Saving PDFs on iPad

A lie? That's a little strong, don't you think?

GoodReader is excellent. Thank you all for the recommendation.

Chris Shaker

Boberino wrote:
A lie? That's a little strong, don't you think?

A document has to be in the memory just by opening it, it make not difference if it saved or not.

If a document has an exploit, by opening it and closing it, the copy of the malicious code (embedded in the document) will be left in the computer memory. If the OS does not clear the memory down, or there is a leak in the memory, the malicious code could be executed by another app by accident.

The only 100% safe way is to have every attachment signed by an authorizing server. Then the app checks for the signature against the server before opening it. But it a little but of OTT.

I load all of my PDFs into my iDisk and then I can open them easily on my iPad. i simply downloaded the iDisk app for free (it's an iPhone app, but no matter, it has a 2x button in the corner so I can double the size of the app into the ipad screen).

Now I open iDisk, click any document (Word doc, PDF, anything) and it opens it, and I can read it. No need to download any apps at all!

I no longer use MobileMe. Instead, I use the free Dropbox, which works on Macs, PCs, Linux machines, iPhones, and iPads.

Without paying the 99cents for GoodReader, you can use the Dropbox iPhone/iPad app to access PDF files in your dropbox using the built in PDF viewer on your iPhone/iPad. One problem is that such documents are not stored on your iPhone, you're accessing them over the network. So you can't read them when you're off network. I think you'll have the same problem with iDisk. Also, the built in PDF viewer doesn't work on large PDF files. I can't seem to open a 250 MB PDF file with it.

In contrast, GoodReader supports huge PDF files, over 1 GB. It also makes it very easy to copy documents onto your iPad/iPhone for later offline viewing.

I think GoodReader is well worth the 99 cents.

Chris Shaker

Reading PDF files on the iPhone/iPad is not a problem, as has been pointed out. What is a problem is SAVING a PDF file.
On an Apple desktop/laptop, one can save anything in email, photos, Web site, etc. simply by calling up the "Print" function and selecting "Save as PDF."
That is what is missing on the iPhone and REALLY, REALLY missing on an iPad.
If there is an app that does that, I have not been able to locate it in the App Store. Does anyone out there know of an app that mimics the standard print utility's ability to Print-to-PDF?

Using GoodReader, I can save PDF files that were generated on other computers to my iPad, and to my iPhone, so that I can read them off network on the iPad/iPhone.

If I understand you correctly, you want to create a PDF file with some app running on the iPhone, and save that PDF file locally on the iPhone/iPad?

Chris Shaker

Chris Shaker wrote:
Using GoodReader, I can save PDF files that were generated on other computers to my iPad, and to my iPhone, so that I can read them off network on the iPad/iPhone.

If I understand you correctly, you want to create a PDF file with some app running on the iPhone, and save that PDF file locally on the iPhone/iPad?

Chris Shaker

Precisely, but more like the Print-to-PDF utility on regular Macs. For example, let's say I make a purchase online with my iPad, then want to "save" (print-to-PDF) the receipt for later transfer to my desktop/laptop for archival storage.

Is there an app that does that?

iinsic

Posts: 6
From: Florida
Registered: Apr 5, 2010
Re: Saving PDFs on iPad
Posted: Apr 14, 2010 1:45 PM in response to: Chris Shaker
Reply Email

Chris Shaker wrote:
Using GoodReader, I can save PDF files that were generated on other computers to my iPad, and to my iPhone, so that I can read them off network on the iPad/iPhone.

If I understand you correctly, you want to create a PDF file with some app running on the iPhone, and save that PDF file locally on the iPhone/iPad?

Chris Shaker
Precisely, but more like the Print-to-PDF utility on regular Macs. For example, let's say I make a purchase online with my iPad, then want to "save" (print-to-PDF) the receipt for later transfer to my desktop/laptop for archival storage.

Is there an app that does that?

iPad Other OS iPad v.3.2

I tried to quote your message in Safari on the iPad, and it finished the message when I tried to add my reply. I was going to say that I don't yet know of such an app, but if you find one, I would also be very interested in learning about it. And on my Mac Mini, it isn't showing me the icon for editing my message. It showed me that icon before I logged into the forum.

Thank you!
Chris Shaker

iinsic wrote:

Chris Shaker wrote:
Using GoodReader, I can save PDF files that were generated on other computers to my iPad, and to my iPhone, so that I can read them off network on the iPad/iPhone.

If I understand you correctly, you want to create a PDF file with some app running on the iPhone, and save that PDF file locally on the iPhone/iPad?

Chris Shaker

Precisely, but more like the Print-to-PDF utility on regular Macs. For example, let's say I make a purchase online with my iPad, then want to "save" (print-to-PDF) the receipt for later transfer to my desktop/laptop for archival storage.

Is there an app that does that?

Short answer: NO. There is no "Print-to-PDF" function on the iPad. In fact, there is no Print-to-anything" on the iPad.

I expect it might be possible to write a bookmarklet for it.

virtualgeo wrote:

iinsic wrote:
Precisely, but more like the Print-to-PDF utility on regular Macs. For example, let's say I make a purchase online with my iPad, then want to "save" (print-to-PDF) the receipt for later transfer to my desktop/laptop for archival storage.

Is there an app that does that?

Short answer: NO. There is no "Print-to-PDF" function on the iPad. In fact, there is no Print-to-anything" on the iPad.

Exactly my point: Apple is letting everyone with an iPhone or iPad down with the exclusion of a Print utility built in (including the capability, available on Macs, to "Print-to-PDF"). If the iPad really is to be the revolutionary new individual interface with the Internet, a Print utility makes more sense to me than an USB port. I can live without the latter, but lacking the former the iPad is nothing more than a 4-color Kindle.

I agree that a 'save to PDF' option would be great to have, although you guys have to remember that it would need to be added to every app; Apple DOES include this feature in Pages and Keynote for the iPad. (Maybe Numbers too but I haven't tried it). You then can sync those PDFs back to your computer and print them.

"Print to PDF" doesn't exist because there is no printing mechanism for the iPad; don't expect Steveo to add one, because I think in his mind the whole point of the iPad is to get into the 21st Century and stop using paper. Besides, do you really want the iPad to be cluttered with drivers for thousands of possible printers? Because that's what the 'Print to PDF' option is attached to on the Mac.

For now, there are apps that do wifi printer sharing on the iPad, but they usually are in file browser type apps.

Geoff:

Thank you for the info about the Apple office apps supporting print to PDF. I've purchased them, but have not yet messed with them.

Chris Shaker