In iOS 10 I was able to upload TCX files from my dropbox to a website via the Safari browser. In iOS 11 when I try to do this I have to go through the Files app. When I do this TCX files displayed faded and are not selectable so now I can no longer do what I used to do in iOS 10. From what I can tell the Files app distinguishes file types and fades out those it doesn’t recognize. Is there a way to get around this?
I have the same problem. It occurs on sites that have the accept attribute set in the file input upload.
The following html will reproduce the problem. Word files will be grayed out in the Files.app even though the mimetype matches. It works correctly in a browser on osX.
<input accept="application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document " type="file">
I have this annoying bug too.
It’s an iOS 11 Files related bug: it doesn’t let download, attach, rename etc. files which extension can’t be opened on iOS, regardless it’s source (Dropbox, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, etc.)
This link is the Apple suggestion/complaint box, link: Feedback - iPad - Apple.
As you say, it sounds like the Javascript in the website is requesting the same Apple file browser. All iOS web browsers are required to use the same "webkit" software, so they really differ only in the surface "chrome", not actual functionality.
As I already alluded to, the website may need to update their Javascript to work with the new system. There may be some new parameters for the file browser object, designating acceptable file types. You might see if the site has a user group that is discussing this.
OK. I've been thinking about this some more. It may be that, as you suspected, the new file browser will not select a file for which there's no app to open it. I wonder if it would help to install an app that can interpret this file type, maybe a track viewer? That might be a viable work-around. I think you ought to report this to Apple by posting at this link: Feedback - iPad - Apple
I opened dropbox on my mac, double clicked on an .mobi file (it was not greyed out), and it opened in the kindle app
Hi Diana,
Old way using iOS 10
With iOS 11
Wondering if there’s a way to get Safari to behave as it did in iOS 10 when offering an upload prompt where one doesn’t have to go through Files?
Regards,
Charles
Hi. Can you describe exactly how you were doing this before?
Are you not able to use the DropBox app to perform the same operations as before?
If not, have you looked at other file managers, like File Explorer Pro, which might be able to do what you need?
The new Files app is really just the old iCloud Drive app, with a few added features. It doesn't really replace any existing apps.
Just a note to append to my last post. In the iOS 11 case when one presses the upload link on the webpage the prompt that comes up offers 3 choices 1) Take Photo or Video 2)Photo Library 3)Browse. When one presses browse a files like screen comes where one has to select dropbox. At this point the file to be selected is greyed out i.e. or shown faded out and is not selectable.
It appears to as though the Safari browser no longer offers the ability to directly select dropbox but forces one to go through files which seems to have restrictions based on file type.
Regards,
Charles
I see. It does seem that a new Files-like file chooser has been incorporated into the Apple apps. The same chooser appears when you go to open a file in Pages. I don't know why the file type would be greyed out, though. That might be an area where the website could do a better job with their Javascript, indicating acceptable file types.
Could you try a different browser for this purpose? There are many choices: Chrome, Firefox, iCab, etc. There's a chance they may continue with the older method.
Hmmm, I just tried the Chrome browser with the same results. I’m guessing the change is at the iOS level rather than the browser level. A different browser doesn’t help. They either have to fix files so that it doesn’t restrict based on file type or they have to change the code that interfaces with the browser such that one can directly choose for example dropbox instead of having to use the files based interface.
Is there a way to formally report this problem to apple?
Regards,
Charles
Okay, I think I understand what you’re saying. I will approach the people at Ridewithgps with your suggestion regarding the parameters they’re providing the file browser object and see where it goes...I will report the outcome back here.
I’m having a similar problem with .mobi (kindle books) files. They were written to dropbox on a mac. When viewed on my iPhone, they are muted in appearance, show the kindle icon, but can’t be selected.
Hi Joe Liscouski. Do you have the Kindle app on the iPhone?
What happens if you use the DropBox app instead of Files? You may be able to share the files with Kindle.
Are you allowed to use these files on multiple devices? Or are you trying to bypass the DRM?
1) yes the kindle app is on the phone
2) within the dropbox app it tries to open it, but then comes back with “this file type cannot be viewed on this device
3) shouldn’t be a DRM issue, the files were downloaded as free of charge, I was able to download them in an ePub format and could access them through iBooks (on the mac they were downloaded to). I should try the kindle files on that sane machine, later this week
Files app, certain files are grayed out.
