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DropBox: Content FROM iPad to Mac??

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Dec 29, 2007
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I've installed Dropbox (the 2GB freebie trial at this time), and it's working like a charm, in terms of getting a file from the mac to the dropbox, then picking it up with iPad, and loading it into iWork on the iPad.

Problem is, once I make changes on the iPad, how do I get it from numbers BACK to the Mac. It seems to me that I can't, at least not through dropbox. I can export it from Numbers, and then synch with iTunes. I am sure I could also e-mail it (assuming it's not too large). But then I'm left with several copies:

One original on the mac
One in the cloud (on the dropbox server)
One in my dropbox app on my ipad
One in Numbers on my ipda
One exported back out in iTunes
One in finder (since I don't really want to store docs in the iTunes library -- at least I think I don't)

Obviously, I can manually delete the leftovers, but I was just wondering if I'm missing something. Is there someway, after working on the doc in numbers, to send it back through dropbox, and manage the version control better.
 
super fast and super succinct, lol.

Reading between the lines :) I think you're voting that e-mail from iWork back to my mac is the best choice?
 
My method is a little convoluted, but it works for me. I use a combination of Goodreader, Chronosync, Dropbox, and email.

In order to get my documents onto my iPad, I just sync my entire Dropbox folder with Goodreader through the use of Chronosync on my Mac.

To see my documents and edit them, I open a document from Goodreader into Pages. When I'm done editing it, I email the document from Pages to an account just for storing documents. I open the document in Mail, and from Mail open it in Goodreader.

Then when I'm back to my Mac I just fire up Chronosync and everything syncs back up beautifully.

That's not a complicated method, not at all, but it works for me.
 
If you are using Keynote, Pages, or Numbers, I think it is easiest to use iWork.com to transfer documents to and fro. Both iPad and Mac versions will automatically export to iWork.com. Mac versions have a built-in link iWork.com to import (Share > Show Shared). On the iPad, you have to open iWork.com in Safari, select the document, then click "Open in..." to choose your iPad app. I've tried other methods, but this seems most straightforward.

For PDFs, etc. I have been using MobileMe... or e-mail.
 
I tried a lot more with dropbox. I'll go back and try working with iWork more. Thanks for the tip.
 
bking1000 said:
I've installed Dropbox (the 2GB freebie trial at this time), and it's working like a charm, in terms of getting a file from the mac to the dropbox, then picking it up with iPad, and loading it into iWork on the iPad.

Problem is, once I make changes on the iPad, how do I get it from numbers BACK to the Mac. It seems to me that I can't, at least not through dropbox. I can export it from Numbers, and then synch with iTunes. I am sure I could also e-mail it (assuming it's not too large). But then I'm left with several copies:

One original on the mac
One in the cloud (on the dropbox server)
One in my dropbox app on my ipad
One in Numbers on my ipda
One exported back out in iTunes
One in finder (since I don't really want to store docs in the iTunes library -- at least I think I don't)

Obviously, I can manually delete the leftovers, but I was just wondering if I'm missing something. Is there someway, after working on the doc in numbers, to send it back through dropbox, and manage the version control better.
Click to expand...

If you can find a way to get the file to goodreader. Then you can go to "manage files" >> Copy.

Then go to the dropbox server and in the lower corner of the pop up winder, "paste item" icon will show up.


That's how I send files to and from dropbox
 
Two comments:

1) I'm disappointed that the iPad is so closed down as to not 'upload' back to dropbox, kind of defeats one of the main purposes of the program, but at least it's free. Really hope they improve this. Does anyone know why it has to be locked down like this?

2) Dropbox does have a referral program, and if a reader is thinking of joining dropbox, click this link and you and I will both get an extra 250mb. Hope it's ok to post a somewhat self-serving link:
https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTY3ODg4MzI5
 
As soon as Office HD adds Dropbox servers to their list (which is coming up shortly), you will be able to open, edit, create, save word or excel files entirely on the iPad without any of this runaround.
 
cheekyjeremy said:
As soon as Office HD adds Dropbox servers to their list (which is coming up shortly), you will be able to open, edit, create, save word or excel files entirely on the iPad without any of this runaround.
Click to expand...

Yup. Apple simply chose not to give the iWork apps the ability to "open in" the apps which would solve this problem. And which is why office2hd has it in spades over iWork.

My killer app: goodreader's feature set, air sharing's print capabilities and UI, and Office2HD's ability to open, create, edit and save office docs :)
 
Dammit Cubs said:
If you can find a way to get the file to goodreader. Then you can go to "manage files" >> Copy.

Then go to the dropbox server and in the lower corner of the pop up winder, "paste item" icon will show up.


That's how I send files to and from dropbox
Click to expand...

Nice, I will most likely be utilizing this!
 
Dammit Cubs said:
If you can find a way to get the file to goodreader. Then you can go to "manage files" >> Copy.

Then go to the dropbox server and in the lower corner of the pop up winder, "paste item" icon will show up.


That's how I send files to and from dropbox
Click to expand...

Getting stuff to Goodreader is easy enough, but trying to use this doesn't seem to be working for me. I manage, copy, and done in Goodreader, but when I go to Dropbox, I only get 'upload existing photo or video' in the popup from the "+" sign. If it's working for you, any idea what I might be doing wrong?
 
The problem is Apple only allows you to email the document, send it to iWork.com or make it available via iTunes sharing.

Apple NEEDS to implement a 'document roll' type system the way they do for photos, where instead of each app being shoe boxed into it's own document file system, there is a common storage location.
 
raremage said:
Getting stuff to Goodreader is easy enough, but trying to use this doesn't seem to be working for me. I manage, copy, and done in Goodreader, but when I go to Dropbox, I only get 'upload existing photo or video' in the popup from the "+" sign. If it's working for you, any idea what I might be doing wrong?
Click to expand...

You need to add the Dropbox account in Goodreader, not use the dropbox app.

Then while in Goodreader, cut/copy the document and send it to the dropbox server.
 
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