iPad Alternative to GoodReader? (PDF on iOS)

lo-fi · 02-23-2017, 11:51 AM

GoodReader is a magnificent app, but I'm always searching for a better suited alternative.

My biggest issue with Goodreader is highlighting. To switch to a different color while highlighting you either have to change pages, or select the highlighting tool again.

In other words, if I want the first sentence to be yellow, but the second sentence to be green. I have to mark the first sentence then flip a page (and then immediately flip back) or manually select the highlight tool again BEFORE switching to green and highlighting the second sentence. Otherwise, everything on the page (that was marked yellow) will switch to green.

Same goes for a double highlight - when you want to go over a passage with the same color twice (done for emphasis). You have to change pages or manually select the highlighting tool again in order to do so.

I'm fully aware that these issues are not a problem for most people. However, I need to be as efficient as possible when reading/highlighting. A better suited app could make a huge difference for me

What I am dying to find is an app that lets me change colors and double highlight on the fly. Just tap a different color and keep going.

It needs to also retain most of these features from GoodReader:

[Essential]: Sync files with dropbox or other service that allows me to use the PDFs on the computer as well
[Essential]: Related to the above, app needs to access and maintain the same file structure as the folders on the computer when syncing
Freehand/pen tool with size & translucency adjustment
Insert text box tool
Crop viewing area - adjust viewing area of the file on the reader without actually cropping the file itself.

Naturally, all apps that require you to first select text BEFORE proceeding to highlighting selection options are also not a good fit. This is just way too slow. The highlighting needs to happen as soon as I touch the screen.

I know this is a very specific request. But maybe someone here will have a suggestion. I can't be the only one who needs color-coded highlighting to be efficient. Or maybe I am

You guys are my last hope!

THANKS!
lo-fi

DaleDe · 02-23-2017, 12:55 PM

EZ PDF Reader can allow you to change the color as many times as you want without changing pages. Actually highlighting takes two taps but is pretty fast. You select the text and a menu appears with 3 options. tap highlight.

Dale

lo-fi · 02-23-2017, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

EZ PDF Reader [...] You select the text and a menu appears with 3 options. tap highlight.

Thanks Dale. Unfortunately this will not do. I need something that highlights on contact, like GoodReader, but offers more quick options.

The [select text -> menu -> tap to highlight] setup that most reader apps use is simply too inefficient for my purposes.

cedhax · 02-23-2017, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-fi

GoodReader is a magnificent app, but I'm always searching for a better suited alternative.

My biggest issue with Goodreader is highlighting. To switch to a different color while highlighting you either have to change pages, or select the highlighting tool again.

...

Have you ever sent your request to GoodReader's technical support? If yes, how did they reply? They are making a lot of money every time they make a new edition. Just curious about their level of support.

DaleDe · 02-24-2017, 03:05 PM

I found another one. PDF Provider. It remembers the highlight command after the first time and from then on a single tap will highlight. It also allows changing the color within a page.

kyteflyer · 02-28-2017, 03:07 PM

Try REaddle's "Documents". It does most of what you want. The highlighting is very quick

lo-fi · 03-01-2017, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

Try REaddle's "Documents"

Thanks for the recommendation kyteflyer! I gave this app a shot today.
So far:

THE GOOD
[+] Color change faster than GoodReader
[+] Sync works fine

THE NOT SO GOOD
[X] No "undo" button (cumbersome when you highlight the wrong stuff)
[X] No buttons for next/previous page (annoying to drag while highlighter is on)
[X] No pen (Freehand Tool) > need to check out PDF Expert
[X] Something's not quite right with the (viewing area) adjustment

Overall, a solid recommendation. But still looking for that killer app. Need to check out PDF Expert from the same company too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I found another one. PDF Provider.

Thanks for another suggestion

For now the In-App Purchases on top of the initial investment of $8 are keeping me away from this one. But I will have to give it a shot if nothing else works out quite right.

If anyone else has any suggestions, please pass them along

MobileFinder · 03-04-2017, 03:37 AM

There are many, but I recommend you to use” Foxit Reader”. You can easily find it. The best part its free to use. The core functions include, multi tabs, stable, and very clean design.

lo-fi · 03-04-2017, 06:44 AM

Thanks MobileFinder but is Foxit for iOS? I couldn't find it

kyteflyer · 03-05-2017, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-fi

Thanks for the recommendation kyteflyer! I gave this app a shot today.
So far:

THE GOOD
[+] Color change faster than GoodReader
[+] Sync works fine

THE NOT SO GOOD
[X] No "undo" button (cumbersome when you highlight the wrong stuff)
[X] No buttons for next/previous page (annoying to drag while highlighter is on)
[X] No pen (Freehand Tool) > need to check out PDF Expert
[X] Something's not quite right with the (viewing area) adjustment

Overall, a solid recommendation. But still looking for that killer app. Need to check out PDF Expert from the same company to

<snip>

If anyone else has any suggestions, please pass them along

PDF Expert could be a bingo. (I forgot I had that also)

Undo is found by tapping on the highlight a second time. Its called Clear. You can also attach a note, change its colour from the popup, and copy whatever you highlighted.

There is a pen for freehand, when you tap on that you get a second toolbar with many different options for the pen.

Still no button for next or previous but you can use a scrollbar to move between pages whilst highlight is active.

Janet16 · 03-31-2017, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-fi

Thanks MobileFinder but is Foxit for iOS? I couldn't find it

Yes, Foxit has PDF Reader for iOS, get it from app store or its official page.
It's very great!

mattcurtis · 04-01-2017, 04:45 PM

Another good alternative is PDF Viewer.

nancyrobert2011 · 04-19-2017, 01:17 AM

Foxit Reader is a free and light-weight multi-platform PDF document viewer. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7. Whether you're a consumer

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a powerful software for viewing, printing, and annotating PDFs. It’s connected to Adobe Document Cloud — so it’s easier than ever to work.

02-23-2017, 11:51 AM	#1
lo-fi Exec. cul-de-sac manager Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2017 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3rd Gen & iPad Mini 1st Gen (GoodReader/Marvin)	Alternative to GoodReader? (PDF on iOS) GoodReader is a magnificent app, but I'm always searching for a better suited alternative. My biggest issue with Goodreader is highlighting. To switch to a different color while highlighting you either have to change pages, or select the highlighting tool again. In other words, if I want the first sentence to be yellow, but the second sentence to be green. I have to mark the first sentence then flip a page (and then immediately flip back) or manually select the highlight tool again BEFORE switching to green and highlighting the second sentence. Otherwise, everything on the page (that was marked yellow) will switch to green. Same goes for a double highlight - when you want to go over a passage with the same color twice (done for emphasis). You have to change pages or manually select the highlighting tool again in order to do so. *I'm fully aware that these issues are not* a problem for most people. However, I need to be as efficient as possible when reading/highlighting. A better suited app could make a huge difference for me** What I am dying to find is an app that lets me change colors and double highlight on the fly. Just tap a different color and keep going. It needs to also retain most of these features from GoodReader: [Essential]: Sync files with dropbox or other service that allows me to use the PDFs on the computer as well [Essential]: Related to the above, app needs to access and maintain the same file structure as the folders on the computer when syncing Freehand/pen tool with size & translucency adjustment Insert text box tool Crop viewing area - adjust viewing area of the file on the reader without actually cropping the file itself. Naturally, all apps that require you to first select text BEFORE proceeding to highlighting selection options are also not a good fit. This is just way too slow. The highlighting needs to happen as soon as I touch the screen. I know this is a very specific request. But maybe someone here will have a suggestion. I can't be the only one who needs color-coded highlighting to be efficient. Or maybe I am You guys are my last hope! THANKS! lo-fi Last edited by lo-fi; 02-23-2017 at 11:59 AM.

02-23-2017, 12:55 PM	#2
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	EZ PDF Reader can allow you to change the color as many times as you want without changing pages. Actually highlighting takes two taps but is pretty fast. You select the text and a menu appears with 3 options. tap highlight. Dale Last edited by DaleDe; 02-23-2017 at 12:58 PM.

03-04-2017, 03:37 AM	#8
MobileFinder Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: none	Foxit Reader is better then PDF There are many, but I recommend you to use” Foxit Reader”. You can easily find it. The best part its free to use. The core functions include, multi tabs, stable, and very clean design.

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02-24-2017, 03:05 PM	#5
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	I found another one. PDF Provider. It remembers the highlight command after the first time and from then on a single tap will highlight. It also allows changing the color within a page.

02-28-2017, 03:07 PM	#6
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,841 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone SE2020	Try REaddle's "Documents". It does most of what you want. The highlighting is very quick

03-04-2017, 06:44 AM	#9
lo-fi Exec. cul-de-sac manager Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2017 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3rd Gen & iPad Mini 1st Gen (GoodReader/Marvin)	Thanks MobileFinder but is Foxit for iOS? I couldn't find it

04-01-2017, 04:45 PM	#12
mattcurtis Book Lover, Dev of Hyphen Posts: 59 Karma: 2013886 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: iPhone (Hyphen)	Another good alternative is PDF Viewer.

04-19-2017, 01:17 AM	#13
nancyrobert2011 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2015 Device: none	Foxit Reader is a free and light-weight multi-platform PDF document viewer. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7. Whether you're a consumer Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a powerful software for viewing, printing, and annotating PDFs. It’s connected to Adobe Document Cloud — so it’s easier than ever to work.