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How does the file system work? (How do I get files into Pages?)

D

DaSal

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 19, 2008
308
247
The Netherlands
I haven't bought an iPad yet, but I was wondering how the file system works. I know it has Pages, but as far as I know it has no file system, and the only way to get data onto the iPad is through syncing with iTunes? How do I get my word documents into Pages?

If I keep word documents and use Dropbox, can I load up the Dropbox app, click a word document and open it and Pages, and save back to Dropbox?

How's this all work?:confused:
 
DaSal said:
If I keep word documents and use Dropbox, can I load up the Dropbox app, click a word document and open it and Pages, and save back to Dropbox
Click to expand...

No, you can't.

Maybe a future update will allow you to do so, but for now you'll have to go through an iTunes sync or E-Mail, or iWork.com.
 
-Ryan- said:
Check out this page: http://gizmodo.com/5508935/ipad-test-notes-how-to-transfer-documents-to-and-from-your-computer

It's got some coverage of how to transfer files back and forth from a PC. :)
Click to expand...

So I can't export .doc files from Pages on the iPad?

I'm kind of confused the iPad works like this... It seems very un-Apple. It's unintuitive. Why not just show the iPad as a drive on the desktop and let you drag and drop files onto it's drive? Why no shared file pool? For instance if you draw something using Sketchpad right now you can't use it in iWork without first transferring it to your computer, importing it into iPhoto, transferring it back to your iPad. Allowing you to save it into a shared pool on the iPad and just letting you import it straight into iWork would've been far better.

Oh well... Perhaps it'll be hacked that way.:(
 
DaSal said:
So I can't export .doc files from Pages on the iPad?

I'm kind of confused the iPad works like this... It seems very un-Apple. It's unintuitive. Why not just show the iPad as a drive on the desktop and let you drag and drop files onto it's drive? Why no shared file pool? For instance if you draw something using Sketchpad right now you can't use it in iWork without first transferring it to your computer, importing it into iPhoto, transferring it back to your iPad. Allowing you to save it into a shared pool on the iPad and just letting you import it straight into iWork would've been far better.

Oh well... Perhaps it'll be hacked that way.:(
Click to expand...

I don't think this is how apple wants you to think about the device. I'll agree with you that this is what I thought of, but after using it I think apple doesn't really want you to think of it as a standard computer metaphor... at least not yet. You put files with applications, just like you put audio files into the iPod library.

It really actually makes sense given how apple has taken iTunes. Before iTunes most MP3 players just opened a file on your hard drive and that was that. iTunes integrated the files with the application, and abstracted the whole hard drive layer away from you. I think they more or less want the same type of experience with files on the iPad. Now this brings up a lot of limitations, so I hope they keep refining it, but in spirit I can applaud the attempt anyway.

As far as using something from sketchpad, you shouldn't need to sync it back up. You should be able to export from sketchpad straight to your photos (not sure if sketchpad does this, I haven't purchased it yet), which would then all you to use it in any application.
 
Pages

I am going to get an iPad soon but I'd like to understand better how the file manager works in pages.... is it possible to create new folders ?

Thanks!
 
When you install pages or numbers or other applications that use files etc.

After the app is installed you can add files through iTunes that can be accessed by that application.
 
Mink said:
I am going to get an iPad soon but I'd like to understand better how the file manager works in pages.... is it possible to create new folders ?
Click to expand...

There is no "file manager" per se, nor can you create folders. The files are "visible" within each individual app and can be browsed via Cover Flow like interface.

So if you have 100's of files - best of luck with iPad! :rolleyes:
 
Numbers Files Stuck in iTunes

So how do I delete my unwanted Numbers files from iTunes? They are deleted from iPad Numbers but still show up in iTunes. I am unable to trash them or delete them in iTunes.

Any hints?

Thanks
 
rterra said:
So how do I delete my unwanted Numbers files from iTunes? They are deleted from iPad Numbers but still show up in iTunes. I am unable to trash them or delete them in iTunes.

Any hints?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Highlight them in iTunes, then hit the delete key on your Mac's keyboard. I delete files out of Pages/Keynote/Numbers like that.
 
I am a fan of using dropbox with pages.

-go to dropbox.com on iPad and browse to your folders that you uploaded from your pc/Mac

-click on your .doc file and when pages is installed you get a pop up bar under your bookmarks bar that has a import to pages button.

Seems to be the best way I've found thus far.

Hope this helps.
 
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