SwiftList Manual · 8 of 19
Archive, completed items and backups
On this page
SwiftList is built so you can tidy up without losing things. Archive hides, hiding is only a view, and SwiftList keeps automatic backups on this device. In 2.0.1 you can also back up to iCloud Drive every day.
Archive #
Archive a list or item from the row menu, Archive, or from Select for several at once. Archived things are hidden from your lists but kept and synced. Archived lists don’t count toward the Free limit of 3 active lists.
The Archive screen #
Open Settings, Lists, Archive. “Swipe right to restore, left to delete permanently.”
- Restore puts it back. New in 2.0.1: it goes back exactly where it was archived from, same parent and position, with its sub-items.
- Delete Permanently: “This also deletes everything inside and can’t be undone.”
- Delete All Archived empties the archive.
Restoring in 2.0.1 #
New in 2.0.1
- Sub-items archived in the same action come back too. Ones you archived separately stay archived, and get their own rows in the Archive.
- Restoring something inside an archived list also restores that list chain, but not the list’s other archived sub-items.
- Deleting a list no longer destroys what was archived inside it. Those items stay in the Archive, marked “from <path> (deleted)”. Restoring one puts it in a group named Restored / No Parent, created if needed and synced.
- The toast says where it went, for example “Restored to Mailbox Money › Apps”. Tap it to jump there, or tap Undo.
- Delete confirmations no longer count archived sub-items, since they’re kept.
Archived item details #
New in 2.0.1 Tap an archived item in Settings › Archive, the sidebar’s Archive or the menu bar popover for a read-only view: title, archived date, From (where it was archived from), status, dates, quantity, notes, photos, alerts and the sub-item tree, with separately archived sub-items marked. It has a prominent Restore button and Delete Permanently.
Completed items #
Settings has a Completed Items section that decides what happens to finished items. Only settled items count: done, with nothing open inside.
Move completed to the bottom #
“Done items sort below open ones in every list. Your order is kept within each.” Off by default.
Hide completed #
“Out of sight, never deleted: still synced, in Search and in Insights.” Choose Never, Right away, 1, 3, 7, 14 or 30 days, or Custom… (1 to 365 days). Default: Never.
When a list has hidden items, a row at the bottom says “N completed items hidden · Show”. Show hidden completed in Settings brings them back everywhere.
Archive completed #
“Moves them to Settings › Archive, where you can restore them.” Choose Never, 7, 30 or 90 days, or Custom…. Default: Never. It runs when the app opens or comes back, hourly, and when Settings closes, with Undo.
Per list #
At the bottom of a list with finished items you’ll also find Archive Completed and Delete Completed…, both with a confirmation and Undo.
Delete Completed Items #
In Settings, Delete Completed Items… lets you choose “All completed items”, “Completed a while ago” or “Archived completed items only”. SwiftList saves a backup first, then asks you to confirm: “They’re removed from your lists, the archive and your other devices.” Undo is offered right after.
Backup and restore #
Open Settings, Lists, Backup. In 2.0 this screen was called Backup & Restore. Backup is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
iCloud Backups #
New in 2.0.1
- Back Up to iCloud Daily saves a full backup “In iCloud Drive › SwiftList › Backups, in addition to sync.” It’s off by default. A backup runs when SwiftList opens or comes back and 24 hours have passed.
- Keep the Last N keeps 1 to 7 backups (default 7). Older ones are deleted.
- Back Up Now makes an iCloud backup straight away.
- A list of your iCloud backups shows each one’s date and size, with Restore and Delete (Delete asks first).
- If iCloud Drive is off or you’re signed out, the screen says so, and backups resume later.
One-Time Backup #
- New in 2.0.1: Export Everything… saves a full backup file to any folder you choose.
- Share Backup… sends a backup file with AirDrop, Mail and so on.
- Restore from File… restores a backup file.
“A .swiftlistbackup file holds all your lists, groups, archive, templates, preferences, photos and voice memos.” New in 2.0.1: photos and attachments are included. Backup files from a newer version of SwiftList are refused.
On This Device #
Automatic backups: “Once a day, on this device. The last 7 are kept.” On by default. The list shows the backups saved on this device, each with Restore and Delete. “Local backups are deleted if you delete the app.” A backup is also made automatically before Delete Completed Items.
Restoring a backup #
Restore asks you to confirm, saves a safety backup first, then replaces everything in SwiftList with the backup. New in 2.0.1: restored items are marked as the newest version, so iCloud sync carries them to your other devices.