Keeping important files in iCloud

[DJFrail]

I'm working on an iOS app and currently adding iCloud support. I'd like for the user to do some 'stuff,' save that 'stuff' in a file, and sync that file to the other devices over icloud. The tutorials I've seen to do this recommend using "setUbiquitous" on the files you want to sync to iCloud, which removes them from your app's sandbox directory (the 'documents' directory, in my case) and places them in an iCloud container directory where a daemon shuffles them off to iCloud and everything stays in sync.

But - now the user's 'stuff' file is exposed to be deleted off of icloud, which also deletes it off all of the iDevices. On the iDevice, anybody can go to settings/icloud/storage&backup/manage storage/theApp and delete the file. If they were to do that, it would be lost for good.

So I'm wondering - is this standard procedure - to just let people have the opportunity to, perhaps mistakenly, delete these possibly critical files out of iCloud?

So I'm not sure what the right thing is to do here... Do you just let people delete those files and be screwed? Do you always keep a copy of important files somewhere in the app sandbox? I'm curious to hear how other people are handling (or not handling) this situation.

Thanks!

[smithdale87]

It sounds pretty logical to keep a backup copy in the sandbox. Don't depend on your users to not screw things up.

[DJFrail]

What do you think would be the best way to go about making that backup copy? I'm thinking:


a) If the user isn't using iCloud, then no problem. They can't delete the important 'stuff' file through the settings/icloud/manage storage. And that file is safely in the documents folder in app sandbox.

b) If they are using iCloud, then that important 'stuff' file is in the iCloud container. Any local or iCloud updates change that container file.

So it seems that if I want an up to date backup copy, it needs to come from that iCloud container file.



So what would the best way to safely copy a file from the iCloud container to the local app documents directory? Any sample code anywhere?



Thanks again!