Data files gone after app reinstall

Hi all,

It appears that every time an app is installed, the data directory that the new app is located at a different file system path than the previous installation. This is not a big surprise, however I'm curious as to whether anyone has devised a way to retain app data between installations of an app? Other than keep it on a server, that is. My impression was that the only directory that an app can write to is its own data directory.

Or how about: Is there any way to ensure that my program's data gets backed up to iTunes?

Thanks.

 

Ah yes, I see now that my iPad data files are on my Mac in
~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/3.2/Applications/*/Documents