NarraCraft Support

Get help and learn how to create amazing interactive stories

Getting Started

Creating Your First Story

  1. Open NarraCraft and tap the "Create" tab at the bottom
  2. Enter a title for your story
  3. Tap "Create Story" to start writing
  4. The editor will open with a basic template to get you started

Using the Editor

The main editor provides a clean writing environment with Ink syntax highlighting:

Testing Your Story

  1. Tap "Play" at the top of the editor (or in the toolbar menu)
  2. Tap "Start Story" to begin playing
  3. Make choices to navigate through your story
  4. Tap "Restart" to test different paths

Managing Your Stories

Exporting Your Work

  1. Open your story in the editor
  2. Tap the "..." menu button at the top
  3. Select "Export Story Script"
  4. Choose where to share or save your .ink file

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ink?

Ink is a powerful scripting language specifically designed for writing interactive narratives. Created by Inkle Studios, it's used in professional games and interactive fiction. Ink files can be integrated into games, websites, and other applications.

Is my work automatically saved?

Yes! NarraCraft automatically saves your work as you type. You'll see a "Saved" indicator to confirm your changes are stored.

Where is my data stored?

All your stories are stored locally on your iOS device using Apple's secure SwiftData framework. Nothing is sent to external servers or the cloud (except through your standard iOS backups).

Can I export my stories?

Yes! You can export any story as a standard .ink file from the editor menu. These files can be used with any Ink runtime or imported into game engines like Unity.

Does NarraCraft work offline?

Yes! NarraCraft works completely offline. All features are available without an internet connection.

Can I sync my stories across devices?

Currently, NarraCraft stores all data locally on your device. Your stories are included in your iOS backups (iCloud or iTunes), but there's no real-time sync between devices.

Can I collaborate with others on a story?

NarraCraft is designed as a single-user editor. You can export your .ink files and share them with collaborators who can then import and edit them.

Troubleshooting

The story won't start playing

Problem: Tapping "Start Story" shows an error or no text appears.

Solutions:

  • Check for Ink syntax errors in your code
  • Ensure you have at least one knot (section) defined with === knot_name ===
  • Make sure your story starts with -> starting_knot or similar divert
  • Try the basic template: Create a new story to see working example syntax

My story text disappeared

Problem: After editing, your story content seems to be missing.

Solutions:

  • Check if the app auto-saved - look for the "Saved" indicator
  • Try closing and reopening the story
  • Check your iOS backups to restore if needed
  • Remember that NarraCraft auto-saves, so recent work should be preserved

Export isn't working

Problem: Can't export or share your story.

Solutions:

  • Grant NarraCraft permission to access Files (check iOS Settings)
  • Make sure your story has content to export
  • Try restarting the app
  • Check available storage space on your device

App crashes or freezes

Problem: The app stops responding or closes unexpectedly.

Solutions:

  • Force quit and reopen the app
  • Restart your iOS device
  • Check for app updates in the App Store
  • Make sure your iOS is up to date
  • Try creating a new story to isolate the issue

Learning Ink

Built-In Templates

NarraCraft includes a template library to help you learn Ink syntax:

  1. Open any story in the editor
  2. Tap the floating button (usually bottom-right)
  3. Browse categories: Basic, Choices, Variables, Logic, Advanced
  4. Tap any template to insert it at your cursor position
  5. Replace <placeholder> text with your own content

Ink Syntax Quick Reference

Basic Story Structure

-> start

=== start ===
Your story begins here.
-> next

=== next ===
The story continues...
-> END

Choices

* [Choice text] -> knot_name
+ [Sticky choice] -> knot_name
* {condition} [Conditional choice] -> knot_name

Variables

VAR health = 100
VAR name = "Hero"

You have {health} health remaining.

Conditional Logic

{health > 50: You feel strong. | You feel weak.}

{sword:
    - true: You have a sword.
    - false: You are unarmed.
}

External Resources

Contact Us

Get Help

If you're experiencing issues not covered in this guide:

Email: support@narracraft.app

GitHub Issues: github.com/andrewmclane/InkyEditor/issues

Response Time: We typically respond within 24-48 hours

Report a Bug

When reporting bugs, please include:

  1. iOS version (Settings > General > About)
  2. App version (visible in Settings tab of NarraCraft)
  3. Steps to reproduce the issue
  4. Screenshots if applicable
  5. What you expected vs. what happened

Feature Requests

We'd love to hear your ideas! Submit feature requests via:

About the Developer

NarraCraft is developed by Andrew McLane, an indie developer passionate about interactive storytelling and creative tools.

Acknowledgments