Launch document from icon on iPad?

craig8128 · 03-04-2011, 01:07 PM

Here's what I'd like to do: I'd like to take a document of some sort -- MS Word, Keynote, PPT, PDF, etc -- and load it onto my iPad in such a way that it will appear as an icon on the desktop, so that I can just click on the icon and it will open / display the document.

I know that it's possible to create a "home screen icon" that will bring up a page in Mobile Safari -- but I'd like to do this for something that's not a web page.

Is it even possible?

Thanks,

Craig

Mickey330 · 03-04-2011, 04:44 PM

The only thing I can think of to do:

1) Have a Dropbox account

2) Put documents into the Public folder

3) Copy the public link (via your Dropbox folder on the PC...right click on the file > Dropbox > "copy public link")

4) Paste the link into Safari (I use an app called LazyText, but you can always just type the public link into Safari's URL box...)

5) Look at the document on Safari and then "Add to Home Screen" (via Safari)

This has worked for Excel, Word and PowerPoint files - and pictures (jpg and animated gifs) and PDFs.

The really cool thing is that once you [re]open the file from your homescreen, you can either view it right there in Safari, or open it in a compatible app.

Note that in the Safari view, you can only look at the file/document. But, if you open it in a compatible app, you can edit it (and I assume save it, though I didn't try that part out).

Marilyn

P.S. And thanks for asking the question. I didn't know this could be done until I tried it.

Makays · 10-18-2014, 01:40 PM

Thanks so much Mickey/Marilyn. I've been trying to do this for months.

Morey

FlorenceArt · 10-20-2014, 11:39 AM

You can do this if the document is stored in an app that manages URLs for documents. For example Notebooks does this. But I don't think a lot of apps allow it.

FlorenceArt · 10-20-2014, 11:40 AM

Oops, I didn't notice this was necroposting...

03-04-2011, 01:07 PM	#1
craig8128 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 382 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Device: iPad	Launch document from icon on iPad? Here's what I'd like to do: I'd like to take a document of some sort -- MS Word, Keynote, PPT, PDF, etc -- and load it onto my iPad in such a way that it will appear as an icon on the desktop, so that I can just click on the icon and it will open / display the document. I know that it's possible to create a "home screen icon" that will bring up a page in Mobile Safari -- but I'd like to do this for something that's not a web page. Is it even possible? Thanks, Craig

10-18-2014, 01:40 PM	#3
Makays Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2014 Device: Ipad air	Thanks Thanks so much Mickey/Marilyn. I've been trying to do this for months. Morey Last edited by Makays; 10-18-2014 at 01:43 PM.

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03-04-2011, 04:44 PM	#2
Mickey330 Addict Posts: 378 Karma: 1107420 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Western New York state (USA) Device: Kindle Oasis & the Kindle app on iDevices	The only thing I can think of to do: 1) Have a Dropbox account 2) Put documents into the Public folder 3) Copy the public link (via your Dropbox folder on the PC...right click on the file > Dropbox > "copy public link") 4) Paste the link into Safari (I use an app called LazyText, but you can always just type the public link into Safari's URL box...) 5) Look at the document on Safari and then "Add to Home Screen" (via Safari) This has worked for Excel, Word and PowerPoint files - and pictures (jpg and animated gifs) and PDFs. The really cool thing is that once you [re]open the file from your homescreen, you can either view it right there in Safari, or open it in a compatible app. Note that in the Safari view, you can only look at the file/document. But, if you open it in a compatible app, you can edit it (and I assume save it, though I didn't try that part out). Marilyn P.S. And thanks for asking the question. I didn't know this could be done until I tried it.

10-20-2014, 11:39 AM	#4
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	You can do this if the document is stored in an app that manages URLs for documents. For example Notebooks does this. But I don't think a lot of apps allow it.

10-20-2014, 11:40 AM	#5
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Oops, I didn't notice this was necroposting...

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