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HistoryEdited Mar 28, 2011 10:40 AM by Joel Anderson…

iWork Document Management Issues

Personal Productivity Strategies > iPad > iPad Document Management Strategies > iWork Document Management Issues


The iPad software in its current form is not ideally suited for managing documents (iWork/Office) between a computer and an iPad. I suspect this will improve in future versions. After a couple of days with it, here is what I have noted so far:

Documents don't really "sync" back and forth between computer and iPad like movies or calendar data. It is a fairly tedious and manual process.

First of all, each iWork application on the iPad has two document storage areas: "My Documents" and "Transfer Folder".
(Note: Transfer Folder is my term, the actual folder is not labeled or called anything in the iPad or the iPad documentation)

My Documents Folder:

  • This folder is the only folder that an iPad app sees directly
  • It consists of documents that you have created, or documents that you have "imported"
  • All documents that you view or edit are in the "My Documents" folder

Transfer Folder:
  • Represents documents that you have dragged into iTunes to be used with iPad
  • You cannot actually directly access these documents with the iPad apps
  • You have to "import" them into "My Documents" before you can view or do anything with them
  • After importing a document, the originals stay in the "transfer" folder
  • I guess this may be conveninet if you need to revert to the original, but it seems confusing, your document is sitting in two places, and over time, this list would grow unmanageable, which means you have to add another step in you process of removing the files from the iTunes app
  • Also, there is no inidcation in teh Transfer Folder if a document has laready been imported into "My Documents" or not
  • When you export a document (the only way to get data from the iPad back to you computer), if the original is still in the transfer folder (as will likely be the case unless you have manually removed it) you are notified that a document already exists with the name, and asked if you want to replace it
  • And finally, saving the document from iTunes back to your commuter, does not remember were the original was stored

So, moving documents back and forth is a fairly cumbersome, manual process:

  1. Add documents to iTunes
  2. Sync iPad
  3. Import into iPad application (lose "advanced" formatting - see iPad iWork Document Formatting post)
  4. (Optional) Remove imported document from Transfer Folder to avoid duplicates and confusion and long lists of applications imported)
  5. Modify document on iPad
  6. Export document
  7. Connect to iTunes
  8. Sync iPad (or drag file from transfer area of iTunes to desktop) [When saving from iTunes, it does not remeber the location of the original file, so you have to manually navigate to area]
Also, there is no folders or tagging on the iPad, and there is not even a List View of documents, so if you get 30 documents in an iPad iWork app, you have to manually scroll/flick through all 30 documents to get to the last document.Definitely


It is definitely difficult to manage large numbers of documents, and the potential for document spawn is huge:
  • one version on iPad My Documents
  • one version on iPad Transfer Folder
  • one version on computer
  • one version transferred back to computer

Comments

/groups/tech/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=mainlist/groups/tech/search/?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=mainCore ArticlesCustomTagSidebarCustomTagSidebar?sort=modifiedDate&sortDirection=reverse&tag=main0/groups/tech/sidebar/CustomTagSidebarmodifiedDate5CustomTagSidebarreversemainCore Articlescustom/groups/tech/search/index.rss?tag=hotlist/groups/tech/search/?tag=hotWhat’s HotHotListHot!?tag=hot60/groups/tech/sidebar/HotListAdded iOS 5 and iCloud Article LinkjoelJoel Anderson2011-10-27 05:51:48+00:002011-10-27 05:51:48updated47joelJoel Anderson2011-03-28 23:40:40+00:002011-03-28 23:40:40updated46Moved Document Management & iWork Document Formatting under FeaturesjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-28 23:40:32+00:002011-03-28 23:40:32updated45Moved Paperless Workflow under features, moved iPad 2 Mini review under General PointersjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-28 23:39:09+00:002011-03-28 23:39:09updated44Added breadcrumbsjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-28 15:48:01+00:002011-03-28 15:48:01updated43Changed Title of iPad Document Strategies linkjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-28 15:43:54+00:002011-03-28 15:43:54updated42joelJoel Anderson2011-03-27 19:12:09+00:002011-03-27 19:12:09updated41Separated Productivity Outline into its own pagejoelJoel Anderson2011-03-27 19:11:22+00:002011-03-27 19:11:22updated40joelJoel Anderson2011-03-21 11:51:32+00:002011-03-21 11:51:32updated39fix shopping and travel pages from blog pages to wiki pagesjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-21 11:49:38+00:002011-03-21 11:49:38updated38joelJoel Anderson2011-03-21 11:47:11+00:002011-03-21 11:47:11updated37Moved link to iPad 2 Mini Review towards top of pagejoelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 13:23:03+00:002011-03-19 13:23:03updated36Added New to iPad pagejoelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 12:02:34+00:002011-03-19 12:02:34updated35Added link to iPad 2 Mini ReviewjoelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 10:31:38+00:002011-03-19 10:31:38updated34joelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 10:29:17+00:002011-03-19 10:29:17updated33Added iPad App pages for Shopping and TraveljoelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 10:28:06+00:002011-03-19 10:28:06updated32Removed Cases links, as it is now linked from the new Accessories pagejoelJoel Anderson2011-03-19 09:59:48+00:002011-03-19 09:59:48updated31joelJoel Anderson2010-04-26 14:49:15+00:002010-04-26 14:49:15updated30Added new structure for iPad case articlesjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-26 13:29:44+00:002010-04-26 13:29:44updated29Formatting cleaningjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-26 02:30:51+00:002010-04-26 02:30:51updated28Added use of keynote presentationjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-25 21:14:19+00:002010-04-25 21:14:19updated27joelJoel Anderson2010-04-25 20:55:07+00:002010-04-25 20:55:07updated26Added a strengths/weakness list to article; Created place holders for printing and remote controljoelJoel Anderson2010-04-25 20:54:50+00:002010-04-25 20:54:50updated25Organized and Separated LinksjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-17 02:12:22+00:002010-04-17 02:12:22updated24joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 19:17:12+00:002010-04-12 19:17:12updated23joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 19:12:10+00:002010-04-12 19:12:10updated22joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 19:10:37+00:002010-04-12 19:10:37updated21joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:58:05+00:002010-04-12 18:58:05updated20joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:46:24+00:002010-04-12 18:46:24updated19joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:45:36+00:002010-04-12 18:45:36updated18joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:23:47+00:002010-04-12 18:23:47updated17joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:19:55+00:002010-04-12 18:19:55updated16joelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:17:32+00:002010-04-12 18:17:32updated15Added NoteTaking AppsjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-12 18:13:40+00:002010-04-12 18:13:40updated14Added iPad Accessories PagejoelJoel Anderson2010-04-07 13:57:19+00:002010-04-07 13:57:19updated13Added iPad Cases pagejoelJoel Anderson2010-04-07 13:50:29+00:002010-04-07 13:50:29updated12joelJoel Anderson2010-04-07 13:49:43+00:002010-04-07 13:49:43updated11joelJoel Anderson2010-04-06 00:00:36+00:002010-04-06 00:00:36updated10Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 23:05:53+00:002010-04-05 23:05:53addTag9joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 22:54:36+00:002010-04-05 22:54:36updated8joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 22:46:37+00:002010-04-05 22:46:37updated7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:35:18+00:002010-04-05 20:35:18updated6joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:33:42+00:002010-04-05 20:33:42updated5joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:31:37+00:002010-04-05 20:31:37updated4joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:27:51+00:002010-04-05 20:27:51updated3Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:26:48+00:002010-04-05 20:26:48addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:04+00:002010-04-05 20:15:04created1wiki2011-10-27T05:51:48+00:00groups/tech/wiki/17816FalseiPad/groups/tech/wiki/17816/iPad.htmlJoel Anderson47 updatesiPad Personal Productivity Strategies > iPad Did you just get a new iPad, and want a know what you should get right away? Try my iPad Quick-St...Falsejoel2011-10-27T05:51:48+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00hot/groups/tech/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomelist/groups/tech/search/?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomeRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdates?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcome0/groups/tech/sidebar/RecentChangesListmodifiedDateallRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdateswiki/welcomeNo recent changes.reverse5searchlist/groups/tech/calendar/Upcoming EventsUpcomingEventsListEvents1Getting events…