Inside iOS 11: Files app brings some user control of documents stored on an iPad or iPhone...
Apple's iOS 11 brings along with it a new Files app, allowing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users the ability to seamlessly share working documents across iCloud, as well as integrate other online storage services with compatible applications.
The app itself is relatively simple, giving a two panes for recent documents and all documents stored in the cloud. Both are exactly what they say they are, with the former giving a list of all of the user's recently opened documents from iCloud and the latter presenting folders of various application's associated files.
The iOS 11 update's new drag and drop feature is critical to Files, and allows users to move files from folder to folder, or service to service with ease. Users can toggle on or off different apps and services that have Files compatibility, such as Amazon Drive, macOS X Server, Dropbox, or the like.
However, there are some limitations for users accustomed to the Finder in macOS. Files has no integration with other iOS apps by default, and has no ability to talk to macOS on a local network without macOS Server.
We like GoodReader for a PDF consuming tool here at AppleInsider. At present, the GoodReader file repository is stored in the app, and not visible by the Files app at present. This may change in an update to the venerable utility -- but that's up to the developer.
Other than setting up a macOS Server install, there is no way to move a file from macOS to iOS other than using iCloud, Amazon Drive, DropBox or some other service across the internet, rather than keeping the file on the local area network.
Even with the limitations that will only be notable for a small set of users, the Files app is a good move towards fulfilling user demands of more discrete file system access. For the first time, users can move files between apps in a graphical user interface, and not rely on an inconsistent "share" button to move files between apps.
The app itself is relatively simple, giving a two panes for recent documents and all documents stored in the cloud. Both are exactly what they say they are, with the former giving a list of all of the user's recently opened documents from iCloud and the latter presenting folders of various application's associated files.
The iOS 11 update's new drag and drop feature is critical to Files, and allows users to move files from folder to folder, or service to service with ease. Users can toggle on or off different apps and services that have Files compatibility, such as Amazon Drive, macOS X Server, Dropbox, or the like.
However, there are some limitations for users accustomed to the Finder in macOS. Files has no integration with other iOS apps by default, and has no ability to talk to macOS on a local network without macOS Server.
We like GoodReader for a PDF consuming tool here at AppleInsider. At present, the GoodReader file repository is stored in the app, and not visible by the Files app at present. This may change in an update to the venerable utility -- but that's up to the developer.
Other than setting up a macOS Server install, there is no way to move a file from macOS to iOS other than using iCloud, Amazon Drive, DropBox or some other service across the internet, rather than keeping the file on the local area network.
Even with the limitations that will only be notable for a small set of users, the Files app is a good move towards fulfilling user demands of more discrete file system access. For the first time, users can move files between apps in a graphical user interface, and not rely on an inconsistent "share" button to move files between apps.
Comments
If you don’t want to use iCloud, there is a lot of file / download utilities on iOS that accept files under WebDAV from the computer.
Still no command line!
No chmod, no vi, no sed, no AWK!
I can’t even write a shell script to back up our company’s thousand-server cloud farm onto my iPhone!
Pah! Call this a mobile operating system??
…thought we’d just get that out of the way first.
A little misleading here as you can easily use Airdrop to accomplish this and keep the file within your local area network. It would be nice to see support for connecting to standard file servers added in though.
only icloud drive and documents?, yes i did check the “edit”
One thing I noticed about "On my iPhone/iPad" is that you can't save files to the main level, and you can't create or rename folders. You can only put things in a folder for an existing app.
For example, I wanted to save some web images to "On my iPhone/iPad", but I had to choose an existing app's folder (I chose "Pages") to drop those files into. It is a new folder, not the same "Pages" folder that is on my iCloud Drive.
I hope Apple will create an update for iOS 11 that will allow users to put files into "On my iPhone/iPad" at the top level, or to create and name their own folders.
my main issue is to see if Files App will interact with external drives.. and act as a consolidated centralized file managment sys.
If i have to use other apps to get the task done the whole purpose is defeated.
Thanks for the pointers though !
.... Sort a simplified or bare bones file system.
The main thing is that I can do what I need to do... And this seems to handle that OK
Added: Thinking that through, it makes a LOT of sense. I have seen some of the biggest confusion among non-computer savvy people is around files vs programs -- and how they all relate (or not!) with each other. Setting up a table in MS-WORD for a friend last night, he seemed to believe the only way to get to the file was to open WORD and then look for "recent". I mentioned that there were other ways, but didn't go into detail. It just wasn't worth it. He was able to do what he needed to do.