iPad file structure

[Morrius]

Since the iPad's OS doesn't use windows, how can I keep track of documents? Let's say I use Pages to write a document, and I save it. Where is it on the iPad? How can I access it again? Do I have to go through Pages to find it?

And as long as I'm on the subject, how will you transfer documents to and from the iPad?

 

[markosb]

As far as I know it has no file system, but you can use software or a web browser to import files.

I use software called iPhoneBrowser that lets me use my computer to browse the folders on the iPod and probably the iPad. It takes some doing but you can find those files and copy them or back them up to your computer, its a pain and is easier to sync.

 

[Maximillian]

All apps have their own storage. As you can see if you watch the videos on Apple.com, when you fire up the iWork apps, you can either select a saved doc or make a new one.

I assume all documents will sync via iTunes when you plug in. I'm also guessing you can email docs so that's a wireless way to get 'em off your iPad.

 

[Avenger]

Since the iPad's OS doesn't use windows, how can I keep track of documents? Let's say I use Pages to write a document, and I save it. Where is it on the iPad? How can I access it again? Do I have to go through Pages to find it?

And as long as I'm on the subject, how will you transfer documents to and from the iPad?

From reading some notes from a developer, it has some kind of basic USB file copying. I don't know if it gets fancy with a directory structure but the basics are supposedly there where you can drop documents on the ipad.

 

[tdream]

Its unix/linux like the mac. You probably will save it to a designated area but you won't be able to browse around the filesystem like windows.

 

[macduke]

The way I understand it, each application will make aware the the iPad OS that it can view a certain type of file. Those files will show up when going to open a file with that app, and files it can't open will not.

But without folders, I can see this getting really unorganized and messy. I don't want all my work stuff showing up with my school stuff and my home stuff. Yuck!

I'm sure Apple has worked this out. I mean right?

It would also be nice to be able to attach a document from the email app instead of firing up Pages, loading the file, selecting to email it from there.

My guess is that 3.2 will have some method that gets by with what it does and isn't the best solution, while 4.0 will have a better implementation that might even completely overhaul how we think about organizing files with an easy touch-based interface to boot. Well I can dream...

 

[dwd3885]

There's a file sharing feature I thought I saw in the settings.

 

[anthonymoody]

The way I understand it, each application will make aware the the iPad OS that it can view a certain type of file. Those files will show up when going to open a file with that app, and files it can't open will not.

But without folders, I can see this getting really unorganized and messy. I don't want all my work stuff showing up with my school stuff and my home stuff. Yuck!

I'm sure Apple has worked this out. I mean right?

It would also be nice to be able to attach a document from the email app instead of firing up Pages, loading the file, selecting to email it from there.

My guess is that 3.2 will have some method that gets by with what it does and isn't the best solution, while 4.0 will have a better implementation that might even completely overhaul how we think about organizing files with an easy touch-based interface to boot. Well I can dream...

This is more or less what I believe as well. 3.2 sort of an interim solution with 4.0 a more full featured situation with some way to divvy stuff up. If not in nested folders, then some other method.

The coverflow style file browser they show in the videos is fine for a handful of documents, but I have "zillions" so that won't work for me long term

I do think it's possible that iDisk will be better integrated into the filesystem situation, and perhaps even become the file system itself. Iow, mobileme and OS4 get tied more tightly together.