Confused by Files app "on my iPad"

[bscheffel]

The "on my iPad" part of the files app is not what I expected. Anyone know the answer to the following questions?

1. When selecting "on my iPad" only certain folder appear - what dictates this?
2. Why is there is no way to create a folder at the root to store files that i would use from multiple applications (isn't that the point of the files app?)
3. It looks like for apps that don't have a folder "on my iPad" (and few do) there is no way to access those files through the Files app - they still appear sandboxeded to the app and only show when opening from the app itself - is this true? What is the point of files without this?

 

[kronosqq]

The "on my iPad" part of the files app is not what I expected. Anyone know the answer to the following questions?

1. When selecting "on my iPad" only certain folder appear - what dictates this?
2. Why is there is no way to create a folder at the root to store files that i would use from multiple applications (isn't that the point of the files app?)
3. It looks like for apps that don't have a folder "on my iPad" (and few do) there is no way to access those files through the Files app - they still appear sandboxeded to the app and only show when opening from the app itself - is this true? What is the point of files without this?

1. There's apparently some line of code devs have to throw into their apps to enable files in that app / app storage space to show up in the "On My iPad" section.

2&3. I completely agree that they've needlessly crippled the Files app in these regards. In terms of the functionality it does have there are some absolutely beautiful examples of great file/folder functionality on a tablet. But it's the gaps in that functionality that really bring me down from that. It's another example of Apple killing or in this case, not designing, functionalities outside of the use case they think is ideal (essentially exclusively use of cloud storage, and preferably iCloud storage).

My workaround has been to just take to treating the Pages folder as my root folder, since you can at least create folders within any of the top level ones. But the Files app could be drastically more powerful and useful with a bit more work in regards to exactly the issues you expressed.

 

[Feenician]

1. There's apparently some line of code devs have to throw into their apps to enable files in that app / app storage space to show up in the "On My iPad" section.

2&3. I completely agree that they've needlessly crippled the Files app in these regards. In terms of the functionality it does have there are some absolutely beautiful examples of great file/folder functionality on a tablet. But it's the gaps in that functionality that really bring me down from that. It's another example of Apple killing or in this case, not designing, functionalities outside of the use case they think is ideal (essentially exclusively use of cloud storage, and preferably iCloud storage).

My workaround has been to just take to treating the Pages folder as my root folder, since you can at least create folders within any of the top level ones. But the Files app could be drastically more powerful and useful with a bit more work in regards to exactly the issues you expressed.

Great post imo. You’re right about the way it works currently and I am a bit disappointed we didn’t just get a local playground too.

With that said, there are 3rd party workarounds that work well. Documents by Readdle (sorry, not advertising and I’m not affiliated but “Documents” is so very generic) have already updated and give you that freely structured local storage you’re both looking for. So far, I’m very pleased by how it works. I’ve been saying all along that 3rd parties are going to be powerhouse behind the Files app. Other apps will update with the same capabilities, if they haven’t already.