I can't find my PDF files

[mesut]

Hi. I have a newbie problem here with my pdf files.
I downloaded Pdf Draw Pro, and airdropped my pdf files to my tablet (iPad 5th Gen, 10.3.1). When the transfer was complete, it asked me which app I wanted to open with, I chose Pdf Draw Pro.
I then went ahead and bought Pdf Expert app. But I can't find my pdf files with it. I thought maybe I could find my files with a file explorer, but it failed to find the pdf files.
My question is, where are the pdf files now? How can I access them, how can I delete them if I wanted to?

 

[IWT]

Hello again Mesut.

Just so I understand correctly: before you used Air Drop, may I presume you had those PDFs on your Mac? You then copied them over to your iPad? It was copied, not moved?

I'm really trying to understand where the PDFs originated (your Mac?) and whether they should still be there (copied, not moved).

On which device (Mac or iPad or both) can you not find the PDFs?

There are two aspects to your question: finding the PDFs and determining which app should open them. The latter is easy in that if you locate a PDF, Right Click on the file and, from the drop down, choose Open With - a list of options will appear - choose whichever app you want.

Now to locating your PDFs: On your Mac, you could use "Spotlight" (part of macOS) or download "EasyFind" or "Find Any File" and search for them. If you can't remember the names of the files, search under Kind PDF and all your PDFs should appear.

May I leave it there till I know a bit more about the circumstances as per my questions above?

Ian

 

[mesut]

I am terribly sorry about ambiguous question. I was holding my iPad while typing the question, so I just assumed the question was clear lol.
The files on my Mac are fine, I know where they are.

But I can't locate them on my iPad. They are accessible only from the app I first opened them with (Pdf Draw Pro). It seems like they are not separate files anymore, but a part of that application now. Or somehow, only that app has the access rights to them.

 

[RadDave]

I am terribly sorry about ambiguous question. I was holding my iPad while typing the question, so I just assumed the question was clear lol.
The files on my Mac are fine, I know where they are.

But I can't locate them on my iPad. They are accessible only from the app I first opened them with (Pdf Draw Pro). It seems like they are not separate files anymore, but a part of that application now. Or somehow, only that app has the access rights to them.

Hi Mesut - you need to understand that iOS is an app-centric operating system, i.e. does not have a file hierarchy like Finder in macOS or Windows Explorer (although there are a few apps on my iPad that have that function somewhat) - in your case, the PDF files on your iDevice are 'sandboxed' in the Pdf Draw Pro app - what you need to do is look in that app for a feature that allows you to 'export' a PDF file(s) to another app on your iPad - hope that this helps. Dave

 

[McBie]

That is absolutely normal iOS behavior.
If you want your files on an iOS device available to more than 1 application, my suggestion is to store the PDF files in iCloud and manage them with an iCloud " aware " app.
That is the way I do it and it is hassle free.
All my files are available to me on both iOS and MacOS through iCloud.

Cheers ... McBie

 

[mesut]

Thanks.
So, if I delete that app, my pdf files are gone with it? I'm just wondering in case I might have to clear some space in my iPad one day.
Is it like every app has its own storage space?

My problem is solved by the way, I am just curious about this now.

 

[IWT]

Hi again, mesut.

I am terribly sorry about ambiguous question. I was holding my iPad while typing the question, so I just assumed the question was clear lol.

Absolutely no need to apologise. Probably just me; I only wanted to be clear in my mind.

Anyway, now you have the answers you needed.

Ian

 

[IWT]

So, if I delete that app, my pdf files are gone with it?

Yes. Because the "data", in your case PDFs, are intimately linked to that app.

And talking of space, you will often find that an app takes up, say, 75MB but the data associated with has grown to 1GB as more files/data have been added over time.

At least you have the originals on your Mac.

If, in time, storage space became critical, you can delete the app - then reinstall it and copy over only the essential files you want. In my example above; 75MB plus 1GB could become 75MB plus 150MB.

Ian

 

[mesut]

Yes, thank you.
I guess I'll have to go through an adjustment period, the same as when I moved (well, acquired a Macbook) from Windows to macOS. I now have my Android phones for, I think 7 years and this iPad is with me for shorter than a week.

EDIT: I see you edited your answer. This clarifies many things. And probably saved me from losing my data in the future.

 

[IWT]

If some rainy day you have nothing better to do, you can can easily find out how much space each app and its associated data take up.

Go into Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage > Storage > Manage Storage - and magically every app you have will populate the page. The total space taken is shown against each. If you tap on any app, it will then show you App Size and, underneath, Documents & Data.

You might be surprised.

Ian

 

[RadDave]

Thanks.
So, if I delete that app, my pdf files are gone with it? I'm just wondering in case I might have to clear some space in my iPad one day.
Is it like every app has its own storage space?

My problem is solved by the way, I am just curious about this now.

Yes, thank you.
I guess I'll have to go through an adjustment period, the same as when I moved (well, acquired a Macbook) from Windows to macOS. I now have my Android phones for, I think 7 years and this iPad is with me for shorter than a week.

EDIT: I see you edited your answer. This clarifies many things. And probably saved me from losing my data in the future.

Hi again Mesut - I see that Ian has been of tremendous help and glad that you better understand how iOS works - but please clarify the above in bold, i.e. were you able to transfer the PDF(s) on your iPad from one app to another?

Also, there are other options for transferring 'files, documents, and images' from an iOS device to a Mac laptop or iMac - let me just mention a handful of choices: 1) iTunes - if the iPad is cabled and the device -> Apps selected, then those apps that offer a 'transfer option' (not all will) can be used, e.g. I just updated my Paprika recipe app, made a backup on the iPad (also synced), and then copied the BU to my laptop (see first pic - note that I've added text to these images); 2) iExplorer - app on my Mac laptop - iPad again cabled - second pic shows how to transfer the same Paprika BU to the computer; third pic has GoodReader opened which is on my iPad - numerous PDFs - one or more of these can be easily sent to the laptop; and 3) iMazing - again app on my laptop w/ iPad cabled - fourth pic shows 'Camera Roll' where images can be sent to the computer; last pic w/ GoodReader opened under apps - PDFs can easily be copied to the computer. Dave
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[mesut]

Thanks once again.
This community is one of the most helpful and friendly communities I've ever involved in. This single thread answered many unasked (but bound to be asked) questions and prevented a data loss disaster already.

 

[RadDave]

Thanks once again.
This community is one of the most helpful and friendly communities I've ever involved in. This single thread answered many unasked (but bound to be asked) questions and prevented a data loss disaster already.

All of us are glad to help - make sure that you are also backing up your iPad - this can be done to iTunes on your computer and also to iCloud (you get 5 GB storage for free) - I back up my iPad Air to both (and my wife's iPad Mini & iPhone 6 - had to buy extra cloud storage for her two devices). In addition, if not already done, download the free 'iPad User Guide' HERE. Dave