CardKeepApp Documentation
A practical guide to using CardKeepApp on iPhone and iPad
Quick Navigation
Getting Started
CardKeepApp helps you save, organise, and revisit greeting cards. Here's how to get started:
First Launch
When you first open CardKeepApp, you'll see a clean, welcoming interface designed specifically for iPhone and iPad.
Interface Overview
Collection View
Your main screen shows all your saved cards in a clear grid layout. Each card displays a preview of the front photo.
Add Button
The prominent "+" button lets you quickly add new cards to your collection.
Info Button (i)
The info button (i) in the top-right corner provides access to key app functions: view app information, access backup/import features, purchase options, and other essential settings.
Search & Filter
Powerful search tools help you find any card instantly using multiple criteria.
Adding Cards to Your Collection
CardKeepApp makes it easy to preserve every detail of your greeting cards with multi-photo storage.
Enhanced Photo Capture System
CardKeepApp features an improved photo type selection system that makes it clear and intuitive to organise your card photos. For each card, you can capture up to 5 photos with our enhanced interface:
- Front: The outside cover design
- Inside: The heartfelt message inside
- Back: Any special notes or signatures
- Extra 1: Additional details, close-ups, or special elements
- Extra 2: More special details or multiple angle shots
Card Information
For each card, you can add:
Sender
Who gave you this special card
Occasion
Birthday, wedding, anniversary, holiday, thank you, congratulations, get well, or "Other" for custom occasion text
Date Received
When you received the card (automatically adapts to your region's date format)
Date of Occasion
The actual date of the event or occasion being celebrated
Custom Tags
Add your own tags for better organisation and search
Personal Notes
Add your own thoughts about why this card is special
Backup & Export System
CardKeepApp v1.3.0+ includes a dual backup system to help you protect your collection and move it between devices more reliably.
Two Backup Types Available
Choose the backup type that best fits your needs:
Quick Backup
Small files, photo references only
- Ultra-lightweight (less than 1KB per card)
- Fast export and import
- Requires photos to exist in Photos app
- Perfect for regular backups and same-device restores
Complete Backup
Larger files, includes actual photo data
- Guaranteed cross-device restoration
- Includes full-resolution photo data
- Larger file sizes but 100% reliable
- Perfect for device migrations and long-term archival
When to Use Each Backup Type
- Regular daily/weekly backups
- Restoring to the same device
- When you have reliable iCloud Photos sync
- Sharing backup files via email (small size)
- Moving to a new device
- Long-term archival storage
- When iCloud Photos sync is unreliable
- Ensuring 100% photo restoration regardless of circumstances
Import & Restore
Both backup types support comprehensive restore capabilities:
- Quick Backup Duplicate Detection: Automatically identifies and prevents duplicate cards during import
- Data Validation: Ensures backup files are valid before importing
- Smart Photo Handling: Quick Backup reconnects to existing photos, Complete Backup restores photo data directly (this may lead to duplicate Photos)
- Backup Type Auto-Detection: CardKeepApp automatically detects and handles both backup types seamlessly
Backup Reminders
CardKeepApp includes intelligent backup reminders to help protect your memories:
- Weekly Frequency: Shows reminders after 7+ days OR 5+ new cards since last backup
- Automatic Triggers: Checks on app launch and 0.5 seconds after saving new cards (5+)
- User Control: "Remind Later" (7 days delay) or "Don't Remind" (365 days delay) options
- Edit-Friendly: Only new card creation triggers reminders, not editing existing cards
- Card Count Tracking: Shows how many cards you have to backup
- Last Backup Date: Tracks when you last created a backup
- Quick Backup: Contains photo references only - requires photos to exist in Photos app for restore
- Complete Backup: Contains actual photo data - larger files but guaranteed restoration regardless of Photos app contents
- File Size Expectations: Quick Backup ~1KB per card, Complete Backup ~400KB per card with typical photos (3-4 photos each)
- Collection Size Examples: 25 cards (~20MB), 50 cards (~40MB), 100 cards (~50MB) for Complete Backup
- Cross-Device Migration: Always use Complete Backup when moving to a new device for guaranteed photo restoration
Complete Backup solves the traditional Apple iOS photo identifier limitation by embedding actual photo data in the backup file. This means:
- 100% reliable restoration to any device regardless of Apple's photo ID changes
- No need to manually re-add photos - they restore automatically with the card data
- No dependency on iCloud Photos sync for photo restoration
- May create duplicate photos in your Photos app, but ensures your card memories are completely preserved
Choose Complete Backup for device migrations and long-term archival to eliminate photo restoration complications.
Advanced Search Features
CardKeepApp's smart search helps you find any card instantly using powerful search capabilities.
Search by Single Criteria
Multi-Criteria Search
CardKeepApp's search is powerful enough to combine multiple criteria:
Search Tips
- Search is case-insensitive, so "mum" finds "Mum"
- Partial matches work - "birth" finds "Birthday"
- Date search supports year, month/year, or full dates
- Multiple tags can be searched simultaneously
- Search includes both visible text and your custom notes
Card Editing Features
CardKeepApp v1.2.0 introduces full card editing capabilities, giving you complete control over your saved memories.
What You Can Edit
- Sender Information: Change who sent the card
- Occasion: Update the event or reason for the card
- Dates: Modify when you received it or when the occasion was
- Tags: Add, remove, or modify custom tags
- Notes: Update your personal notes and memories
- Photos: Replace existing photos or add new ones from your library
How to Edit Cards
- Open any saved card from your collection
- Tap the "Pencil" icon in the card detail view
- Make your changes to any field
- Tap "Save" to keep your updates
Photo Library & Camera Options
Choose photos from your existing library or take new ones with CardKeepApp's flexible photo system.
Photo Source Options
- Take Photo: Use your camera to capture new photos with portrait or landscape framing and cropping options
- Photos from Library: Select existing photos from your photo library - photos are used as-is without cropping options
- Smart Duplicate Prevention: The app intelligently reuses existing photos without creating duplicates
When selecting photos from your existing photo library, cropping is not available within CardKeepApp. Existing photos are imported in their current format.
- For best results: Use the Photos app to crop your images to the desired format before selecting them in CardKeepApp
- Camera photos: Full cropping and framing options are available when taking new photos
- Editing existing cards: You can replace library photos with new camera photos that include cropping options
Photo Organisation
Whether you take new photos or select from your library, you can organise them using the same system:
- Front: The front of the card
- Inside: The inside message
- Back: The back of the card
- Extra 1 & Extra 2: Additional details or special features
Viewing Your Card Collection
CardKeepApp gives you a clear way to browse and revisit your cards.
Collection Grid
Your main view shows all cards in an elegant grid layout, displaying the front photo of each card for easy recognition.
Enhanced Card Detail View
Tap any card to access our improved viewing experience:
- Organised Photo Display: All photos clearly labelled (Front, Inside, Back, Extra 1, Extra 2)
- Photo Carousel: Smooth swiping between photos with enhanced performance
- Advanced Zoom/Pan: High-resolution photo viewing with intuitive pinch-to-zoom and pan gestures
- Complete Information: All card details (sender, occasion, dates) in a clear layout
- Smart Loading: Optimised photo loading with intelligent caching for better performance
- Tags & Notes: Easy access to all custom tags and personal notes
Data & Privacy
Your card collection stays private and under your control.
Local Storage
All your card data is stored locally on your iPhone using Apple's Core Data framework. This means:
- No data is sent to CardKeepApp servers
- No third parties can access your cards
- Your memories stay completely private
- Works offline - no internet connection required
Advanced Photos App Integration
CardKeepApp uses a sophisticated photo reference system with the latest iOS technologies for optimal performance and reliability:
- Photos Integration: Uses modern identifiers for robust photo references
- CardKeepApp Album: Photos are added to a dedicated "CardKeepApp" album in your Photos app
- Smart Reference System: Stores lightweight photo references instead of copies
- Enhanced Performance: Improved photo loading with smart caching and thumbnail refresh
- Automatic iCloud Sync: If iCloud Photos is enabled, your card photos sync automatically
- Storage Optimisation: Reduces app storage by 90%+ compared to binary storage
- Comprehensive Error Handling: Professional-grade error management and permissions handling
- Backward Compatibility: Seamless support for existing cards during system improvements
- Important: Deleting photos from the Photos app will break the link in CardKeepApp
Permissions
CardKeepApp only requests essential permissions:
- Camera: To photograph your greeting cards
- Photo Library: To save card photos to your device
Important Limitations
Understanding these limitations helps you use CardKeepApp most effectively.
Tips & Tricks
Make the most of CardKeepApp with these helpful tips.
Photography Tips
- Good Lighting: Take photos in bright, even lighting for best results
- Proper Framing: Frame the card properly to fill most of the screen for best quality. The camera interface allows you to take photos in both portrait and landscape orientations to best match your card's format
- Steady Shots: Use both hands and ensure the card is positioned straight
- Multiple Angles: Capture front, inside, back, and any special details
- Readable Text: Ensure handwritten messages are clearly visible and in focus
Organisation Tips
- Consistent Naming: Use consistent formats for senders (e.g., "Mum" not "Mother" sometimes)
- Descriptive Tags: Use specific tags that will help you find cards later
- Date Accuracy: Enter the date you received the card, and the date of the occasion if different
- Personal Notes: Include context about why the card is special to you
Search Tips
- Start Broad: Begin with general terms, then narrow down
- Try Variations: Search "birth" if "birthday" doesn't find everything
- Use Multiple Terms: Combine sender names with occasions or dates
- Check Tags: Remember to search your custom tags too
Backup Strategy
Ensure you regularly export your card data using our export function (found on the Info screen)
You will be prompted every so often to do this if its not been done manually
Need more help? Contact us at [email protected]