Can Word documents be stored in iCloud?

Found this thread after trying to upload some html to iCloud so I could test it on different devices.

I couldn't quite believe that this is not possible. Unfortunately this confirms it.

Disappointing.

Can anyone tell me why we cannot use the space for whatever we want?

Are we meant to just use software from Apple for everything we do on a Mac if we want to use iCloud?

And if so why can't I store the html created in TextEdit to test it on Safari on iPhone and iPad?

@crispydunn

Well, you have to think about how Apple tends to role out new products and services. They often aren't as 'feature complete' as we might like them to be. Rather than putting in every ability they intend the service to eventually have, and then having to troubleshoot a very complex system, they seem to like rolling things out in stages.

So, version 1 of iCloud allows you to sync Apple Pages, Keynote, and Numbers documents between your computer and iOS devices, although it requires manual uploading and downloading via the browser. Other programs, like Textedit, are not currently supported.It also allows programmers to write iCloud storage into their programs, which some are definitely doing.

Version 2 will make those Apple desktop apps directly read iCloud storage, making the integeration better and will allow the uploading of whatever type of file you want, accessible through your iOS devices with an app. Desktop apps like Textedit will presumably then get the abilit to access iCloud too, and third-party programmers will be able to write iCloud access directly into their apps (MS Office, for example, and Docs to Go on iPad).

Version 3, maybe they add in full sync, like SugarSync or Dropbox.

By rolling out features that way, they get to work out bugs, scale servers in a predictable way, and of course have something new to talk about at every keynote address!

TL;DR: be patient, what you want to do - and more - will be possible soon. In the meantime, consider Sugarsync. It's pretty **** good (I prefer it over Dropbox) and does exactly what you want.

Sugarsync: (note, this is a referral link) https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=e0m7t7nsdzvs8&utm_source=txemail&utm_mediu m=email&utm_campaign=referral

Use Drop Box instead. It works just like iDisk did but better.

In fact you can store anything on iCloud, and it will sync between Macs running Lion. But for it to be useful across iOS devices, the application developers need to add iCloud functionality as others have already mentioned.

Files stored on iCloud are hidden in the ~/Library/Mobile Documents/ folder. Create another folder inside that folder and name it anything you want. E.g. "iCloud Storage" and then make a link to that folder on your desktop.

While this makes it similar to Dropbox, I find Dropbox to be much more useful because I can access my files through any web browser and also through the Dropbox app on my iPhone/iPad/whatever devices as well as on PCs.

TZ wrote:

Use Drop Box instead. It works just like iDisk did but better.

Or use SugarSync for an even better service than Dropbox (which is excellent), dropping files on a web page for transmission to a phone or pad is an extraordinarily limited and cumbersome view of 'sync'

OK, so that I fully understand.... I can't use my Word documents on iCloud?

If true then that is complete ********! If that's true then Apple has become the 'Big Brother' that its 1984 ad railed so much against

Is Apple now Big Brother?

I've got far too much stuff written on Word and when I try to switch any document to Pages it doesn't retain my formatting.

I wouldn't even mind so much if Pages was actually a good word processor... but it's junk compared to Word.

Pages has very crappy formatting and even crappier grammer and spell-checking.

No, you can't. Can't store pdf.files either. I tried ithos' advice. Unfortunately, it won't work.

After all thet trying I decided to use SugarSync. Won't use Cloud. I really think Apple did a very bad job with this whole Cloud-thing. I've using mobile-me services for years. I didn't mind paying for it, never asked for feee services. Now I don't have to pay. Seems reasonable since I've got nothing that works well.

I'd like to try to clear this up a bit. The reason you can't store your Word docs in iCloud yet isn't because Apple is Big Brother. It's because Microsoft hasn't currently added the feature to it's software.

Everyone is thinking about iCloud like it's suposed to be a Dropbox or Sugarsync replacement. It is not. At least, not yet. iCloud has really 2 jobs:

1. It's major job is to easily and seamlessly move data between iOS devices. So, for example, I can mark up a PDF in Goodreader on my iPad, and see that same PDF in Goodreader on my iPhone. Or start Keynote on my iPad and then retrieve it from my phone and display it on a projector at my meeting.

2. It's distant second job is to somewhat less seamlessly allow you to move documents from your desktop and make them avaialble to iOS apps that can use them, for example making that Pages document on your computer, and finishing it on the train using your iPad. So far, Apple's Pages/Number/Keynote are some of the only (maybe THE only) desktop apps that support this though.

It doesn't do desktop sync, and it's not supposed to (yet, maybe someday). Further, data is tied to the app that creates it, so that apps can't accidently or deliberately alter data from other apps. So that PDF I stored in iCloud via Goodreader? It's ONLY accessible by Goodreader.

Ok, back to Word. You can't move Word documents into iCloud for two reasons:

1. MS hasn't built the functionality into Word yet, although I expect them too. The iCloud APIs are available to every developer, but it's up to each of them to implement (or not) the feature. So far, Microsoft has chosen to not, and that's probably because...

2. There is currently no MS Office software available on iOS. There are apps that can do an OK job of reading Office docs, like Docs To Go, but MS isn't going to build iCloud support into Word for them, and even if they did, right now iCloud isn't set up to allow DocsToGo to access data that Word put in the cloud - iCloud links data and apps together, as I mentioned, so this would be impossible currently.

IF MS releases it's rumored Office software for iPad, you'll probably see iCloud capability in it, and added to it's desktop applications. Also, in the next version of iCloud, you may see it expanded to natively have more "desktop sync" capabilities, although I'd expect the data-to-app restrictions to continue, but it will still be up to developers to add the functionality to their products. Apple can't do it for them, even if they chose to.

If what you want is desktop sync, I consistently recommend Sugarsync for it's flexibility.

https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=e0m7t7nsdzvs8&utm_source=txemail&utm_mediu m=email&utm_campaign=referral

PS: We are certainly doing different things, but I've found Pages import from Word to be very nearly flawless on most everything I've tried it on, and overall I find it a much more pleasant program than Word. Now, Numbers on the other hand, is weaksauce next to Excel.

I recently updated to 10.7.3, and it no longer automatically syncs extra documents. It might now only sync certain content when a specfic app is running. So I apologize for making the suggestion.

I looked very briefly at Apple's API's for the syncing functionality. It shouldn't (?) be too hard for a developer to write a Dropbox-like app that manages files in general, instead of particular ones (e.g. Pages, etc.).

Oh well. I use Dropbox, which is also free, does what people here are asking, also works with Windows and iOS devices (although you still need something to edit with) and can be accessed via any web browser.

Apple is targeting services for their apps. I have no problem with that. In the meantime, I'll keep using Dropbox.

I find this totally unacceptable. I feel scammed by Apple even though they extended my MobileMe subscription. I loved my documment storage capability. In fact I was hopeful that Apple would beef-up their file & folder sharing capabilities and add security. I thought that iCloud was going to be an advancement. It is not, from where I sit. Apple's position lacks honesty and clarity. Apple was was obviously not forthcoiming about the new document storage limitations for its own bottomline stragegic reasons ... extremely disappointing for a company that suggests it is a cut above. Apple needs to address this issue if they truly expect loyalty to the brand.

I don't disagree with you on missing the capabilities of iDisk. But, just to take the edge off, let me point out a few things:

1. iDisk was never very good. It's only real strong points were targeted sharing with automatic expiration, and the public iDisk folder that you could allow others to upload into. Sugarsync does almost all of that better (no auto-expiration on shares, yet) and it does it for cheaper, across platforms, with real syncing.

2. iClouds capabilities will expand. Today's keynote for example, introduced photo sharing via iCloud. Although it's not a direct replacement for the old MobileMe Gallery, its pretty nice and a lot closer to what most people probably want.

3. Document sync capabilties exist between iOS devices, and it works very nicely. If your favorite app doesn't support it yet, that's not Apple's fault, call the developer. iCloud syncing to apps on the desktop is coming. Although it hasn't been announced, you can expect it with OS 10.8 this summer.

That's still not going to lure me from Sugarsync, because it'll be compartmentalized sharing and I want/need full-directory syncing and collaboration features, but that's why the software market exists. Apple can't and shouldn't try to include every possible feature in their software, it'll just be bloated and annoying, and still won't satisfy all the different ways people work.

stephen.bradley wrote:

snip

That's still not going to lure me from Sugarsync, because it'll be compartmentalized sharing and I want/need full-directory syncing and collaboration features, but that's why the software market exists. Apple can't and shouldn't try to include every possible feature in their software, it'll just be bloated and annoying, and still won't satisfy all the different ways people work.

+1 for SugarSync, easily the most flexible most accomplished file sync service available.

Wait, yes you can import Word docs into iCloud. I switched to iCloud yesterday and I now have a few Word docs in iCloud which I can access from any of my computers via a web browser. I can also see them on my iPhone in the Pages app, but it will translate them into Pages docs for viewing I think. Maybe they just added this option?

I'm confused as to why everyone is saying you can't import Word docs into iCloud. Once you get the 'Docs and Data' section up and running you can drag and drop Word documents into that section and then access with via browser on a different computer.

That said, it's a far cry from what I'm used to being able to do with my iDisk on .Mac. Very clunky.

I can't believe Apple thinks this strategy is going to fly with customers. I've been using DropBox for a couple of weeks now, and if Apple is trying to make their Cloud process user friendly, they have gotten it all wrong. I stupidly assumed that since I'm already paying $100/yr for MobileMe/Icloud, I could just use that and not upgrade the now free Drop Box account. Boy was I mistaken - looks like the DropBox upgrade is in order for me.

Stupid move, Apple. It's why after owning a MacBook Pro for about 6 years I've decided to abandon it, except as a music server, and go back to a Windows7 PC. So far I haven't regretted it one bit.

So I want to confirm with you that you did upload MS word documents to iCloud?

Matt