Transferring files

How Do I ...

... transfer files to/from GoodReader?

... automatically sync files and folders to remote servers?

... delete a file that I no longer need?

... save a file from Safari to GoodReader?

... read my e-mail attachments in GoodReader?

... get files from MobileMe iDisk and other WebDAV servers?

... get files from Google Docs?

... get files from Dropbox?

... get files from SugarSync?

... get files from FTP servers?

... get files from SFTP servers?

... upload files (including annotated PDF files) back to a remote server?

... send an e-mail with files from GoodReader?

... stop GoodReader from putting default Subject and Message texts in my e-mails?

... transfer files from GoodReader on one device to GoodReader on another device?

... prevent my children from using the built-in web browser, while still letting them use GoodReader for reading?

 

Viewing files

How Do I ...

... rotate the screen?

... close an opened file?

... show or hide navigation menu when viewing files?

... write a note on top of a PDF file? highlight or markup a PDF text? make a drawing on a PDF file?

... copy text from a PDF page to clipboard?

... find a particular annotation/highlight/markup in a large PDF file?

... delete an unwanted PDF highlight/markup?

... change a color of a PDF drawing (PDF annotation)?

... pan or zoom a page when doing a freehand draw if any gesture produces a drawing instead of scrolling a page?

... solve a problem when I see an empty page instead of a real PDF page?

... solve a problem when I see a scrambled text in my PDF?

... solve a problem when opening my PDF takes too long?

... solve a problem when I don't see all characters (Asian, Arabic, special math symbols, etc.) in my PDF?

... solve a problem when I see some unreadable text instead of a real one in my TXT file?

... quickly enlarge the found text in a PDF file without hiding navigation menu?

... convert my Microsoft Office files to PDFs?

... read PDF Portfolio files?

... print files from GoodReader?

 

Integration with other iOS apps

How Do I ...

... open files to view in GoodReader from another application?

... export a file from GoodReader to another application?

... export a text from another app that doesn't allow to export TXT files to GoodReader (like Notes or Safari apps, for example) for further reading and editing of that text in GoodReader?

 

Other

How Do I ...

... use Data Protection (File Encryption) to keep my files secure in case if my device gets lost or stolen?

... clear all the history of search strings? visited web-sites?

... solve some other problem that is not listed here?

 


How do I transfer files to/from GoodReader?

There are several ways to do that:

 


How do I automatically sync files and folders to remote servers?

Please find the manual here.

 


How do I delete a file that I no longer need?

Either swipe a file name from left to right, or use our File Management features.

 


How do I save a file from Safari to GoodReader?

If you browse the Web with Safari, and open a file that is interesting to you, there is a way of saving this file into GoodReader's internal local storage, so you will be able to view this file with GoodReader without loading it from the Internet every time (like it happens in Safari).

To save a file from Safari to GoodReader:

If you plan to do this often, you can simplify this process substantially. In GoodReader's settings, General section, tap the button called Put special address to clipboard. Then go to Safari and create a new bookmark. Bookmarking absolutely any page will do. Name this bookmark, for example, Save to GoodReader. Then press the bookmark button, and then Edit. Select this new bookmark. Now Safari will let you modify an address of this bookmark. Delete the old address and paste the text from the clipboard (GoodReader has prepared this special text for you). Save the modified bookmark address. Selecting this bookmark when a page of interest is opened is the same as adding the g letter in front of this page's address.

Please note that this technique doesn't always work with secure servers. If it doesn't, then try browsing for this file in GoodReader's built-in web-browser, rather than in Safari.

 


How do I read my e-mail attachments in GoodReader?

There are two ways to get your E-Mail file attachments into GoodReader - by using Apple's Document Interchange feature (iOS 4 is required, you can use this feature to copy Apple's Mail app attachments into GoodReader by selecting GoodReader in the Open In... menu of the Mail app) or accessing online E-Mail servers via IMAP or POP3 protocol directly from GoodReader to find a message with a file attachment and to download such attachment into GoodReader.

 


How do I get files from MobileMe iDisk and other WebDAV servers?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to servers like MobileMe iDisk or any other WebDAV server on the cloud. See the Connect to Servers Manual.

 


How do I get files from Google Docs?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to Google Docs. See the Connect to Servers Manual.

 


How do I get files from Dropbox?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to Dropbox. See the Connect to Servers Manual.

 


How do I get files from SugarSync?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to SugarSync. See the Connect to Servers Manual.

 


How do I get files from FTP servers?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to FTP servers. See the Connect to Servers Manual. Please note that FTP protocol is insecure. Use SFTP access for confidential documents.

 


How do I get files from SFTP servers?

You can use Connect to Servers feature to connect to SFTP servers. See the Connect to Servers Manual.

 


How do I upload files (including annotated PDF files) back to a remote server?

Do what you usually do to connect to a remote server, and then use the Upload button at the bottom of a connection window.

 


How do I send an e-mail with files from GoodReader?

Use our File Management features to send e-mails, and also to do other things like copying/moving/deleting/renaming files and folders and creating new folders.

 


How do I stop GoodReader from putting default Subject and Message texts in my e-mails?

Open Application Settings, General Settings section, turn the Fill subject and message option off.

 


How do I transfer files from GoodReader on one device to GoodReader on another device?

If both your devices are on the same local WiFi network, you can use one device as WebDAV server, and another device as WebDAV client. To do this, open WiFi transfer window on one device. WiFi transfer window opens with this button on the main screen:

Now this device will act as a WebDAV server, which can accept incoming connections from WebDAV clients. On your second device go to Connect to Servers control panel on iPad, or main screen => Web Downloads => Connect to Servers section on iPhone. Tap the Reload list of local servers link there. Your first device now should be visible in Local Servers subsection. Tap on it and perform all necessary transfers.

 


How do I prevent my children from using the built-in web browser, while still letting them use GoodReader for reading?

You can restrict the access to the built-in web browser by setting a password for it in application settings, General Settings section.

 


How do I rotate the screen?

You have 2 options to do that - automatically or manually. Choose your option in General Settings section of Application Settings. In automatic mode screen orientation will follow the actual device movements. In manual mode (very useful for reading in bed) you can always rotate the screen manually with the dedicated button at the right bottom corner of the screen on a button bar:

 


How do I close an opened file?

Use the "back" button in navigation menu.

 


How do I show or hide navigation menu when viewing files?

To show or hide the navigation menu and the button bar when viewing files you have to quickly tap in the middle of the screen.

There's a very special case with PDF files, when tapping in the middle of the screen is not desirable. For example, the middle of the screen can be occupied by a big PDF Link, which will take you to a very different place if you tap it. For cases like this we have provided another way to turn the navigation menu on/off - a quick tap with three fingers anywhere on the screen.

 


How do I write a note on top of a PDF file? highlight or markup a PDF text? make a drawing on a PDF file?

All of these features are a part of PDF Annotations.

Use two main gestures use to work with annotations - quick single tap, and tap & hold. Depending on where you tap (on a text, on an existing annotation, or on a free space on a page), different menus will be presented to you.

To edit or delete an existing annotation, tap it briefly, or tap and hold it for a while. Two special cases to note: text note popups and highlights/markups. When you tap a text note, a default action (opening a note) is invoked right away. To access more options (deletion, color adjustment, etc.), tap and hold it for a while. On the contrary, when you tap and hold a highlight/markup, you activate a default action - text selection, which is more natural for an underlying text. To access special options for a highlight (deletion, color adjustment, etc.), you have to tap it briefly.

Just memorize the following very simple rule: one of two gestures (quick tap or tap & hold) should always work. If one of them doesn't, try another.

 


How do I copy text from a PDF page to clipboard?

To copy a piece of text from a PDF page you have to select it first. To activate text selection mode tap on a text and hold your finger for a while.

 


How do I find a particular annotation/highlight/markup in a large PDF file?

You can see a summary of all annotations in a file by pressing this button:

and selecting Locations. Also you can send this summary via email, or print it via AirPrint with this button:

 


How do I delete an unwanted PDF highlight/markup?

Tap a highlight/markup briefly to see the menu with available actions. There you will find the Delete button.

 


How do I change a color of a PDF drawing (PDF annotation)?

Tap a drawing (PDF annotation) briefly to see the menu with available actions. The newly selected color will become a default one, and will be used for all subsequent drawings that you will create.

 


How do I pan or zoom a page when doing a freehand draw if any gesture produces a drawing instead of scrolling a page?

Use pinching/panning with two fingers for zooming/panning.

 


How do I solve a problem when I see an empty page instead of a real PDF page?

This is actually a troubleshooting topic, so the solution is discussed here.

 


How do I solve a problem when I see a scrambled text in my PDF?

This is actually a troubleshooting topic, so the solution is discussed here.

 


How do I solve a problem when opening my PDF takes too long?

This is actually a troubleshooting topic, so the solution is discussed here.

 


How do I solve a problem when I don't see all characters (Asian, Arabic, special math symbols, etc.) in my PDF?

This is actually a troubleshooting topic, so the solution is discussed here.

 


How do I solve a problem when I see some unreadable text instead of a real one in my TXT file?

You have to select proper Text Encoding in Application Settings. Read more here.

 


How do I quickly enlarge the found text in a PDF file without hiding navigation menu?

Double-tap somewhere near found text. Double-tapping not just zooms in, but it also brings the double-tapped point to the center of the screen.

 


How do I convert my Microsoft Office files to PDFs?

On Mac computers PDF support is a part of operating system. PDF creation is available via any Print menu.

On PC computers, if you have Adobe Acrobat (not "Reader"!) software, you use either special MS Office add-ons automatically installed by Acrobat, or you print to a special Adobe PDF printer, also installed by Acrobat.

On PC computers, if you don't have Adobe Acrobat software, you can use Microsoft Office add-in by Microsoft. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/download and enter microsoft office save as pdf in a search string. This will lead you to a download page of the 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF.

 


How do I read PDF Portfolio files?

PDF Portfolios are supported, but not for a direct reading, like it happens in Adobe Acrobat 9 or later. PDF Portfolios are complex PDF files with a very simple first page (usually it says something like "This file can be opened with Adobe Acrobat 9"), and a set of many PDF files embedded into this file, which is used simply as a container for other PDF files. GoodReader lets you extract those files from a PDF Portfolio for further reading them as normal PDF files.

 


How do I print files from GoodReader?

GoodReader supports AirPrint capabilities of iOS for wireless printing (iOS 4.2 or later is required, works on devices with multitasking capabilities - iPad, iPhone 4/3GS, iPod touch 3 gen. or newer models, requires AirPrint-enabled printers). To print a file, open it and use this button:

 


How do I open files to view in GoodReader from another application?

It depends on what you mean by that:

 


How do I export a file from GoodReader to another application?

If that other application supports Apple's Document Interchange feature (iOS 4 or later), then use the Open In... button of the Actions menu.

 


How do I export a text from another app that doesn't allow to export TXT files to GoodReader (like Notes or Safari apps, for example) for further reading and editing of that text in GoodReader?

Select a piece of text in that other app, copy it to the system clipboard, then go to GoodReader and use the New TXT button (a part of File Management functionality). A new empty TXT file will be created in editing mode. Paste your text and save a new TXT file.

 


How do I use Data Protection (File Encryption) to keep my files secure in case if my device gets lost or stolen?

GoodReader takes advantage of iOS's Data Protection API, which encrypts your files to keep your data confidential, even if your device gets lost or stolen. However, this feature requires performing special procedures, and also some limitations apply. Please be absolutely sure to read the Data Protection manual, if you want to use this feature.

 


How do I clear all the history of search strings? visited web-sites?

Open Application Settings, General Settings section, press the Clear History button.

 


How do I solve some other problem that is not listed here?

Use our friendly and experienced customer support service. Please double-check that your e-mail address is correct, and make sure that your spam-filters wouldn't block mail from goodreader.net and goodiware.com mail domains.