Portable version (e.g. USB drive)

Feature Requests
1

It would be nice if you can copy the files and database to a pendrive and carry your anytype with you

3

I have created a workaround that seems to work as a portable version.

Prerequisites:

Disclaimer: You may loose all your files or corrupt your window’s installation if you are not sure what you are doing. You take the responsibility of what happens to your file

The idea is based on a post I saw for Obsidian. Using which I was able to create a portable version of Obsidian. Since Both Obsidian and Anytype uses Electron, I tried similar approach and it seems to work so for Anytype as well.

Step 1: Extract Anytype files installer file using 7-Zip.

Step2: Now, goto the extracted folder and extract the app-64.zip file

The extracted directory will look something like this:

Now we need to create an executable bat script that set’s a local part (necessary to make the data and settings portable) and run the Anytype file.

Best Practice!! The only way to update Anytype through this means it to repeat the steps above and paste the data and files created below in the directory of the latest version. Thus, I follow two things:

  1. Add $ sign in front of files and directory so that I don’t make mistake in moving them to the new installation.
  2. Add an underscore sign ‘_’ before exe extension so that one can’t accidently start the Anytype executable directly.

Step 3: Create a bat file and add the following text in it (you can drop the $ sign if you don’t want it)

:: Creating Folders
if not exist "%~dp0$User\ProgramData" mkdir "%~dp0$User\ProgramData"
if not exist "%~dp0$User\Public" mkdir "%~dp0$User\Public"
if not exist "%~dp0$User\AppData\Roaming" mkdir "%~dp0$User\AppData\Roaming"
if not exist "%~dp0$User\Documents" mkdir "%~dp0$User\Documents"
if not exist "%~dp0$User\AppData\Local\Temp" mkdir "%~dp0$User\AppData\Local\Temp"

:: Setting Env Variables
set ALLUSERSPROFILE=%~dp0$User\ProgramData\Roaming
set APPDATA=%~dp0$User\AppData
set LOCALAPPDATA=%~dp0$User\AppData\Local
set HOMEPATH=%~dp0$User
set ProgramData=%~dp0$User\ProgramData
set Public=%~dp0$User\Public
set TEMP=%~dp0$User\AppData\Local\Temp
set TMP=%~dp0$User\AppData\Local\Temp
set USERPROFILE=%~dp0$User

:: if not exist "%dp0$User\Documents\" goto message
goto message
goto start

:message
:echo PORTABLE Anytype
:echo -------------------------------
:pause 

:start
start $Anytype._exe

The code explanation is out of the scope. Some Anytype files may not have been captured so please feel free to indicate.

The bat file is good to go, but I want to go one step further to bring Anytype in the PortableApps interface. For this, I use Bat to EXE convertor with the following settings (You can use a custom Icon or the Anytype icon in the extracted director(it is at “\Anytype Setup 0.22.1$PLUGINSDIR\app-64\resources\app.asar.unpacked\electron\icon.ico”)

Press Convert and save the files file (I saved as $AnytypePortable)

That’s it! your Portable Anytype version should be ready. Just move the app-64 folder and you’re ready!

4

Thanks for sharing the workaround. While I do not need a portable version of anytype right now. I think it is important to think about how to make it possible as it allows people who do not have admin privileges or permissions to use the software without sacrificing the security and speed like most web apps.
+1 for portable version.

5

A portable version it’s absolutely fundamental to me.
without it I can’t use anytype
I work almost everytime on different machine and to me it’s fundamental have a usb with my softwares

6

+1 too

Usercase :

  • user Anytype on public computer (or any computer other than mine)
    For this, web version is a better solution

  • user multiples version of Anytype for test purpose. When I found a bug, that would allow us to test and compare with a previous version. Right now, I had to set up a virtual machine for that :sweat_smile:.

7

Not to advertise for different software but something to look at in the meantime I used for a while is https://tiddlywiki.com
It is real good for a light portal solution that you can run off a flash drive. But I agree being able to run anytype from a portable drive would be preferable.

9

You can now do this using the recently implemented custom storage location feature.

11

I am curious as well.

12

Filip,

Tried but failed here. How can I have a portable Anytype app? It can be on a USB or on a desktop computer. I just can’t install it because it’s my working computer and I don’t have admin credentials. Still need to use the app, though!

15

You can put your data on an USB, but you still need to install the app on the device.
I’ve re-opened this FR.

16

Not really :wink:

Here is my tips.

For Windows :

  • donwload the release version
  • open the exe file with 7zip (or winzip or any tools, just open it as an compressed archive)
  • Go into $PLUGINSDIR\ and extract the app-64.7z
  • uncompress this 7z file (on your USB key or where you want)
  • add a link to the Anytype.exe in the folder and add --user-data-dir=“your folder for data”

Done.
You can use your USB key where you want, launch the shortlink. I use it to test versions without installing on my PC (which already has another version installed).

19

Hi,
Would this method create keys on the Registry ?

I hope the dev will release their own portable version of anytype

20

Probably not: no installation has been done.