PDFs on the iPhone?

Cavallino · 31 May 2008 at 22:34

So has anyone managed to find a way to view PDFs on the damned thing?
(i.e. not via browsing. Actually placing the file on the device and viewing it from the device).

Its a shame cause the Safari PDF browser is awesome and can be used in landscape mode (whereas some of the 3rd party apps only work in portrait).

TIA

lopkinfop · 1 Jun 2008 at 00:04

I have, using the 3rd party one. you ftp it to a specific directory and can open them from the app

zinc · 1 Jun 2008 at 01:28

Ive done it via Docs from installer, add it to your directory via SSH then you can access it anytime without a connection, and no need to send it in a email to yourself. You can even add them to your home screen as webclips.

Done a post on my blog about it.

http://www.veeto.co.uk/apple/adding-documents-as-web-clips-iphone/

Cavallino · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:26

zinc said:
Ive done it via Docs from installer, add it to your directory via SSH then you can access it anytime without a connection, and no need to send it in a email to yourself. You can even add them to your home screen as webclips.

Done a post on my blog about it.

http://www.veeto.co.uk/apple/adding-documents-as-web-clips-iphone/

You are like... my iPhone god zinc.
Thanks!
EDIT: Infact which directory do you plonk the documents and pdfs btw?

Ooh btw.. what background is that!
Have you used any themes? I.e. changed buttons or just purely changed background?

Also can you edit excel spreadsheets and what not? Or just view them?

Cavallino · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:50

Hmm well thats a bit poo :| It didnt like to open my 27MB pdf file

zinc · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:02

I created a folder called 'Docs' in var\mobile\Media\ and placed all my documents in there then open them using the docs application. Once their open in safari you can then add them as a web clip to your home screen like you would a normal website.

That theme I have is called summerboard which comes as one of the default themes with the summerboard app. I just have the wallpaper and dock on, icons are off so its just the iPhone default.

Unfortunately you can't edit any documents, that would be amazing though!!

zinc · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:05

Cavallino said:
Hmm well thats a bit poo :| It didnt like to open my 27MB pdf file

Did it crash or was it loading? It takes a while for large files to load from memory. I have a 20mb word file and it takes a minute to load.

Cavallino · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:09

zinc said:
I created a folder called 'Docs' in var\mobile\Media\ and placed all my documents in there then open them using the docs application. Once their open in safari you can then add them as a web clip to your home screen like you would a normal website.

That theme I have is called summerboard which comes as one of the default themes with the summerboard app. I just have the wallpaper and dock on, icons are off so its just the iPhone default.

Unfortunately you can't edit any documents, that would be amazing though!!

Ooh righty! Gotcha!

(Btw whats "Statusbar" in summerboard?)
(And any thoughts on the chunky PDF file?)

zinc · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:19

Cavallino said:
Ooh righty! Gotcha!

(Btw whats "Statusbar" in summerboard?)
(And any thoughts on the chunky PDF file?)

The status bar is the thin bar at the top where the battery and time is, I have mine on in summerboard but it doesn't change on most themes as they just just usually leave it as it is.

I dont know what's wrong with the PDF I have a few large files for word and PDF and they work fine, but they just take a while to load first time round.

If you have too many tabs open in safari, it wouldn't help it much lol

Cavallino · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:24

zinc said:
The status bar is the thin bar at the top where the battery and time is, I have mine on in summerboard but it doesn't change on most themes as they just just usually leave it as it is.

I dont know what's wrong with the PDF I have a few large files for word and PDF and they work fine, but they just take a while to load first time round.

If you have too many tabs open in safari, it wouldn't help it much lol

Hmm. I have "Hard" closed down Safari so there are no tabs open.

Wierd! How big is the PDF file you are opening?

zinc · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:14

I tried a 20mb PDF there and a 21mb word file and they work ok. But tried a mega big file there 209mb!, some scientific publication and it just crashed the phone after 10 seconds

Cavallino · 28 Jun 2008 at 21:28

zinc said:
I tried a 20mb PDF there and a 21mb word file and they work ok. But tried a mega big file there 209mb!, some scientific publication and it just crashed the phone after 10 seconds

Ok so ive tried two different pdfs that I have one is 27meg and the other is around 24mb I think, both refuse to open in safari due to "not enough memory" or something.

Getting a bit annoying now :| Any thoughts or advice people?

Grimgoth · 21 Aug 2008 at 11:20

what on earth are on your pdfs?
My entire doctoral thesis is 12megs...
must have real pretty pictures on them- you can always remake them and downscale the image sampling.....

I use datacase (http://veiosoft.com/) which is all of £3.99, and its great. can confirm that it loaded and view my 261 page, 12 meg thesis no probs. well a bit slow, but hey.