Git Client: Working Copy

Textastic integrates directly with the Git client Working Copy, using Apple’s File Provider framework behind the scenes.

Any repository you clone in Working Copy can be opened in Textastic as an external folder, with no exporting or manual syncing required.

An external folder behaves just like a local one and can also be used in the File Transfer screen to upload and download files through your existing remote connections.

Files are edited in place and every change is reflected immediately in Working Copy, which owns the folder. For example, when you edit a file in a repository, its status switches to modified in Working Copy as soon as the file is saved.

Important

For this integration to work, Working Copy must be enabled as a location in the Files app. See Enable Working Copy in the Files App.

Add Working Copy Repositories as External Folders

You can add Git repositories from Working Copy to Textastic, treating them as external folders.

  1. Tap Add External Folder… to open the system document picker, which lets you grant Textastic access to folders provided by other apps.

    Button in Textastic's sidebar labelled "Add External Folder…"

  2. Tap the Browse tab if necessary.

  3. Tap Locations ‣ Working Copy to navigate to the root folder of Working Copy.

    Note

    If you want to add all repositories, stay at the root of Working Copy. Otherwise navigate to the specific repository or subfolder you want to add.

  4. Tap Open in the top-right corner.

    iOS file picker showing Working Copy root folder selected

  5. The selected folder will be added as an external folder and behave in the same way as the Local Files and iCloud locations:

    External Folders

Use Drag and Drop to Open a Repository

You can also drag a repository from Working Copy into the locations screen of Textastic to add it as an external folder:

You can either do this in Split View as shown in the video above or by starting a drag in Working Copy, using the Dock or App Switcher to switch to Textastic, and drop it into the locations screen.

You can read more about multitasking on iPad in this Apple support article.

Enable Working Copy in the Files App

  1. Open the Files app.

  2. Tap the Browse tab if necessary.

  3. Tap the More button (…) above the list of locations.

  4. Edit the list of locations:

    • On iPhone: tap Edit.

    • On iPad: tap Edit Sidebar.

  5. Enable Working Copy.

  6. Tap Done.

You can find more information at: Use third-party cloud apps in the Files app.