Drag-and-Drop and iCloud Drive

[jparker402]

I have Finder set so that iCloud Drive is my New File location. Within iCloud Drive, the majority of my personal files are either under Pages or Numbers because those apps are what I use must to create files. Several days ago I received a letter that I want to be sure to keep and decided the best place not to lose it would be to file it with a file I have within Pages. So I scanned this letter which went to Pictures, then tried to drag-and-drop it into Pages under iCloud Drive. Absolutely no luck; would always bounce back. Tried it with .tiff, then .pdf, then .jpeg. No luck. Finally called Apple, and did a work-around by copying the letter and pasting it into a new Pages sheet. Then exported it directly to iCloud Drive. The Apple Rep said something about iCloud Drive using its own "app" system, and I couldn't drag-and-drop from something outside that hierarchy? Can anyone help me understand this more clearly?

 

[0128672]

Only documents with .pages extension can be saved or moved into the iCloud Drive Pages folder, and likewise with other app-specific folders there with the exception of PDF docs (at least I believe that's the only exception). Similarly, you can't move a Numbers documents into the Pages folder. You could create a generic documents folder for files that aren't Pages, for example. You could also move what's in your Pages folder into that documents folder if it's more convenient to centralize all of your documents.

I'm curious how you created the PDF version of that letter though. I just tested creating a PDF and saving it in my Pages folder so can confirm it still works.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, what you should do is create a folder in iCloud titled “Important Letters” and then take the picture you made of the letter and drag it to your newly created folder. I would not store an important letter in a Pages created folder, in case the folder gets corrupted, deleted, or otherwise inaccessible. I would also store a copy of the important letter(s) in another safe location. Always have a backup of your backup.

The reason you couldn’t drag the picture into the Pages created folder on iCloud, is because said folder was created to store documents made within Pages.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

BasicGreatGuy is correct.

Just create another folder in iCloud Drive. I have ones called Misc and Temp.

They are great for sharing things with my two Windows PC from my Mac and sometimes my iDevices. Better than sneaker-netting with a USB thumb drive.

 

[jparker402]

Only documents with .pages extension can be saved or moved into the iCloud Drive Pages folder, and likewise with other app-specific folders there with the exception of PDF docs (at least I believe that's the only exception). Similarly, you can't move a Numbers documents into the Pages folder. You could create a generic documents folder for files that aren't Pages, for example. You could also move what's in your Pages folder into that documents folder if it's more convenient to centralize all of your documents.

I'm curious how you created the PDF version of that letter though. I just tested creating a PDF and saving it in my Pages folder so can confirm it still works.

Namara, I do not remember exactly how that worked but I do remember that there was an option that came up allowing me to change the .tiff into a .pdf. And it worked.
[automerge]1595196510[/automerge]

In my opinion, what you should do is create a folder in iCloud titled “Important Letters” and then take the picture you made of the letter and drag it to your newly created folder. I would not store an important letter in a Pages created folder, in case the folder gets corrupted, deleted, or otherwise inaccessible. I would also store a copy of the important letter(s) in another safe location. Always have a backup of your backup.

The reason you couldn’t drag the picture into the Pages created folder on iCloud, is because said folder was created to store documents made within Pages.

I really like the "Important Letters" title! Should make it easy even for my executor to figure out! Where do I begin to create a file in iCloud? Log into iCloud or can I reach it right on the Mac without logging into iCloud?

 

[jparker402]

Figured it out thanks to https://www.imore.com/icloud-drive! I must say that iCloud and iCloud Drive can be confusing!!

 

[HDFan]

Several days ago I received a letter that I want to be sure to keep

You do have multiple backups, right?

 

[jparker402]

You do have multiple backups, right?

I have iCloud and a WD hard drive hooked up to Time Machine, plus the computer itself. Have some older stuff backed up on sticks, mostly photos.

 

[HDFan]

I have iCloud and a WD hard drive hooked up to Time Machine, plus the computer itself. Have some older stuff backed up on sticks, mostly photos.

Good start on a 3-2-3 backup strategy. Just be aware that TM backups are subject to failure due it's complex structure. Found that out the hard way - multiple times. A cloned backup is normally recommended.