PDF Downloads to iPad


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I cant download PDFS from my downloads onto my IPAD, says safari cant process the download, why? anyone know?

Paizo Employee PostMonster General

If you're talking about PDFs from paizo.com, this post might help.


Gary Teter wrote:
If you're talking about PDFs from paizo.com, this post might help.

Thanks trying it now, 5 bux tho


this isnt working, it's not downloading the file, it's taking a snapshot of the paizo download page. I can download the errata at the top of the down load page but I cant download anything I paid for on the IPAd using safari or this lame app I paid $5 for!

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

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Pendagast,

Because I chimed in after Chris and attested that it worked, I just did it again to make sure. It worked fine. I literally just did it after reading your post.

I'll tell you the steps I followed.

First, I didn't activate the Goodreader App, it gives you the choice of using the App after the download is complete.

1.) I used Safari to go to My Downloads here at Paizo.
2.) I selected a file to download and clicked on it.
3.) I got the little advisory that said my download would start in 5 seconds. I waited patiently.
4.) It started to download.
5.) When it was done, it asked me which App I wanted to use. It offered me the choice of GoodReader. I chose that.
6.) The Goodreader App opened up and the zip file was moved into My Documents.
7.) I hit the zipped file and Goodreader unzipped it for me and displayed the PDF.

Its actually not even that complicated, I just listed every possible conceivable step and event.

After it is unzipped, you'll have the zipped file and the unzipped file. There are document management tools in Goodreader to let you create folders, rename your PDFs, and organize them.

Take a deep breath, and try it again.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

I wasn't satisfied to just do it once, so I just did it again.

(Murder's Mark the 1st time, Shattered Star #3 the second time)

I followed the same steps as up above. Because the file was a larger size, it did ask me to wait 10 seconds to personalize like it always does, but the rest was a breeze.

I have an iPad 1, using IOS 5.1.1, which is the latest version. An old version might make a difference.


I have an i pad 2 using I0s 6.

that may have something to do with it.

It tells me safari cannot download the file, it tells me google cannot down load the file, good reader says it fails to connect error. i cannot even download the file like you are explaing with safari


It works fine on my iPad 3. Just make sure you're using Safari; Chrome can't handle the files for some reason.


like i said i get a message saying safai cannot download the file


Download pdfs to a computer. E-mail yourself the pdfs. Open e-mail with your ipad and open the downloads in ibooks.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

If you're using goodreader, you can download it to a normal computer and then attach the ipad and transfer across. I must say I haven't had this issue either. So far everything downloads fine to good reader using the procedure Jim says.


Paul Watson wrote:
If you're using goodreader, you can download it to a normal computer and then attach the ipad and transfer across. I must say I haven't had this issue either. So far everything downloads fine to good reader using the procedure Jim says.

You can also set up your computer for sharing (SMB or aftp) on your local network and GoodReader will download directly from your computer over your wi-fi connection. It's pretty straightforward and doesn't require a physical connection to your computer.

Greg


Did you try rebooting your iPad? It sometimes gets wonky and that puts things to normal.

I've got good reader on an iPad 1 and 3, just verified a safari download then open in good reader. both work. Each with a differentl IOS.

Good luck. Sounds like xa software issue.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

Definitely reboot your iPad. That tends to fix things on an iPad more than I would like to believe.

Grand Lodge

Pendagast

I'm having a first generation iPad and use Good Reader for a long while now and should have well over 100 PDFs. An experience like yours is among the most frustrating. So here are my experiences:

Failed downloads - there was a single very large file - not the core rulebook but another of he following rule books - that I never managed to get directly to the iPad. Could be my old iPad doesn't manage ... I think I finally got it over via iTunes and transfer from my computer to Good Reader.

There have been times when it was very bad and code to I possible. Not often - but an issue that disappears a say later. I guess it is network general issues.

As others said - I go to my downloads directly from safari. Very seldom I have to push the button - start own load here if it doesn't work in the next five seconds.

I hope it gets sorted out. I'm not yet on iOS 6 but would expect I would have read something here if that causes the issues.

Try a small file as test - if you have any. That would rule out size issues. And if you figure out what caused it - please post here so it helps others.

Sorry I can't NE of any more help.


I've also had success with an app called FileApp. I'm just using the free version, which allows the down load to work, and then I can extract the .zip file and open the PDF in iBooks.


Hmm nothing is going to or through I books.

I ended up emailing myself (after downloading one file per chapter and only taking the files I need...which is the CotCT AP, just the adventure itself.)

Safari gave me nuts all night long with issues about the files being too large etc. took me all night to get the 6 chapters emailed to myself via safari (14 to 17 megs in size each) the process to email them was the slowest I have ever witnessed, probably because I unzipped them with my mac took the file for each adventure and emailed it directly without re zipping but my gad it was ridiculously slow.

My macbook and I pad are on the same cloud, you would think I could xfer the files directly without email but that wasnt going to happen either (IOS6 has screwed the pooch on Icloud hasnt worked since the IOS upgrade, cloud was essentially the feature that made me go apple to begin with, my iphone and macbook used to be zen, now I might as well have an android as they dont talk to each other anymore, at all.)

Good reader simply isnt doing a dang thing, waste of $5.


I really , really want to put all my rule books and the adventures Im currently working from on the iPad there HAS to be a more painless way of doing this?


I've also used my PC to simply open the PDF with iTunes, then sync the PDFs to my iPad, but that is a long process, which is what led me to try FileApp.

Digital Products Assistant

Safari giving you that much trouble is very concerning. I do apologize for the strife it's caused and that GoodReader hasn't helped solve the issue. We generally recommend that application because we've had customers concur that it works. It could be possible that there's a permission or setting associated with Safari that occurred during the update that it preventing it from working properly. I will look into this further when we get back to the office on Monday. Again, this is very unusual, but I will try to find something to explain it.


GoodReader is a great app for the actual viewing and use of the PDF files. I use it religiously. I realize the file transfer process is frustrating, but seriously, that wasn't a waste of $5 (imo).


well what can i do with my $5 app then, since really all I want is to have all my PFRPG PDFs on my IPAD for the ultimate in gaming experience (DMING from my lazy boy without a crowd of books in my lap pr a laptop in my way) I WILL HAVE THIS, I SWEAR!

Digital Products Assistant

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Pendagast wrote:
well what can i do with my $5 app then, since really all I want is to have all my PFRPG PDFs on my IPAD for the ultimate in gaming experience (DMING from my lazy boy without a crowd of books in my lap pr a laptop in my way) I WILL HAVE THIS, I SWEAR!

The thing is, Safari's intended use is not to download zips or any special file format (for the most part it handles picture downloads). GoodReader will take those zips and unpack them and you can use the application to view the PDFs within the zip. My question is: is Safari prompting you to open the zip in GoodReader at all? If it isn't, that sounds like some sort of bug in iOS6, which I'll have to look into on Monday to confirm.

My other suggestion if it simply will not work and Safari on your iPad is indeed borked, would be to download them your macbook and sync them through iTunes. I'd also suggest at that point contacting Apple Customer Service.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

Pendagast, for what its worth, I'm sorry it hasn't been easy for you.


Chris Lambertz wrote:
Pendagast wrote:
well what can i do with my $5 app then, since really all I want is to have all my PFRPG PDFs on my IPAD for the ultimate in gaming experience (DMING from my lazy boy without a crowd of books in my lap pr a laptop in my way) I WILL HAVE THIS, I SWEAR!

The thing is, Safari's intended use is not to download zips or any special file format (for the most part it handles picture downloads). GoodReader will take those zips and unpack them and you can use the application to view the PDFs within the zip. My question is: is Safari prompting you to open the zip in GoodReader at all? If it isn't, that sounds like some sort of bug in iOS6, which I'll have to look into on Monday to confirm.

My other suggestion if it simply will not work and Safari on your iPad is indeed borked, would be to download them your macbook and sync them through iTunes. I'd also suggest at that point contacting Apple Customer Service.

. Chris, rebooting seems to have worked somewhat, but I can only look at the PDF in good reader (still takes an un holy long time to Down load) if email to myself, I can put the PDF in I books.

Safari for MacBook has none of these issues, the safari for I os. Is that much different?

This has to be ios6 incompatibility issue

Scarab Sages

I use "Drop box" for downloading material on my iPad. The issue typically is that iOS does not have a "folder" type system that most of us have become proficient with. Drop Box fixes that issue.


Ok what's drop Box, an app..?


GoodReader is an excellent app that has worked well for me using many of the cloud services. iCloud, Dropbox, Skydrive, Box, SugarSync... I have pdfs on all of these cloud services connected to GoodReader. iCloud syncing works well with Mountain Lion on my laptop (for some reason Lion iCloud stopped working on my desktop). Under ~/Library/Mobile Documents is a folder for GoodReader, simply placing files in this folder will sync with iPad under GoodReader. The Library folder is invisible so if you don't use a utility to make it visible(or use Terminal), you have to use the Finder Go Menu and select Go to Folder ... and type in "~/Library" to locate it. Of course, you could also use iTunes as well especially if the syncing computer is Windows. For best results, use the cloud application on your computer(Mac or Windows) to upload your documents.

Personally, I have never used Safari on iPad for downloading documents. Everything goes thru my Mac first. Never ever a problem. I can download at will my many documents. Dropbox is my primary go-to service.


erf ok im going to have to learn to do that. should i upgrade to mountain lion? will that help? my iphone and Ipad have ios6 cuz it was free but I saw nothing on mountain lion I actually wanted to pay for.

Grand Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Pendagast wrote:
erf ok im going to have to learn to do that. should i upgrade to mountain lion? will that help? my iphone and Ipad have ios6 cuz it was free but I saw nothing on mountain lion I actually wanted to pay for.

This may be a silly question, but are you running some version of OS on your iPad other than the factory preset (plus whatever updates Apple has pushed)? I have an original iPad running OS v5.1.1 ans Goodreader v3.18.6 and I've never had the problems you're encountering. Granted, I download and unzip my PDFs to my PC then transfer them over through iTunes.

-Skeld


nope IO6 as downloaded from app store by my wife (wish she kept the os we bought it with)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber
Skeld wrote:
Granted, I download and unzip my PDFs to my PC then transfer them over through iTunes.

This is what I have done from the start as well. Of course, my iPad is an original launch and has not been updated to iOS6 yet.


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

I can download zipped PDFs from Paizo perfectly with Safari on my iPad (Version 3, iOS 6, but has worked the same with iOS5). With GoodReader installed, after the download, Safari gives me the option to open the zip file in GoodReader, If I choose that option GoodReader starts up, and the zip file is listed in the left hand column. When double-tapped, it extraces, and the PDF is in GoddReader. The I delete the zip file, and rename and file the PDF into my folder structure.

Another way: download the zip file to your computer, and extract it. Connect your iPad via USB, start up iTunes, select your iPad in the left column. Then in the main panel top row, select "Apps" and scroll to the bottom. There is a list of installed apps that can use files. Select Goodreader, and click the button on the right had side to upload files. Select your PDF, and voila it's uploded into GoodReader.

Both these methods should work independently of your Mac OS X and iOS versions.


I use a free app called zipbrowser. You just hit the download link, it downloads and asks you what app you want to use to open it. Zipbrowser has always comeup as the default for me - the app opens, you hit the file and it opens. Too easy!

Edit: I use adobe to read PDFs though, so I don't know if it works so well with other readers. Don't see any reason why it wouldn't.


Pendagast,
I have had the same problem since the most recent good reader update. The browser within update works, though.

Go to Web Downloads then browse the web. This will let you download straight from good reader without safari.

Just used it Monday night and it worked fine.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

I recommend goodreader, it's worked well for me.


Angel Valens wrote:

Pendagast,

I have had the same problem since the most recent good reader update. The browser within update works, though.

Go to Web Downloads then browse the web. This will let you download straight from good reader without safari.

Just used it Monday night and it worked fine.

Yes I figured that out now too. Can you get the File out of good reader and put it in Ibooks once youve downloaded that way now?

I havent found out how yet.


Overtime, you may fine that reading, organizing and general accessibility of the PDF's is better is goodreader than iBooks. Much, much better in face. Especially with loading speed, bookmarking and switching between multiple open books.

If I may be so bold, I would suggest forgetting about iBooks for PDF's in general and especially Paizo books.

Liberty's Edge

Goodreader works great for direct download then either using goodreader or "opening" in either ibooks or kindle app.

You also might want to clear your history, could just have so much information it is causing issues, it worked for my brother inlaw whenI suggested to clear history but no promises.

I personnaly use ibooks for all my PDF's from Paizo. Of course I use iTunes to trasfer everything wirelessly from my lap top.

A lot fo PDF rules for various games, Lock-n-Load rule books and their magazine, a bunch of Ospery New Vangaurd bokk PDF's I made from my personal library to use on my iPad.

I actually use both Goodreader (Besides to just download the files if on the road and not able to download it onto my laptop) to have one book opened and then switch between apps to another book if I think I need information quickly from both books.

@Pendagast- To open files into iBooks just click the "square/rectagle with arrow" at bottom of PDF next to the "lock" symbol. To make the tools "pop" up (you probably knew but just covering all bascics) tap the screen once.

Then a "select action" pops up- then you have an option to "send file as is" or "flatten annotations" pick one and then it gives you an option for iBooks or Kindle if you have that app installed.

Sean


Just FYI, did you know you can have several books open in goodreader at one time, each with their own tab. It's very handy.

Sovereign Court

When I try to download PDFs on my iPad 2, it just silently fails. No error message, no window, nothing. Just total silent failure.

I do have Goodreader. Still no love.

Silver Crusade

I've been using the Zip Viewer app lately and it's been doing a good job.

Dark Archive

I download directly to a computer, then sync it to my IPad using ITunes.


I still have my trusty iPad 2 with Goodreader.
I've downloaded my last 3 purchases directly through the Goodreader app (it is a little wonky with Paizo's personalizing method). Goodreader also has an unzipper built in. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

Adding files through iTunes via Goodreader is much simpler and is my preferred method if I'm not on the go.

Goodreader for iPad, or ezPDF for Android are my preferred mobile apps.


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Sunderstone wrote:

I still have my trusty iPad 2 with Goodreader.

I've downloaded my last 3 purchases directly through the Goodreader app (it is a little wonky with Paizo's personalizing method). Goodreader also has an unzipper built in. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

Adding files through iTunes via Goodreader is much simpler and is my preferred method if I'm not on the go.

Goodreader for iPad, or ezPDF for Android are my preferred mobile apps.

What was that name again...

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