Level 1

67 points

Files App - Create Folder "On My iPad"

I picked up a 512GB 10.5" beauty a few months ago with the hope that I could use it for work, especially once iOS 11 came out.

I was hoping to store my documents on the iPad in folders for projects I'm working on. However, it doesn't seem that I can make any folders in the new Files App in the location "On My iPad". I have one folder already there - Pixelmator, and it is empty. So I could make folders within the Pixelmator Folder, but I'd rather not do that as it makes no sense.

In these Project folders I'd like to store Presentations, photos, videos etc., which is how I currently do things on my Mac.

I'm I completely missing the boat here? What is the files app for if you can't make folders in it on your iPad?

(I get that I can do so in iCloud Drive, but I don't want to sync everything with the cloud all the time - it's too big)

Thanks for any advice you may have.

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 19, 2017 3:31 PM

Top-ranking reply

Diana.McCall

Level 7

21,347 points

Posted on Jan 16, 2018 5:51 AM

Exactly. You can be like a cuckoo and stash folders in the private storage of other apps. GarageBand seems to be a popular choice. In principle, those apps might be confused to find this corrupted data in their storage, but you can access it through the Files app. Apple has decided not to include local storage in the Files app. Clearly, it would not be impossible to implement it. But you cannot do it at this time. Incidentally, you can use other file manager apps, like FileExplorer or Documents 6, to locally store files of different types in folders you create. And FileExplorer is accessible from Files. So that's a solution to managing random data without hiding it in an app like Acrobat.

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58 replies

DomLogic

Level 1

4 points

Jan 16, 2018 12:05 PM in response to Csound1

Didn't see anyone mention iCloud.

The center of the discussion from the beginning is the "On my iPad" section of the Files app, which is supposed to be on your device. We want to be able to manage our files in customized folders directly on our device via this section of the app, which at the moment isn't really possible or if it is, isn't really intuitive.

Csound1

Level 9

60,093 points

Jan 16, 2018 8:42 AM in response to WestVanPete

Voila

Use Dropbox if it is the one that does what you want.

Csound1

Level 9

60,093 points

Jan 16, 2018 9:16 AM in response to DomLogic

You can tell Apple that you know a better way of securing their devices at this link.

Send feedback to Apple here

Csound1

Level 9

60,093 points

Jan 16, 2018 10:41 AM in response to DomLogic

DropBox, Google Drive, OneDrive. Box

Pick one.

Sep 19, 2017 6:21 PM in response to Diana.McCall

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.

WestVanPete Author

Level 1

67 points

Sep 19, 2017 6:26 PM in response to Diana.McCall

Thank you very much. I must have been caught up in Reality Distortion field when the 10.5 was announced along with the Files App for iOS 11. Everyone kept saying how this was the year the iPad will replace the laptop and how the Files App would change everything.

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.

Again - not your problem. Clearly I misunderstood how this was going to work. My daughter needs a new iPad for games - maybe I'll give it to her.

WestVanPete Author

Level 1

67 points

Sep 19, 2017 6:29 PM in response to Diana.McCall

Yes... Somehow I thought the files app looked a lot like a folder and I thought that meant you could put files in it like the same metaphor for storage I've used for 25 years. The demo in June even suggested was this was how it worked.

My mistake.

Sep 19, 2017 6:39 PM in response to Diana.McCall

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.

WestVanPete Author

Level 1

67 points

Sep 19, 2017 6:44 PM in response to Diana.McCall

Yes, I realize that. I was just surprised it was the only folder that showed up in Files. I would have expected a few more - especially the productivity apps.

And I totally understand the security model, and I agree - wonderful for phones. But they are selling this as an "iPad Pro which can replace your laptop" using the same phone operating system. Fine if you're a very light user, but if you are using multiple apps to edit documents and you end up generating multiple copies of documents via the share sheets, things get completely out of hand quickly. Now multiply this by 30 clients and a hundred gigabytes of files and you just want to end it all.

I really appreciate your time spent replying. I guess I'm just so disappointed that the Apple Store sales guy had no idea what he was talking about and sold me a promise of something that will not exist.

Sad that an iPad Pro with 512GB will be relegated to playing kids games. Seems like a waste. Tim Cook should be embarrassed.

CrossPaw

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2017 9:18 AM in response to WestVanPete

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.”

Jen E

Level 1

8 points

Jan 11, 2018 2:35 PM in response to WestVanPete

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.

Csound1

Level 9

60,093 points

Jan 16, 2018 7:28 AM in response to WestVanPete

But they are selling this as an "iPad Pro which can replace your laptop"

Where exactly do Apple say that you can replace your laptop with the iPad, I have searched for it and been unable to locate an instance. Perhaps you can link to it for me.

Jan 16, 2018 8:35 AM in response to Csound1

If the matter is about scripts, executable files and things like that I 100% agree.

But if we are talking about pictures, video records or sound records uploaded to a virtual folder in the cloud I do not find a security relief to allow us to plug the iOS to any device and get our files or allow us to create a sub-folders structure to prevent a tangle of files in a single user repository.

Treating all users as simpletons by definition might not be the best choice for the good sake of the product.

Csound1

Level 9

60,093 points

Jan 16, 2018 8:47 AM in response to WestVanPete

WestVanPete wrote:

They WOULD NOT have to relax security for this functionality.

Off course they would, sandboxing is the reason that Apps can not read or write to the file system generally. It is a fundamental part of IOS's security.

Please tell me how you think the system would work without it?

WestVanPete Author

Level 1

67 points

Jan 16, 2018 8:41 AM in response to Csound1

I did above.

Allow us to make a folder in iCloud Drive and then tell iCloud Drive not to sync it with the cloud. (Dropbox can do this)

Voila. All your projects in the Project Folder. Available on your iPad and to any App that supports iCloud Drive.

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Files App - Create Folder "On My iPad"