I’m finally getting around to updating my macbook to LION, but I want to keep my desktop on Snow Leopard. Is there any problem working on the same project file (shared via dropbox) on both computers, that is to say, across Mac OS versions?
While I’m on the question… I have a PC netbook I use from time to time (not very much, though, since I got an iPad). IF I decide to buy Scrivener for Windows, can I use the same project file across platforms, too?
Thanks for the help…
When it comes to the file format, there are no differences between how Scrivener runs in Lion vs. Snow Leopard. There are a few feature level differences, such as being able to access Lion’s full screen feature. But this will not conflict with Snow Leopard when you take the project back over, you can safely use whatever you wish to use in the project. Just make sure you are using the same major version on both computers (2.x). Most of my active projects drift between Snow Leopard and Lion several times a day, this is a seamless process.
Between Windows and Mac, again the file format is the same and there is no need to convert or import/export. Just copy the .scriv project over to the netbook, work on it there, and copy it back to the Mac when you are done. Cosmetically, a project will be revealed for what it really is on the PC, a folder with a bunch of files in it. You interface with the .scrivx file inside of the “.scriv” folder, on a PC.
Now there are some feature differences between platforms to be aware of. Mainly, stick to inline annotations and footnotes if you need those, and I would stick to compiling on the Mac for now, as the two systems are different (and each platform will use its own compile preference file to save your settings). The main thing you’ll probably notice are fonts. The way fonts are addressed in Windows is different from the Mac, and so any pieces of the project you edit on Windows will most likely lose their font settings coming back over. This is a minor inconvenience in most cases. Documents/Convert/Formatting to Default Text Style will be something you use a lot if you are picky about how things look in the editor, or compile using a workflow that passes the editor formatting through to the final output instead of having the compiler reformat for you.
Terrific response. Thanks.
I appear to be a generation behind the original poster in operating systems: I’m currently running Scrivener under Snow Leopard, but I’d like to be able to use it on my old laptop as well, which can’t be upgraded past Leopard, currently 10.5.8. Will I still be able to switch back and forth as you described?
Thanks.
HD
Yes, it’s the same program all the way back to Tiger. Just make sure you don’t buy from Apple if you intend to use it with older laptops, because their store software cannot be installed on older computers, and you need to use their store software to download and activate the software on the machine.
The only time you would see compatibility issues is if you have Scrivener 1.x on one computer and 2.x on another. The format was upgraded with that version change, and while 2.x can read and update 1.x projects, the same is not true in inverse. As long as you have the same version of Scrivener on each machine, you’ll have no problems of this nature.