Files App - Create Folder "On My iPad"

In my case, Garageband created a folder for me. I found that you can create an folder named for any app by finding a file in iCloud in the Files App, then tap Select, Move, and On My iPad (location). It will open and display the potential folders for all your apps. Move changes to Copy when you select one of the folder. The Copy then creates the App folder and copies your folder. You can then create sub-folders in any existing folder and copy anything you want in there. Apps that use the new file system can save and open files in these folders. For example, Affinity Photo has an Import from iCloud. That displays up the Files app interface picker. Choose On My iPad location and viola! In the Files App, you can select things in iCloud and move to and from these folders so you don't need to use up iCloud storage. Not the optimal solution, but good enough until iOS 12. See these images:

Here are some threads discussing iPad as computer replacement:

How do I migrate from a MBA to new iPad Pro?

Re: Thinking about getting iPad to replace my old laptop

Ipad pro 12 vs mac air

https://michaelkummer.com/ipad-pro-vs-macbook-can-ipad-pro-replace-12-macbook/

iPad Pro external drive support

We love our iPads. I use my iPad Air for several hours a day. But there are certain tasks that either require my computer, or are much easier on the computer. You may be able to develop a workflow that incorporates the iPad, but it's likely to be more cloud-oriented than you expected.

IuCorbiCat wrote:

After reading all the opinions and answers from the support I understand that despite an excellent media player, the file system is not really usable in the way any other folder system is thought.

And iOS‘s file system has always been this way, and was explicitly and deliberately designed to be so. The concept is called “sandboxing” - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(computer_security) It is part of the very core of iOS’s security model. iOS does not grant user access to its file system - it never has. Nor does it allow 3rd party apps to access another 3rd party app’s file space.

See also https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/FileManagement/Concept ual/FileSystemProgrammingGuide/FileSyste…

As taken from the very first page if that document:

About the iOS File System

The iOS file system is geared toward apps running on their own. To keep the system simple, users of iOS devices do not have direct access to the file system and apps are expected to follow this convention.

Hi. Documents on the iPad are managed in private directory systems by their apps. Notes in Notes, documents in Pages or Word, presentations in Keynote, etc. There is no graceful way to group all items for a project in a folder, as you would on a PC, because the apps cannot access files in the "wild". This is a fundamental shortcoming of an iPad as a computer replacement.

The Files app doesn't change this. It merely lets you access the contents of each app's file storage, provided the app has made this possible. It also includes the prior iCloud Drive app, and integrates other cloud servers, so you don't need to use their apps. This link: iOS 11, thoroughly reviewed | Ars Technica has some hands-on info about the Files app.

I think Pixelmator must be an app you have that's set up to share data with Files.

Since you question the reasoning, I need to mention the sandboxed environment provided by iOS to each app, in which it manages data created by it. Apps can only access other apps' data via the formal sharing protocol, allowing them to take copies of the data, only. This results in a highly secure system for mobile devices. This is not the same as a general-purpose computer. Unfortunately for you.

WestVanPete wrote:

I was under the impression the Files app was a place to store files. I can't even drag and drop anywhere except for my one folder. Pixelmator. The folder that will contain everything. So weird.

There was quite a lot of excitement when the Files app was announced for iOS 11. I was sceptical, since the idea of an open filesystem would contradict 10 years of iOS history, and invalidate all existing apps. The result seems to be less than even I expected. It should improve as apps are updated to improve their interfaces with Files. Even though Files is from Apple, I don't believe it can actually access apps' data. It can only request it using formal interfaces. Nothing like browsing a directory structure.

Just for completeness, Pixelmator is a photo editing app which you must have on your iPad. Apparently, it's doing the right stuff to interface with Files. Your other apps should appear there too, as "folders", provided they follow the protocol.

Much worse than sad. It is completely deceptive and outrageous. They are laughing all the way to the bank. You can use your 512 GB IF you also back it up on iCloud, and you will pay a pretty penny for that! My situation is pretty much like yours. I was led to believe that I would have control over the 512 GB storage space I paid for, but no such thing is even close. The best I can say for Apple is that they are so caught up in their own world they have no idea what people coming to it might expect, like “I have control of my files, not Apple.”

Agree with the sentiments here! Baffled that they give us a "Save to files" option in the apps but you cannot create a new folder on your iPhone within files app "On your iPhone/iPad" unless some other app like Pages, Numbers, etc. has already created a folder for you and you can create a (sub) folder within those pre-created folders only or on iCloud or another cloud storage service. I can organize my documents/files on a cloud storage service but I can't on my own iDevice?? Doesn't make sense!!

Just purchased an iPad Pro for my husband, replacing his MacBook when he travels. I was struggling for answers on how to set up his files in folders on his iPad. I read through all of your comments and reply’s. Good news for me, I have found that I can in fact create separate folders for his files. And then sub-folders within those if necessary. Most of his files are PDF files, so I’m sure that makes a difference, but at lease I have gotten a little further into the project.