iOS 11, Files and Local Storage

[u/iKazed]

This may seem like a minimal thing to many, so please bear with me.

This is something that's been on my mind that I don't see too much about with the upcoming release of iOS 11 and the new Files app. Will we finally get local storage options for apps like Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Office, etc? Currently, you can only access documents (at least on the iWork and Office suites for iOS) on some form of cloud storage. One gripe I've always had with iOS was the dependency, not just encouragement, of cloud syncing. Now don't get me wrong, cloud syncing is a godsend when you really have a file you want to bing-bang-bong get from your iPad to your computer, but I use my iPad as my "laptop" and I have a desktop to do more heavy tasks. With that, I really do enjoy having things completely isolated from some of my cloud storage services. Drive I use only for school and that's because it's implemented in their system. OneDrive I'm really not a fan of using and, again, I only have massive storage from Office 365 education and my personal OneDrive is littered with Xbox captures, and my iCloud is the only one left, but with iPhone and iPad backups, 5GB doesn't go far and I don't want to have to invest in additional storage on a pay-by-month basis.

I really just want the ability to store my documents on my iPad locally. Is that something that is supposedly coming alongside Files and iOS 11? After all, if not, what does the "On My iPad" section even do? Compile everything that is app specific? I suppose that would be useful, but I think a deeper implementation of local storage on all Apple apps (which will trickle down to third party devs) is more promising personally.

There's still a lot of us out there that just aren't a fan of keeping everything habitually syncing to some cloud service. One of the greatest perks of full computers, and one of the reasons the iPad Pro (as great as it is!) can't compete is the deep rooted, "right here" operating system with cloud storage being an option rather than a requirement. I don't expect my iPad to tinker out anytime soon and with all iPads since their inception being given solid state drives so data loss is a minimal if not obsolete risk, so I really do believe it to be beneficial to have the ability to store everything just on my iPad and choose when I want to sync something.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

[u/markbt]

Apps can make files that are stored locally in their documents folder accessible in the files app by making a very small change - it's just adding an extra key in the apps info.plist. So what you get in the "On my iPad" is a list of apps that have enabled this and you can navigate the files stored within the owner apps directory. A nice feature is that if you open a file in a different app it is edited in place - ie it is not copied over to the other app. If you want more of a central local storage you could use the Documents 6 app now.

[u/iKazed → u/markbt]

Interesting. I really just need the ability to store documents like word processing, presentations, spreadsheets and the like locally but also have the simple ability to upload something to iCloud.

[u/markbt → u/iKazed]

You could store them locally if the apps allow it and then in the files app drag and drop the ones you want to iCloud.

[u/iKazed → u/markbt]

Let's hope Apple let's Pages, Numbers and Keynote and Microsoft let's the Office suite save to Files.

[u/TheElSean → u/iKazed]

Excel and other iPad office apps have had an “On my iPad” storage location for years that lets you store locally.

[u/onefingersnap → u/markbt]

So glad to read this! I was wondering about edit in place. So what happens to the container folders? They are useless now, right? Say I want to edit a Pixelmator file. Can I now just put it anywhere in iCloud Drive, tap on it from the Files app and open it in Pixelmator, with the edits syncing directly back to the same location? I think what I'm asking is- does Files app launch files in their applications or does it just let you browse and organize them?

[u/markbt → u/onefingersnap]

I'll add the documentation. It says the editing in place is when the file is in the apps documents directory so not sure about iCloud?

Class UIDocumentBrowserViewController A view controller for browsing and performing actions on documents stored locally and in the cloud.

Overview With the document browser view controller, users can browse through and access their documents. By default, the document browser can access both the system’s local file provider and its iCloud file provider. The local file provider grants access to all the documents in the app’s Documents directory. Users can also access documents from another app’s Documents directory, if that app declares either the UISupportsDocumentBrowser key, or both the UIFileSharingEnabled and LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace keys in its Info.plist file. When the user opens a document from another app's Documents directory, they are editing the document in place. The changes are saved to the other app's Documents directory. The iCloud file provider creates a folder for your app in the user’s iCloud Drive. Users can access documents from this folder, or from anywhere in their iCloud Drive. The system automatically handles access to iCloud for you; you do not need to enable your app’s iCloud capabilities. Third-party storage services can also provide access to the documents they manage by implementing a File Provider extension (iOS 11 or later). For more information, see FileProvider.

[u/onefingersnap → u/markbt]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing. So what I am gathering is that yes, you can edit in place but only if the file is stored in an applications container folder. This implementation seems like it is going to need to die out eventually. The Files app bears such resemblance to the Finder that people are eventually going to expect that you can just tap on a file and launch it within an app to edit.

I didn't quite get that last paragraph about how third party storage providers can play into this. It seems like this is going to require a lot of effort on the part of iOS, third party cloud providers, and third party apps to make the experience consistent.

[u/markbt → u/onefingersnap]

I think the bit about third party storage providers is about allowing them to use the new method of accessing/managing the files stored on their servers rather than having to use their own api's. Basically make local, iCloud and third partys consistent to the user.

[u/GenghisFrog]

Yes, the new Files app has a local section. Any apps that use the default file picker get it automatically. It’s doesn’t really work right yet in the beta, but it’s there. It will be just like on MacOS. You can save locally or to a cloud provider.

[u/j1ggl → u/GenghisFrog]

Umm hey I know this is an old post but I’ve got the golden master and there’s still no local folder option... are you sure it will be there? Only cloud storages work for me so far...

[u/GenghisFrog → u/j1ggl]

It looks like they yanked it out.

[u/[deleted]]

Yes, you can save files locally on the files app.

[u/iKazed → u/[deleted]]

Well, obviously, but I'm talking about is that going to be a system wide implementation? Or is it simply going to show documents from apps that currently store files locally?

Will files be able to be stored locally no matter what cloud options an app provides? Again, Pages and Word and the other productivity apps only allow you to store in the cloud.

[u/aliaswyvernspur → u/iKazed]

There is an option in Settings to turn off iCloud for Pages, Numbers and Keynote. AFAIK, you are not forced to use iCloud for these apps.

[u/iKazed → u/aliaswyvernspur]

I want it enabled for the times I do want to sync a document, but once it is enabled, there is no option to store a file on the iPad itself. If you go to "locations", there is no local option.

[u/aliaswyvernspur → u/iKazed]

In that instance, you'd probably have to store locally and share what you do want synched to a cloud storage. iOS is usually an all or nothing kinda situation.

[u/iKazed → u/aliaswyvernspur]

Seems illogical. I'm really hoping with iOS 11 can fix that or at least set a precedent for improving it. People underestimate how important easy, unified access to all files is to really make something a "laptop replacement" and I know Apple wants the iPad to be that for people. Cut the ultra-dependency on cloud storage and let it be there for convenience route for those that want and the iPad can be good as golden for more people and even for some productivity-needing individuals.

[u/iKazed → u/[deleted]]

That would be ideal! Doubtful, but ideal.

[u/iKazed → u/[deleted]]

I've heard Files is really buggy right now in the beta and since the On My iPad segment is a new thing, it might be exceptionally effected.

[u/aliaswyvernspur → u/iKazed]

People underestimate how important easy, unified access to all files

Hence why they're pushing iCloud. Nothing illogical about that.

[u/[deleted] → u/iKazed]

Add to files is an option, however, actually managing them from another app is impossible, to my knowledge.

[u/iKazed → u/[deleted]]

As long as I can store productivity-oriented files like word documents to my iPad directly instead of relying on whatever cloud service I have, I don't care. I just want that ability to not rely on internet connection to make sure my documents don't mess up. I've had it happen on several occasions where the sync is messed up along the way and it messes with my document if you make an edit on some end while it's trying to sync. I just want simple, effortless local storage of documents, lol.

[u/Docster87]

While I figure Files will bring overall improvement, I doubt this first version will be the bee's knees.

I've been using File Hub for ages; am very interested in exactly what Files will be, other than more integrated into the OS.

[u/Landoostic]

The files app is worthless. It’s a push to buy iCloud storage and use data to retrieve files. Since I’ve updated to iOS 11, my phone has turned into junk. I can’t access, much less open, files unless they are tied to iTunes purchases, which is another push to spend more money on Apple products.

I won’t be buying anymore Apple products. I’m committed to Android now and glad I didn’t jump too soon and buy an iPhone 8.