is iCloud, check the available space on your iCloud Drive. If your iCloud Drive is full, free some space and try syncing again.
  6. Only on the devices where the “Last Sync” field is not updated with the current time, select Advanced > Replace with Synced Data > Replace. This will delete the local library and will replace it with a fresh copy of the library from the sync service. Wait patiently until the sync completes. Allow additional time for an iCloud sync, as it is performed in the background.
  7. If the “Last Sync” field on all devices is now updated with the current time, then the data should eventually sync successfully across all devices. Contact us if the data has not synced after waiting several hours.
  8. If the “Last Sync” field on any device is still not updated with the current time, contact us for further assistance.



Sync

What does the "sync" feature do?

Sync ensures that you have the identical library on multiple iOS devices. When sync is enabled, changes made on one device are automatically replicated to the other devices. Sync is especially useful when:

  • You own multiple devices, such as an iPhone and an iPad, and you wish to view and manage your library on both.
  • You and your family members wish to keep your home library in sync across your personal devices.
  • You and your co-teachers wish to keep your classroom library in sync across your devices, so that all the teachers can keep track of the check-ins and check-outs made by students.



Which sync service should I use: iCloud or Dropbox?

We recommend using the iCloud sync service when all the syncing devices are configured with the same iCloud account. The common use case for using the iCloud sync service is a person who wishes to keep her own devices, such as her iPhone and iPad, in sync. We recommend using the Dropbox sync service when the syncing devices are configured with different iCloud accounts. The common use case for using the Dropbox sync service is when family members or colleagues wish to keep their personal devices in sync.



How do I sync my library across all my devices using iCloud?

Before you begin, be sure the devices to be synced are all configured with the same iCloud account. Otherwise, we recommend syncing them using the Dropbox service instead. To sync using the iCloud service, select Settings > Sync > Select Service > Sync with iCloud. If this is your primary device (the one with your largest library), we recommend selecting Backup to back up your library now. If this is not your primary device or if you recently backed up your library, select Sync with iCloud > Merge. Depending on the size of your library, the initial sync may take up to several hours. For the sync to run successfully, do not close the app until the sync completes. You can continue syncing all your devices in the meantime. After you’ve synced all your devices, any change you make on one device should automatically replicate to your other devices pretty quickly. You don't have to do anything else to keep your devices in sync.



How do I sync my family’s library across all our devices using Dropbox?

  • First you need a single Dropbox account for all the devices. You can create one for free at http://www.dropbox.com or use the Dropbox app available on the App Store.
  • Ensure that all family devices are configured with the same Dropbox account at Settings > Backup > Dropbox tab > Account.
  • Select Settings > Sync > Select Service > Sync with Dropbox. If this is the primary device (the one with the largest library), we recommend selecting Backup to back up the library now. If this is not the primary device or if you recently backed up the library, select Sync with Dropbox > Merge.
  • Depending on the size of the library, the initial step may take up to several hours. For the sync to run successfully, do not close the app until the sync completes. You can continue syncing all the devices in the meantime.
  • After all the devices have been synced, any change made on one device should automatically replicate to the other devices pretty quickly. You don't have to do anything else to keep the devices in sync.



How do I sync the library across my own and my colleagues’ devices?

  • First you need a single Dropbox account for all the devices. You can create one for free at http://www.dropbox.com or use the Dropbox app available on the App Store.
  • Ensure that all the devices are configured with the same Dropbox account at Settings > Backup > Dropbox tab > Account.
  • Select Settings > Sync > Select Service > Sync with Dropbox. If this is the primary device (the one with the largest library), we recommend selecting Backup to back up the library now. If this is not the primary device or if you recently backed up the library, select Sync with Dropbox > Merge.
  • Depending on the size of the library, the initial step may take up to several hours. For the sync to run successfully, do not close the app until the sync completes. You can continue syncing all the devices in the meantime.
  • After all the devices have been synced, any change made on one device should automatically replicate to the other devices pretty quickly. You don't have to do anything else to keep the devices in sync.



Import, Export, Print

How do I export my library?

Select Settings > Import & Export > Export tab, and select the appropriate values in each field. You can limit the data to be exported by selecting specific lists and field groups. Then select Export at the bottom of the page. You’ll be prompted to enter the email address or location where the exported file will be sent.



Can I export my library in multiple file formats?

You can export your library in any of these popular file formats: HTML, CSV, or TSV.

  • CSV and TSV files are delimited text files that use commas or tabs to separate values. These file formats store tabular data (numbers and text) in plain text, but they cannot store styles or images. If your library is exported in CSV or TSV format, you’ll have a lightweight text file that can be viewed in tabular format using a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers.
  • An exported HTML file is larger than a CSV or TSV file containing the same exported library. HTML format provides a rich representation of your library including various text styles and cover images. HTML is the standard file format for web pages and web applications, so your HTML files can be easily viewed in web browsers such as Google Chrome and Apple Safari.



How do I import a file from another app?

Most library apps let you export a file in CSV format to your device or to a storage service such as iCloud Drive or Dropbox.

To import that file, go to Settings > Import & Export > Import tab. Select the saved file in the "Filename" setting, and select Import at the bottom of the page.



Can I view my library on my desktop computer?

Sure. Simply export your library to a file in any of the available formats, and then open the exported file on your computer using the appropriate program (spreadsheet application or HTML viewer).



How do I import my existing catalog?

Save or export your catalog in CSV format with:

  • comma (“,”) as the field delimiter
  • UTF-8 encoding
We suggest that you export the library in your app (you can use the Lists or Filters fields to select a sample) to a CSV file. Then compare the catalog file you want to import with the file you just exported. Be sure the header field names and the data formatting of the file to be imported match the file you just exported. We recommend using OpenOffice or Apple Numbers to create, edit, and save your catalog file. If you use Microsoft Excel to create, edit, and save your file, be sure to open and then save it using OpenOffice or Apple Numbers before importing the file. Otherwise the import may fail due to compatibility issues with some versions of Microsoft Excel. NOTE: OpenOffice is available for free https://www.openoffice.org/download



How do I import my GoodReads library? (BookBuddy App)

  • Go to the GoodReads website, log in, and select “My Books” at the top of the page.
  • Under “Tools” in the left pane, select “Import and export”.
  • Under “Export Your Books” at the top right, click the “Export Library” button to start exporting your library.
  • When the export is completed, select the “Your export” link under “Export Your Books”. Your library is downloaded to a file in CSV format.
  • Import the CSV file into the app.



How do I import my iBooks library? (BookBuddy App)

BookBuddy can import books from any app that can export its library to a file in CSV format. However, as far as we know there is no way to export a file from the iBooks app. If you find a way, please let us know so we can make BookBuddy compatible with it!



How do I import my Kindle library? (BookBuddy App)

BookBuddy can import books from any app that can export its library to a file in CSV format. An open-source software called “calibre" can be used to copy your Kindle library and then create a catalog of the library in CSV format. Another option is to import your Kindle library into your GoodReads account. Then use the GoodReads website to export it to a CSV file, and import the file into the app. For more information on how to import your Kindle library into your GoodReads account, see: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/458-easily-add-books-you-purchased-from-amazon-to-your-goodreads-shelves



How do I print out my library?

If your printer is AirPrint enabled, you can print your library directly from your iOS device. Select Settings > Import & Export > Print tab, and select the appropriate values in each field. You can limit the data to be printed by selecting specific lists and field groups. Then select Print at the bottom of the page. You’ll be prompted to select the printer and other options. Your library will be printed in rich HTML format that includes various text styles and cover images.

Alternately, you can export your library into a CSV or HTML file and print it from either your iOS device or from your desktop computer. CSV files are printed in a tabular and more compact layout, and they don’t include any images.



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You may also email us at - support@kimicoapps.com