Wiki FAQ

What is new in this version?

Version 3.23:

  • Accommodates the latest changes to Wikipedia.
  • Improves compatibility on iOS5

Version 3.1:

  • Fixes bug when switching languages on iPad
  • Fixes bug when launching app that causes crash
  • Faster iPhone searching
  • Saves scroll position when using back/forward arrows

Version 3.0:

  • Organize your favorite articles into folders
  • See articles that are geographically nearby you
  • Add articles to your reading queue
  • Bored? Try looking at a random article
  • Layout scheme redesign
  • Option to automatically import images into articles (internet required)
  • Print articles (iOS 4.2+ required)
  • Removed Wikimedia Foundation trademarks from app
  • New gesture: pinch article to change font size
  • New gesture: shake to load random article

Version 2.32:

  • New error-reporting system to eliminate crashes
  • Return of the black text on white background theme
  • Enhanced display settings: adjustable line height and paragraph margin
  • Improved formatting of numbers within articles -- thanks Murray
  • Can now zoom in to tables -- thanks Rob
  • Fix error where history isn't cleared -- thanks Michael
  • Fix case where certain articles don't appear
  • Miscellaneous bug fixes and enhancements
  • App now works with jailbroken devices again

Version 2.31:

  • Huge speed increases on searching and page load
  • Improved typography for maximum readability
    • Greater line spacing
    • Adjusted font coloring
    • Greater margin
    • Font differentiation
  • In-page search
  • Pull down on an article to update it to the latest version on the internet!
  • Support for image gallery and embedded images
  • Better indexing support for non-Latin alphabets (Russian, Chinese, Korean)
  • Auto-rotation lock

What is your relation to the Wikimedia Foundation?

Avocado Hills has no relation to the Wikimedia Foundation. We are on talking terms and they support our mission. Avocado Hills is proud to support the Wikimedia Foundation. A portion of our proceeds are donated each year.

Are there updates available for my databases?

If you go to Settings -> Languages, and then pull down on the page, it will check to see if there are newer versions of your wiki databases available for download.

Get to the search bar from the end of the page?

A trick to get back to the top of the page is to tap the time at the very top-center of your iPhone/iPad/iPod. The page will automatically scroll to the top, revealing the search bar!

Search Within Article

Wiki Offline allows you to search for words within articles. Tap the action button (looks like a curved arrow) and press "Search". A search bar will appear in the middle of your screen. Enter your search query and click the blue "Search" button on the bottom-right of the keyboard.

How do I change the font size?

Changing the font size was made even easier in v3.0. Simply use the pinch gesture on any article to adjust the font size. Pinch the screen apart to make the font larger, and pinch together to make the font smaller. This is just like zooming in Safari. For all other font options (color, margin, etc.) go to the font panel under Settings.

If you are having trouble changing the font size, keep in mind the following tips:

  • Try pinching slower. The pinch has to last at least 0.25 seconds in order to register
  • Please try pinching on different articles
  • The article must remain completely still while you are pinching. If the page moves or scrolls while you are pinching, the pinch gesture may not register.

How do I lock/unlock the orientation?

The app includes its own orientation lock (separate from the hardware lock on the iPad). To toggle the orientation lock, go to the top of any article and pull down. You will see a black bar "behind" the article. Pulling far enough and releasing will toggle the orientation lock.

Do I need to download the database twice if I want to put it on my iPhone and iPad?

No! We've developed a way to transfer your database from one device to another.

Let's assume for the sake of these instructions that you want to transfer the English database from your iPad to your iPod.

If you connect your iPad to your computer and go to iTunes -> My iPad -> Apps, you will see a section called "File Sharing" with Wiki Offline listed. It would look like this: .

  1. Hook up your iPad to iTunes. Go to File Sharing as described above. You will see 4 files for every installed language. Select all of the enwiki files ("en" being the code for "English") and save them to your computer.
  2. Hook up your iPhone to iTunes. Go to file sharing, click "Add" and select the enwiki files. Your iPhone will say "syncing". Now English should work on your iPhone.
No need to redownload anything!

How do I update my articles?

You have two options. On the settings screen, there is a toggle switch "Activate" under the Network headline. When this option is enabled, the latest version of articles that you browse to will automatically be fetched from the internet and any images download and embedded into the article. The new article and images will then be cached for offline use. If you wish to update all of the articles at once, then you should go to Settings -> Database and pull down to check for updates. If there are, go to "Add or Update Database" to update your wikipedia articles.

How do I embed images?

On the settings screen, there is a toggle switch "Activate" under the Network headline. When this option is enabled, the latest version of articles that you browse to will automatically be fetched from the internet and any images download and embedded into the article. The new article and images will then be cached for offline use.

I don't have WiFi internet

For those who have no access to WiFi, another method is available to download the database. Please contact support.

Why do databases updates cost $0.99

We pay a company to host these extremely large files on fast distribution centers around the world. Although this is not a revenue generating feature, we must charge for it in order for it to be sustainable.

How do I buy update tokens?

In order to buy a token, you must open your device while you are connected to the internet.

  1. Close the app following these instructions: How to close an app
  2. Make sure you are connected to the internet
  3. Re-open the app
  4. Go to Settings (the "gear" button")
  5. Go to "Language
  6. Scroll down to see the "available purchases"

App "crashes" when I try to search. Help!

Don't fret! This means that the article database did not download correctly. This happens -- from experience generally under 5% of the time. Contact support and we will work you through it!

App "crashes" for another reason.

Please email support and send us your crash logs so that we can understand what the problem is. Click this link for instructions on how to find your crash logs.

The back-arrow navigation button isn't working

One user experienced this issue. We were able to solve the problem by closing and re-launching the app. Click this link and follow the instructions.