Firstly, I’m not sure whether to post this in Mac or Windows forum, but since my prime use of Scrivener is on an iMac…
I have the opportunity for several days writerly exclusion. Since I don’t have a Macbook, and Scrivener for iPad is some way off, I would have to take my very large iMac with me. There is, however, an opportunity to use a windows machine that resides where I am going, so in theory I could buy and download Scrivener for Windows.
My question is therefore this: can I share the same Scrivener file between Mac & Windows versions without losing anything? Workflow would be thus: Mac -> Windows -> Mac.
When you go there, I suggest that you take the downloaded Scrivener install file, a zipped backup of your project, and the raw one on a windows-formatted flash drive (they almost all come that way), just in case there are internet issues on the other end. I do, however, recommend using Dropbox if you have it, just follow the “Scrivener Everywhere” guidelines in the Scrivener manual.
While we’d of course appreciate a purchase, if the retreat isn’t too long, you could probably get away with just using the demo. It’s 30 days of full features, like the Mac.
In addition to the link above, this one also details some of the practical considerations:
If you download the beta version of Windows, linked comments and footnotes will actually appear highlighted in the editor. You can tooltip over them to read them. You can’t edit them or add new ones though. Whether you want to use beta software is up to you though. You can prepare for the transition by converting your notes to inline, using the Format/Convert/ sub-menu. Once you get back you can convert them back to the inspector type.
You’re a Mac guy. Unless you use windows every day, you really should think about how much the interface (shortcuts, colors, where the menu bar is, over all UI) may distract you. As a mac person who is forced to use windows at least 8 hours every day, and a person who uses scrivener, I find scrivener on windows frustrating because of the OS level differences. It isn’t a scrivener problem but a personal adaptation/comfort/methodology problem. You may be more adaptable than i am (my family would tell you that I am NOT adaptable at all) and have no issues.
the funny thing for me is that I don’t have any problem with the scriv projects that I started on windows. the only time I have these “i hate you!” frustrations is when i am moving between systems. I think it has to do with the general headlessness as demonstrated to the right.
You have brought to the fore a real problem which I have been avoiding. I too used to have to travel between the two systems due to work, and muscles I didn’t know I had would tense up everytime I switched on the PC. It’s been 2 years since I’ve used one, and I’m dreading that moment (lengthy period) when Windows boots up. Of course this alien desktop environment could just be the excuse my unconscious needs to avoid actually doing any writing. So I may have to either:
a) reacclimatise myself to Windows before I go (and learn some breathing exercises)
b) wrap up the iMac in a blanket and take it with me.
If you’re driving in a car, go ahead and drag your iMac with you; I’ve taken summer/winter breaks from college dragging around an old pc with the ridiculously heavy 17" CRT monitor. Heck, you could probably take a larger suit-case and just pack your all-in-one mac amongst your clothing (avoid jeans rivets or belt buckles being anywhere near the screen, of course). If you are taking a bus/train… it may not be worth the extra weight & bulk.
If you’re flying, definitely stick with Scriv for Windows.
It’s 30 days of full features, like the Mac.