Updates:
- Beta 3 Update (Sep 20): Codebook 4.4 Beta 3 Update - Large Database Support
- Beta 2 Update (Jun 16): Codebook 4.4 Beta 2 Update - Bug Fixes
Greetings, Beta Testers! We have a special, four-platform update of Codebook to test, version 4.4. This version does not sync with previous versions of Codebook, so you will need to install the beta on each of the devices you plan to test and sync with.
New in version 4.4, across all four platforms (Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows) is support for Image and PDF attachments. This has been in the works for quite some time, and takes advantage of the new Sync system introduced in version 4.
There are also numerous other platform-specific improvements and bug fixes as noted below. Beta testers on macOS will want to have a look at changes to the installation steps and the software update feature.
Image Attachments
Codebook’s Image Attachments feature lets you store sensitive and important images and PDF files securely in your encrypted database. This can be useful for archiving vital documents and identification cards, such as:
- Driver’s Licenses
- Insurance Policies
- Social Security Cards
- Birth Certificates
- Legal Documents and Contracts
- Vaccine Cards
In the interface, images and PDFs are stored as attachments to Entry records. They can be viewed right along side your Fields in the Images tab of the Entry view.
Before You Test
Please note: These are some important things to keep in mind in this early phase of testing:
- There is currently a maximum file size limit of 10MB on Image Attachments.
- If you attempt to import images that are over the max size limit, Codebook will offer to compress them if possible during import.
- Adding images will cause sync to take a little longer than usual to complete the next time you run it.
- When adding images do not to let the Database Size exceed 500MB (for now, we’ll circle back to this).
To check the Database Size, access Database Info from the File menu on macOS and Windows, and the Settings view on Android and iOS.
Platform Specific Changes
In addition to the new Image Attachments feature, we’ve included the following improvements to Codebook on the platforms listed below:
Android
- Adds long-press shortcuts allowing you to Search and Sync from the app icon
- Improves WiFi service identification and speed
- Fixes ordering of Entries within Category listing
- Improves responsiveness of the Cancel button during Sync
iOS
Changes in this version:
- Improves error handling and cancellation during Desktop WiFi Sync
- Improves progress reporting during Sync
- Improves responsiveness of the Cancel button during Sync
- Improves handling of uploading larger changeset files (over 150MB) to Dropbox
- Checks for available space on local device before downloading changesets during Sync
- Fixes instances of the interface becoming unresponsive during Sync
- Fixes race condition on cancel in Note Field editor preventing restoration of the original note text
- Password AutoFill now supports remaining unlocked after login until host app resigns (see new Settings button in the Codebook AutoFill interface)
Windows
Changes in this version:
- Improves Secret Agent window behavior
- Improves Integrity Check window display and reporting
- Adds a Learn More button to the Integrity Check window that links to the improved Help page for the feature
- Improves responsiveness of the Cancel button during Sync
macOS
Changes in this version:
- Adds support for Image and PDF attachments to Entry records
- Updates software updater to offer download, install, and relaunch on future updates
- Adds new Remain Unlocked options to Password AutoFill, defaults to off
Improves login speed on Main Window - Fixes layout of Sync Info view (available under the Sync menu while holding the Option key)
- Improves error handling and cancellation during Desktop WiFi Sync
- Improves progress bar animations during Desktop WiFi Sync
- Improves progress bar animations and status message layout on Integrity Check
- Adds a Learn More button to the Integrity Check sheet that links to the improved Help page for the feature
- Allows creating a new folder in the chooser panel for Local Folder Sync
- Fixes a hang (beachball) that could occur during login while resolving the selected Folder for Local Folder Sync
Software Update
The software updater feature is not included in the Mac App Store distribution, as the App Store and macOS handle delivering and installing updates.
We have updated Codebook for macOS’s Check For Updates feature in this version so that future updates will offer you to Download and Install updates, and Relaunch Codebook. No longer will you have to hunt for the Download button in the HTML release notes, quit Codebook yourself, then run the Installer package.
You’ll still have to install this update yourself (see note below)! But all future updates will provide the new download and install features, including Beta updates.
Each future update will be protected by an EdDSA (ed25519) cryptographic signature that Codebook requires and verifies before installing any update (this is in addition to the current code signing and notarization that protects you from malicious updates now).
As before, you can customize your settings for software updates in Codebook by going to Preferences and selecting the Updates tab. There you can switch between the Beta and Public update channels (Beta channel subscribers also receive the Public release builds, so no need to switch to get those), enable automatic update checking, and control the frequency of update checks.
Password AutoFill Locking Behavior
We are making it possible in this version of Codebook for macOS to allow the Password AutoFill extension to remain open after unlocking while the app extension remains active in the host application, with two options for timeout: 5 minutes and 10 minutes. This setting defaults to off (“Lock Immediately”), and has to be activated by launching Codebook AutoFill in a supporting application on macOS Big Sur, logging in, and clicking the gear icon to change this setting.
Installing This Beta on macOS
As part of the aforementioned change to how we will deliver future software updates, the distribution format for Direct and Beta builds is changing from Installer Package (.pkg) to Disk Image (.dmg). This should allow us to provide a bit more customization to the package and work well for new users downloading Codebook for macOS for the first time.
Previously, you would download and open a .pkg file and the Installer program would copy Codebook into your Applications folder for you. When you open the .dmg download, a Finder window will appear with instructions and a symlink to copy Codebook into the Applications folder.
- Quit Codebook if it is running
- Download and open the Disk Image
- In the window that opens, drag Codebook into the
/Applicationsfolder
Once this version is installed, you should be able to install and relaunch future updates directly from Codebook.
Installing the Beta
Android:
Codebook betas for Android are distributed through Google Play. Please contact us to be added to the access list. You will then be able to install the latest beta update when you next launch Google Play.
iOS:
Launch the TestFlight app on your iOS device to install the latest beta update.
Contact us if you do not have access already, you have to be added to the list.
macOS:
- Quit Codebook if it is running
- Download and open the Disk Image
- In the window that opens, drag Codebook into the
/Applicationsfolder
See the Preferences window Updates tab to change software update preference to check for future beta updates.
Windows:
Download and run the beta Installer package:
https://www.zetetic.net/downloads/codebook/windows/beta/CodebookSetupBeta.msi
See the Preferences window to control Stable vs Beta update checks using the Release Channel preference.