Hi all,
I just discovered a (very convoluted, but 'works') way to get files from iWork to Dropbox on the iPad. This requires the use of GoodReader, but it's totally worth it (in my mind) especially since I can use it now for my other servers/accounts/platforms.
Keep in mind, these steps seem short-sighted and convoluted, just bear with me and see if you get the same results.
I am 'walking-through' these steps as I type them to you, to be sure they actually work after the first couple times I tried them.
So, just to be sure we're all on the same page, here is the format I am using: Pages in iWork, my iPad and it's apps in horizontal/widescreen mode, and I am 'assuming' that you have an iWork account, a Dropbox account, A GoodReader app (and have Dropbox access in Goodreader) and of course, an iPad.
OK, let's go:
1. In Pages Home/All Docs View, send/email your chosen file to iWork. You shouldn't have to worry about changing the 'Pages' format, because GoodReader should allow the 'format download' option. If that isn't the case, let me know and I'll run through those additional, on-iPad, convoluted steps as well.
2. Open GoodReader app and tap on 'Web Downloads' and 'Browse the Web'.
3. Enter 'www.iwork.com', so you aren't messing with running searches.
4. If prompted, enter your account info for iWork. Remember, you may get a pop-up from Goodreader, asking if you want to download the current page, or continue. Make sure you press 'continue'.
5. Once inside your account, you should see your list of docs.
6. Tap on the link/doc name, next to the picture of the doc in iWork. A pop-up message should appear asking if you want to 'Follow the Link', 'Download Linked File' or 'Cancel'.
(NOTE: This is the beginning of the convoluted part. Just follow the steps and don't try to make logical sense of the process. You'll hurt yourself, like I did at first).
7. Select: 'FOLLOW THE LINK'. I realize it may be tempting to 'Download Linked File', but downloading the linked file, will only result in a useless html copy appearing in GoodReader.
8. A new page will load, hopefully showing your doc and its corresponding info.
9. Tap the 'download' arrow at the top of the web browser screen, not necessarily at the top of GoodReaders' app screen. (It's the little arrow in a circle; one of four, top-screen buttons). You will/should get a pop-up, asking what format you'd like to download it in.
I choose Word, because I want to view the doc on my non-Apple devices, through Dropbox.
10. Another pop-up will appear informing you of the doom that will be created if you download in any format other than Apple. Yea, whatever. Just tap 'continue' and move on.
Now the Doc should appear, in larger form, by itself (IE: free of any buttons, info, etc).
11. Now, tap at the bottom of the GoodReader app screen, on the round, download arrow button and you should get yet another pop-up, saying: 'Download has started. Check "Web Downloads" section...blah blah blah'. Top on 'OK' and then the arrow in the top left corner to go back to 'My Documents'.
If all has gone as planned, you should see your download in My Documents and also in Recent Downloads. YEA! Almost there.
12. Next tap on Connect to Servers (still in GoodReader) and then Dropbox.
Dropbox should open and you should see your list of folders/documents in Dropbox. You can either upload directly to your main Dropbox account or select a specific folder/file to upload to, by 'tapping' on it.
13. Once you're where you want to upload, click on the 'upload' button at the bottom right side of the Dropbox pop-up window. You will be given a another pop-up list of files to choose from, and if you don't see your file, tap on a specific folder to find what your desired selection.
14. Once you've tapped on a file/folder, you should see a green dot appear next to it. Now you can tap the 'upload' button at the bottom right of this pop-up. It may take a second or two, depending on file size, but you should see the file appear inside the Dropbox Pop-up and now you have access to this file, in Dropbox, or through other apps that have Dropbox integration.
YEA!!!! You've figured out how to get 'stuff' from Apple to Everyone else! :)
Just to sum it up, for those of you with bleeding eyes and fingers:
Created Doc in Pages/Numbers/Keynote
Uploaded to iWork
Used GoodReader to open iWork, in GoodReaders web download tool
Logged into iWork,
opened,
viewed,
downloaded in iWork (you've basically 'tricked' iWork/the webbrowser into thinking that you're operating on a 'real' computer platform, vs. mobile, so there aren't any 'questions' regarding browser/downloading compatibility),
downloaded again to GoodReader
Opened Dropbox in GoodReader
Uploaded file/doc from GoodReader to Dropbox
Viewed file/doc in Dropbox account, or with other platforms using Dropbox.
This same icky process can probably be duplicated for other servers, such as MobileMe, Google Docs, etc. that GoodReader supports. I've only tried it with iWork and Dropbox thus far.
Note Of Caution:
Formatting: that little 'might be incorrectly formatted' pop-up you get, DOES apply to saving iWork docs with lots of images, graphs, etc. if you're saving the image to PDF/Word format (which you probably are, because if you were using Pages formats, you'd probably have Mobileme access, and not necessarily need this whole step-by-step process).
The doc you get in Dropbox may have images/text in the wrong places (PDF), or just missing in general (WORD). This isn't always the case, but if you're working on an important project, or need to be sure the info is set up correctly, just be sure you check the finished upload in Dropbox for accuracy.
Palm Pre users: if you have the Dropboxify app, you can get access to your Dropbox account and thus your docs through this method. BUT, it has been my experience that the only way I can view docs from Pages/iWork, is to save them as Word downloads. PDFs (even though they should be) aren't supported by the Palm Pre PDF viewer. If someone has more info in this area, please let me know. I'd like to be able to get PDF's on Palm Pre.
GoodReader Folder in Dropbox: you may see a 'GoodReader' folder appear in your Dropbox account, when you've set up GoodReader to connect with Dropbox. This is usually standard for sharing drives. For instance, Pixelpipe user will see a folder appear in their Dropbox account. It's basically just a servers way of accessing another server. I have yet to discover if there is a way to drop files back into the Goodreader iPad app, by putting them in the Goodreader folder in my Dropbox account.
If anyone has more info on that, I would love to hear it.
Good luck all and I really hope this works for you!
~
David L.