Data Jar Reviews

by 00PT

Just spent a day trying to figure out how to use JSON and iCloud drive to save persistent data, only to figure out the default method doesn't work on Apple watch. DataJar makes me look really stupid.

My only gripe is that it doesn't allow device specific variables, which is what I needed. The way I did it was too save the file based on the device name, creating a separate file per device.

by J.Lev

In a bleak world before Data Jar, I had to rely on saving .json files to iCloud for data persistence. Data Jar has fundamentally changed my data storage strategy and has unlocked a whole new series of experiences in Shortcuts. DataJar is super easy to use and has a beautiful UI. Simon has done a really incredible job with DataJar and the macOS version of it is perfect. The fact that it's free is wild considering how powerful it can make your shortcuts.

by Gordonross

A unique and fantastic app. If you know what to do with DataJar, you’ll find it invaluable.

by Scout4mity

I use DataJar all the time!

by Dpmitu

A truly innovative, useful app. Essential for anyone using Shortcuts.

by Gcrtc2018

DataJar is amazing, so so useful in conjunction with the shortcuts app to manage global variables.

by Ephy12

DataJar definitely levels up my shorcuts!

by SeriouslyDave

For years, I’ve been sticking Shortcuts data in all sorts of places - Files, Reminders, etc. And, yeah, they worked, but not always well and they tended to make my Shortcuts more complicated than they needed to be. First thing I did with this app was write some new Shortcuts I’d been thinking about. It was so much easier. And, I really like being able to tweak my saved data easily in the DaraJar app. I’ve now written an old Shortcut to take advantage of this app. I’m happy. Tipped! :)

by Luckman212

Amazing once you figure out how to use it! Opens up LOTS of advanced possibilities. Cheers guys!

by Frozen-octopus

I am so stoked you got Data Jar happening on Mac OS. Thanks for all your hard work.

by Studat

Thank you for building DataJar and continuing to update it with new features. I use it a lot within my shortcuts on Mac and iOS. Keep up the good work and I will be sure to keep adding to the tip jar!

by C.S. Wright

Data Jar integrates with Shortcuts quite nicely, it is powerful, and dead simple to use. It has greatly expanded what I’ve been able to build. I’m actually shocked that Apple hasn’t acquired it yet. It’s just what the platform is missing.

by Atoyelohaneeze

Everything about this should be built into shortcuts, but since it isn't, DataJar is amazing. 10/10 recommend. Easy to create, retrieve, edit variables both programmatically and manually with excellent shortcut commands and interfaces.

by Asentientai

This is a great app and I’ve used it for months now in Shortcuts. It really unlocked the potential for me to make a rename files shortcut. I wish there was a way for to create a Data Jar dictionary right from Shortcuts, if there isn’t already.

by MNDthaiv

I love DataJar so far. But two issues I come across:

1. Crash - I would have DataJar open and going through the pages and DataJar would crash out of nowhere.

2. When copying text from the Notes app, it would be saved as an image instead of text. Then DataJar would crash when I try to open up the image.

by Tandy626

I have had DataJar all of like 10 minutes, but it is very easy to see how effectively it addresses a need the shortcuts app created and defiantly benefits from. Worth checking out for free, and you know.. after if you agree the request for a tip seems pretty reasonable all!

Simon, keep it up! I like where your head is at.😁

by Eriksweeklyphoto

Data Jar makes logging information using Shortcuts SO much easier! Before DataJar I had to append information to a Note or text file, which never really worked well. Now I can set up Shortcuts to keep lists and tallies with ease. My only complaint is that right now the Tip Jar in-app purchases aren’t working, so I can’t show the developer my appreciation!

by Shaolin108

At first, I didn’t see the benefit and usefulness of Data Jar. However, once I started doing more with Shortcuts I quickly discovered it’s amazing potential. I use it to store Data for quick access, almost like a database. I also use it to start flags and timestamps so I can check the status of various things in my Shortcuts or when something last happened. It’s awesome for power users of Shortcuts.

by DSR-HOUSTON

Data Jar is a very useful app that I'm just starting to explore. Right now, it's rock-solid, does what it says, and gets updates frequently. The more I do in Data Jar, the more I think of other things that I can do!

by TycoonChampion2017

Inside shortcuts, there are many additions that are very useful... except...

They are missing some of the most needed key features... Like adding and removing keys/values

As of now all you can do is add values to lists, and change/add values. Nothing more

It's a smart app idea, but it's missing so much!

by BiMartinelli

Truly great app to store data for shortcuts, and use as a clipboard manager

by Joel D. Arnold

Simon has thought out every detail of DataJar and it’s ridiculously well-done. I needed to pull a few sound and image assets within a shortcut and after wrestling with iCloud paths for 10 minutes I gave up. Data jar makes stuff like this soooo easy.

Also the pricing model here is generous and brilliant. Offer it free and rely on the kindness of happy users to pay for what they love...? Seriously? Give the man some money already!!!

by Between Two Parks

Because Data Jar adds terse persistent global store to Shortcuts, it enables local scope and pass-by-reference.

Do you need a struct initialized with a half-dozen values which need to be set at runtime? Write a Shortcut that takes a name as input, does the necessary lookups and calculations, saves the results to the passed in name, and exits with success or failure.

Boilerplate code can live in its own Shortcut.

This is great.

Also: if you are wondering how to delete a key from a dictionary, use “Delete Value.” In JSON, a key without a value is not a key. Look at RFC-4627 section 2.1. If you want a key with a null value in JSON, your choices are true, false, and null.