pdf file limitations

Question

Level 1

11 points

pdf file limitations

Some complex PDF files cause my iPad PDF reading apps to crash.

Example: <http://www.artofgeography.com/maps/pdfs/first-thursday-map.pdf> which is a 3.8 MB file designed to be printed on 2 tabloid sized pages. I've also had a simple letter-sized 2 page 49 KB OmniOutliner(Mac) file printed to PDF and attached to an email cause the iPad Mail app to crash. (This file does open in dedicated PDF reading apps, however.)

What are the limitations on PDF files that can be read with an iPad?

I have the original 64 GB iPad with about 10 GB free space. Would an iPad 2 be better able to handle such complex PDF documents?

Is the limitation due to the operating system or the apps (crashes occur with GoodReader, PDFReader Pro and iBooks)?

Might this problem be fixed with iOS 5?

Would allocating more memory to the iOS or application help and if so, is there any way for an ordinary user to increase the memory allocation(s)?

iPad, iOS 4.3.2

Posted on Jun 30, 2011 11:52 AM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,559 points

Jun 30, 2011 7:27 PM in response to ross97401

I have a 64 GB iPad 2 Wi-Fi and I had no issues with the file that you linked, either opening in Safari or GoodReader. However, iBooks does not like it at all and closes immediately.

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Answer 2

ross97401 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 30, 2011 9:52 PM in response to Dah•veed

Perhaps it is the difference between the iPad 1 & 2 and another original iPad user will be so kind as to test as you did? The PDFReader Pro documentation, in discussing problematic PDF formats, suggests opening the file with Preview on a Mac and doing a "Save As..." to convert to a more iPad friendly version of the file. I tried that but it didn't work. I also tried a complete reset of the iPad which similarly failed. I mis-stated my problem with the other attachment: it was not a 2 page outline as a Mail attachment, but rather a large single page poster of over 3 MB. The iPad 1 seems to be able to handle large multi-page PDF files as onely one page at a time needs to be rendered: It just seems to choke on large complex pages.

I actually moved-up from an Apple ][ to the 128K Mac in 1984. My current iMac appears to be the same vintage as yours. Curious as to the upcoming refresh of the MacBook Air with Lion as it might be a solution to the screen-size and other limitations of the iPad and probably will boot and run much faster than my "oldest iMac to support Lion" model.

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,559 points

Jun 30, 2011 11:25 PM in response to ross97401

My iMac is the Early '06, a Core Duo, It will not support Lion, only the Core 2 Duos will. So mine stops at Snow Leo 10.6.8.

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