First off, I’m still a novice when it comes to watch face design, but I tend to get the grasp of things quickly, especially when it comes down to logic.
However, there are a few things arising I just can’t fathom out. And they are (not an exhaustive list):
what are the main differences between WearOS and WearOS (WFF)
how do I remove/unpublish a watch face I no longer want published
how do I create a signature
how do I make a link to the About Me (Bio) section in my profile; I’ve taken the time to fill it in so I may as well use it
how the heck do I use VAR (nothing to do with football)/variables (or equivalent) on WearOS (WFF)
how do I start animations (gifs) on WearOS (WFF); I have the Samsung Watch Ultra (2025) and they just don’t start
is there a scripting language for use within a watch face to do things like randomly displaying an image dependant on the time of day
how do I monetize my designs (for the future)
how do I spell check my posts (I take medication which can affect how I say things)
Thanks for reading
Chris Please excuse misspellings and anything that may not make sense or cause offence as the medication I take can have an adverse effect on my mind.
Welcome @adelphiauk . This is a good place for a novice .
Obviously things are changing and it seems you have a WOS6 Watch . As you may imagine most of the responders her have been working on Pre WOS6 faces for some time . Including Tizen . Some of us have even mad faces for Apple with Facers Version of the Watch OS Creator .
By the time I have tried to answer your questions someone else might have done it . and the answers may be a little different . Any way I can tell you how I see it .
1/ WOS6/WFF is for the new generation of watches and it is significantly different and not interchangeable . From this point on PRE WOSS6 faces and watches will be called Legacy . On Facer it is possible to make faces that Run on Both but the watches will have different Companion apps . You have to pay attention to the compatibility list as you create a face . Sadly there are some false negatives and positives . The best thing to do is test it on your watch and ask someone to testi t on a Legacy Watch for you .
2/ It is a good Idea before you publish a face to Duplicate it and Publish the Copy . So then you just Delete the Live Face and you still have the Draft . Very handy if Facer ( Marvin ) decides it is a copyright strike and takes it down for you . That is happening a bit these Days some in error .
3/ I don’t know about a Signature . I think you will find it is not required on Facer.
4/ The only links you can publish are links to your Profile and Faces . For example if you click on your avatar here you will see the link to your Profile .
5/ Sadly you can not use VAR with WOS6 / WFF .
6 / We are having trouble with animations right now . I am not sure thea the work with WOS6 either . Some of us have made Stop frame Animations . A lot of work but very satisfying because they are faultless and you sync them exactly how you like .
7/ You must know we have TAG boxes for typing formulas in if you have looked at VAR . Obviously it is not a scripting language as you will know it but some do real Voodoo in those little Boxes .
8/ When you have made a good few successful face and they have been in the charts to get something like 5000 syncs you might be invited to become a Partner or you can apply on a regular Basis but don’t expect a reply . In Creator there is a Label that says Become a Partner or something .
9/ When I am on my Laptop I get a check on my spelling and grammar . But when I am on my Mobile it is only the Cavalry that can understand . Many come here and English is not their first language . Translators do a fair job . Many use Facer as a kind of therapy . The Camaraderie here is Unique .
1/5. WFF meant in this case is new watch face format, mandatory for watches that are coming from factory with wearOS5 or newer and is not compatible with some features, we have available on Facer on watches from before google forced its dumbed-down format (like stopwatch, interactive variables, timer since wake up…).
The nomenclature for WearOS and WFF are COMPLETELY misused here. All versions WearOS use WFF. WearOS 6 uses WFF version 4. WFF version 4 is going to be the new normal, and is not backwards compatible with Legacy Facer Watch Faces, unless the developer has made the appropriate changes to eliminate the incompatibilities.
Thank you very much for the detailed explanations, and thank you also for not knocking me down like they do on Ask Ubuntu and Stock Exchange etc.
I know about the compatability list, but it did take me a while to figure out when you have an exclamation mark you can click on it and it tells you, and takes you to, what is wrong. In my first instance, I had an issue where the watch face wouldn’t download to my watch and I couldn’t understand why. It turned out that I was using a date format that WFF^ doesn’t support, but I would never have figured that out if the little exclamation hadn’t told me.
Is it possible to load Facer on 2 watches, I mean with the same Pro account? I have a Samsung Watch 5 which I presume is non-WFF^ so I could test out for all occurances.
I’m using my PC to do all my designs and the forums here, using Firefox, but blowed if I can see a spell checker and I certainly don’t get any little red (or other coloured) lines under my words, even when I can see they are definitley (!) spelt incorrectly. I’ve checked Check spelling as you type is enabled in Firefox settings, but there is no option for spelling when using the context menu in this text box, or any other text box on facer.io anyway, including the description when publishing. But hey, that’s just something to look forward to fixing; no biggy.
^I refer to non-WFF as WFF < version 4 and WFF > version 3, as mentioned by @ed.ludwig
Yeah . I have facer on a few watches . Same account . I have a GW6 I want to remain NON WOS6 . I would recommend using Chrome . I guess when you talk about PC you mean a Windows PC .
Hello @adelphiauk Welcome! If you are using a PC why are you not using Edge? I avoid Chrome. Edge has never failed me at Facer. Firefox seems somewhat limited.
Yeah. A Windows 11 PC. I sometimes get the Insider version being a developer and all, but not very often unless there’s something I would make use of and want to develop for.
Well, I’ve shied away from Edge as I never forgave MS for when they were fined for enforcing IE. I may give it a go though, as it’s about time I looked at something different. I just hope the password support is similar to that of Chrome.
IE was decades ago! Edge has a spellcheck and password manager. It provides me with spellcheck here as well as in watch face descriptions. Edge has a password manager as well. However, I never recommend using ANY browser password manager. A separate password manager is safer. I use KeePass. Some folks like LastPass, but it used to be web-based (Don’t know if it still is.), so I have never recommended that one.
I know IE was decades ago, 1997 to be precise, but I just don’t like the way they still get away with things being forced on you. If you don’t want Edge, you should be able to uninstall it. You should also be able to select which browser is used when you get the messages pop up in the help section (I can’t remember exactly what the section is, my mind is playing silly B’s this afternoon) but you can’t. It always opens Edge no matter which browser is your prefered.
Well, low and behold! I made a spelling mistake and Firefox, oh wait, I’m using Chrome. Baffled me for a minute there.
Anyway, I use LastPass. I don’t like password managers unless they are web based as I can use it wherever, whenever and on whatever device I like. I’ve not investigated KeePass before; I may take a look.
Anyway, I’ve got to go to one of my many Doctor’s appointments now so I’ll leave the conversation going, if you so wish…
Sorry. Wasn’t meaning to sound rude and I know you were trying to help, it’s just I don’t trust half the stuff that MS force on you, one of them is Edge but there are plenty of others.
