iPad Sideloading into iBooks

[AlexBell]

I have a Windows 7 computer and an iPad2 with iOS7 recently installed. I used to be able to transfer ebooks I have designed on to the iPad by dragging and dropping from the Windows folder to the iPad ebooks folder open in iTunes, but when I tried to transfer an ebook this afternoon it wouldn't work - all I got was a circle with a transverse bar.

Is this anything to do with iOS7? How can I get ebooks from my Windows computer into iBooks?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

How can I get ebooks from my Windows computer into iBooks?

I don't use iTunes, but you can put them in DropBox and download them using the DropBox app (other cloud services may work too). They'll open in iBooks using the 'open in' feature. Not ideal of course if you have a bunch you want to transfer at the same time as you have to do it one book at a time.

From within iTunes, click on the Books tab, then select File --> Add to Library, then select your file and click Open. The book should then display in the Books tab. To get it on the iPad you will need to sync.

EDIT: These instructions are for a Mac computer, they might be slightly different on Windows.

[AlexBell]

Thanks to you both.

I think the problem was related to iOS7 or both, since for a while I couldn't open iTunes at all from the iPad standing alone, but that problem was resolved when I attached the iPad to the computer and let it synchronise.

And I had already found a work around: In the past I attached the iPad to the computer and let it open iTunes. I tried opening iTunes then attaching the iPad, and was able to drag and drop as I did before.

I'll try your suggestion Jack in case I have the problem again.

[drofgnal]

Better yet, use Marvin.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Better yet, use Marvin.

I'm starting to, but it's a steep learning curve.

[kguil]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

I'm starting to, but it's a steep learning curve.

Please let me know if I can help you with anything.

[AlexBell]

Thanks for the response.

Do you have, or would you consider providing, a stand alone manual? Something that I could read on my computer or in print while trying to work through basic tasks would be very helpful.

[drofgnal]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks for the response.

Do you have, or would you consider providing, a stand alone manual? Something that I could read on my computer or in print while trying to work through basic tasks would be very helpful.

You don't need a stand alone manual. Marvin is pretty easy. It has a built in tutorial. The harder part is calibre. I'd check out some of the sticky threads over in the calibre forum.

[DaveinJapan]

If your file is an epub, one workaround is the Book Proofer app. I used that to test my own book on my iPhone before publishing to Smashwords and iBooks, it seemed to work pretty well (I set the settings to automatically open Book Proofer for any epub files).

I'm on a mac though, not sure if that's available for windows or not.

What's this Marvin you guys are talking about? Sounds intriguing.

[GRiker]

Originally Posted by DaveinJapan

What's this Marvin you guys are talking about? Sounds intriguing.

Marvin is a reader application for iOS with its own forum here at MobileRead -
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=260.

G

[kguil]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks for the response.

Do you have, or would you consider providing, a stand alone manual? Something that I could read on my computer or in print while trying to work through basic tasks would be very helpful.

At some point I'll be writing a user's guide as a built-in EPUB. I also write tutorials and articles about twice a week on blog.marvinapp.com. I cover both basic and advanced functionality. You might find it useful.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by kguil

At some point I'll be writing a user's guide as a built-in EPUB. I also write tutorials and articles about twice a week on blog.marvinapp.com. I cover both basic and advanced functionality. You might find it useful.

The built-in ePub would be very helpful, and I'll check out the blog.

Thanks for the support.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by jswinden

From within iTunes, click on the Books tab, then select File --> Add to Library, then select your file and click Open. The book should then display in the Books tab. To get it on the iPad you will need to sync.

EDIT: These instructions are for a Mac computer, they might be slightly different on Windows.

Well, importing the book to iTunes was no trouble. But when I synced my iPad, it didn't install it. So, I synced my iPod Touch and it installed the book with no trouble, so it isn't the book. Some setting, I suppose?

Working with iTunes reminds me of the days when I had a Sony PRS 500 and had to work with the Sony Library. Not very user-friendly, it seems to me.

Jim

Originally Posted by Strether

Well, importing the book to iTunes was no trouble. But when I synced my iPad, it didn't install it. So, I synced my iPod Touch and it installed the book with no trouble, so it isn't the book. Some setting, I suppose?

Working with iTunes reminds me of the days when I had a Sony PRS 500 and had to work with the Sony Library. Not very user-friendly, it seems to me.

Jim

Yep, iTunes is a royal PITA. But I would check the settings for your iPad within iTunes. Just because you load books, videos, music, apps, etc. into iTunes, they don't automagically sync to every iOS device you registered with iTunes. Thankfully they don't! You might not want all these items on every device, so iTunes has settings that allow you to select what will sync to which iOS device. iTunes cannot read your mind, so you need to select the iPad then go into the Books tab and select which books to sync with it.