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how to change PDF name in iBooks app

I am using iBooks app to store many PDF reference files. I am getting the PDFs from my dropbox app. File names in dropbox are descriptive, but when I chose to view them in iBooks they get a different title like "form 2 XXXX".

I cannot seem to find if I can change title once file is in iBooks.

Ideas please.

TIA

iMac 24" 2.4GHz, MacBook Pro 2.2 GHz, iPhone 3GS, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jun 21, 2010 1:34 PM

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54 replies

Jun 21, 2010 1:49 PM in response to Bill3

I cannot seem to find if I can change title once file is in iBooks.. Ideas please.

You can't. The standard procedure is to make the changes in the content manager (iTunes) and then sync the manager's database to your iPad. Either add the content directly to iTunes and make the changes before syncing to iBooks or sync iBooks content to iTunes, make the changes, and then re-synt the updated iTunes database back to iBooks.


User uploaded file

Apr 7, 2011 6:31 AM in response to Bill3

I download PDFs for academic work and wish I could change the title so that it is not an alpha numerical jumble. This seems reasonable to do, but difficult and time consuming when you have many copies that a downloaded at a time. I would love to have the ability to change the PDF document's name easily, from my iPad, without syncing. The process mentioned above is very cumbersome for multiple documents at a time.

Apr 7, 2011 7:48 AM in response to Ljinvrq

Heartily agree. This is a problem with many classes of technical documents, not just academic papers. I wouldn't mind if this were a little tricky, or a part of the UI you need to turn on in settings, just like the To/CC switch for mail. Those of us using iBooks as a reader for work rather than pleasure would really appreciate it.

Jul 6, 2011 9:49 AM in response to Bill3

I found this, may it help.
I was uploading a PDF via FTP in a way that my client can download it from the iphone. He was choosing iBook every time and the file name change randomly. Frustrating because we can not preserve the original name on the iBook.


Exporting to PDF from Indesign, in order to fix this just follow the options below


Compatibility: Acrobat 4 (PDF1.3)

Standa: PDF/X-1a:2001


Remember, the name you apply at Indesign appears with the extension ".innd" (i.e. xxxxx.indd.pdf)
almost close!!


User uploaded file

Aug 17, 2011 9:18 AM in response to David M Brewer

I'm using 1.3 and it changes the names. I'm using the "Open in iBooks" option within the iPhone's Mail app, which I need to be able to do to throw pdf's over to my phone. I can't remember what's what if the names are not going to be the titles of the files being sent. This is a flaw, a bug, call it what you will, but it's not a feature.

Nov 6, 2011 9:07 AM in response to Bill3

iBook changes in ITunes 10.5


Background: there are typically two types of book formats in iBooks: epubs and everything else (including pdfs and Office/iWorks). What follows does not address epubs.


There are at least three locations to be aware of:

The Library/books section in iTunes

The Devices/books Section in Tunes

The ITunes Music/books folder on your Mac

And, if you move books to another folder, ITunes will follow that move (see note below regarding "dupes" and trash).


The simple method (works best when you have a large number of books):

1. delete all books in iTunes library/books

2. delete all books in devices/books

3. move everything out of the Mac iTunes/books folder noted above (for example, to another folder on the desktop) - if you do not make this move before step 4, the books will be lost.

4. synch device (the three steps above can be taken in any order).

Result should be all books are removed from the device. If this did not occur, you most likely did a synch between the steps above. If so, return to step one.

5. In the new folder you created in step 3, rename all filenames to what you want them to be. Note: changing the filename/author within the file (e.g., changing the pdf information in another application) will not effect the author in iBooks.

6. move all the files to the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder in the iTunes Music folder on your Mac.

7. Wait for the Mac books folder to auto populate.

8. Synch the device. Note: when you go to iBooks on the device, it may take several minutes after the sync for all books to appear (you may actually see "ghosts" of the original name, which will change as the books are transferred).


If you only have one or a few books to change the titles, then you want to do the above steps with only the selected books. One alternative to keep from having to do this regularly if you are, say, regularly downloading pdfs into iBooks (the Safari option "open in iBooks"). then you are likely to be better off saving the file to your desktop, changing the filename, and then adding to your device through the add books folder noted above.


Note re authors: non-epubs do not transfer the authorship well, even when the author is in the pdf or other file. You can add/change them in the library/books section of iTunes. If you later decide to change the title (singularly or as a large group), when you resynch you will find the author(s) need to be reentered, therefore making massive changes again and again probably not a good idea. Also note that when you add an author in library/books, you are creating a folder for that author in the Mac books folder. Going the other way (adding a folder in the Mac books folder and placing books in that folder and then expecting it to appear in the ITunes library/books) does not work (although I have not tried to create an "author folder" in the add folder - that may translate when the move between folders takes place).


If you have made multiple synchs in the past, removing the books and then adding them (in an effort to manage your collections), you can be faced with multiple items of the same books in library/books. If will appear that you can delete those "dupes" by selecting and then trashing them. But the "dupes" are actually links to the original file. Therefore, trashing what appear to be dupes will trash the originals and all will be gone. I would suggest that isn't a good idea (even with Time Machine).

Nov 24, 2011 11:57 AM in response to Bill3

This is a stupid bug and a rediculous fix for mac software already into version 10! And the sad thing is there is an entire list of non-intuitive ways the software handles different content and screws up the IPad during sync! I want my iPad to control content, NOT the software, and I would dump this trash in a heartbeat if given the chance!


Anyone have alternative Sync manager software??

how to change PDF name in iBooks app

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