File Management on the iPad
Retrieving Documents from the Blackboard App
Open the Blackboard app by tapping it. When you first open the app you will be asked to select your school.
- Type "Dartmouth" in the search field and select "Dartmouth College" when it appears.
- Once you have selected Dartmouth, you will see the same login screen as you do when you log in from a computer. Type your NetID number and your Dartmouth password.
All of your courses will be listed on the left hand side of the Blackboard app. You can tap any course name to view the materials for that class, and you can tap any folder to see its contents.
If you tap on any PDF or Word document you will see a pop-up that gives you viewing options. You can either view the file in a browser, or you can save the file to your iPad.
- To save the file, tap the file name under the "Attachments" heading. You will see a small preview of the document.
- Tap the action button in the upper right hand corner of the pop-up box. A drop down menu will appear, allowing you to select where you would like to save the document.
- You can choose to save the document directly to Dropbox or Files Connect, or you can use an app such as iAnnotate, GoodReader or Notability to annotate the document.
Note: You will need to configure these apps before you use them.
The app you select will automatically open your document. Follow the instructions below for using each of these apps.
Quick Guide to App Functionality
The following table provides a brief overview of which apps can connect with one another. Please note that some apps can send to another app, but lack the ability to open files from that same app.
| Dropbox | Files Connect | GoodReader | iAnnotate | Notability | |
| Create Documents | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Annotate Documents | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Send to Dropbox | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Send to Files Connect | Yes | - | Yes | No | Yes |
| Send to GoodReader | Yes | Yes | - | No | Yes |
| Send to iAnnotate | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
| Send to Notability | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | - |
| Send to Google Docs | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Send to Web DAV | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Configuring Dropbox
Dropbox is an app that allows you to sync your photos, documents and videos between your devices.
To configure the app, tap on the Dropbox icon to open it. If you have a Dropbox account, enter your email and password to log in. If you have not created an account, click the "New to Dropbox?" link, then fill out the required information and tap "Create free account." Once logged in to Dropbox, you will see your files and folders on the left hand side of the page. You can tap on any of the documents to view them in Dropbox, or you can tap the arrow in the upper right corner of the document to open it with a different program. You will see a list of apps that can open the document, when you tap this arrow.
Basic Tasks:
- To open a file in Dropbox, tap on the name of the file in the menu on the left side of the app.
- To open a file in another program, click the arrow in the upper right corner of the document, and tap on the program with which you want to open the file.
- To move a file to a folder, tap on the "Edit" button at the top of the Dropbox menu. Then, tap the circle next to the document you wish to move. Tap the move button at the bottom of the menu and select the correct folder. Tap the "Choose" button to move the file.
- To create a folder, follow the steps for moving a file, but tap "Create Folder" instead of the folder name. Type the name of the new folder and tap "Create." Tap the "Choose" button to move the file.
Not only can you open files into other programs from the Dropbox app, you can open Dropbox programs from within other apps. When you sync apps with Dropbox, they will appear on your Dropbox account. You can manage these connections by logging in to your Dropbox Account online and clicking the "My Apps" tab.
Using iAnnotate
You can use iAnnotate to open and make annotations to any PDF. When viewing a PDF, tap the arrow button in the upper right corner of the document and select "Open in iAnnotate." You can use the tools on the right side of the app to highlight, write notes, or draw on the document.
To organize your documents, tap the Library button in the upper left corner of the app.
You can create a folder by taping the new folder button in the upper right corner and typing a title in the text box. You'll notice that there is a small circle on the upper right corner of each document preview. Tap the circle to select documents. A green checkmark will appear in the circle and you can drag the document into a folder with your finger.
You can also connect iAnnotate to Dropbox so that you can pass documents between the two apps. Note: You must create a Dropbox account before connecting the apps.
- Open iAnnotate and tap the Library button in the upper left corner of the app.
- Select the "Manage Connections" option in the bottom left corner.
- Tap the plus button to setup a new connection and choose Dropbox as the connection type. Fill in a description and your Dropbox login email and tap "Setup Connection."
To move a file from iAnnotate to Dropbox, make sure that you are in Library View. Select the documents you wish to sync, by tapping the small circle in the upper left corner of the document preview. Tap the "Move" button on the left side of the screen, then select your Dropbox account as the target folder. You can select a sub-folder from your Dropbox account. You will receive a confirmation at the top of the screen when your documents have finished uploading to Dropbox. You can also download files from Dropbox to iAnnotate. In Library View, select Dropbox from your managed connections. Your Dropbox folders and files will appear in iAnnotate with the blue Dropbox logo.
Using GoodReader
GoodReader can annotate PDFs, and can connect to many other apps. To view a file, open GoodReader and simply tap on the file.
- To organize files, tap the "Manage Files" tab. Select the file(s) you want to move by tapping the circle to the left of the file name.
- To open a file in another program, select the file while the "Manage Files" tab is open. Tap the "Open In" button and select the app you need from the drop-down list.
- To create a new folder, select "New Folder" from the "Manage Files" tab, then type a name for the folder.
- To move the file to a folder, select the file while the "Manage Files" tab is open and tap the "Move" button to select a folder.
- To move a folder to another server, select the file while the "Manage Files" tab is open and tap the "Upload" button. Then, select the upload location for the file. Note: You will need to configure the servers before you can move the file. (To connect to a server follow the directions below.)
You can utilize GoodReader to connect to Dropbox, GoogleDocs, SkyDrive as well as other local servers. To connect to one of these services, open GoodReader and select "Connect to Servers." When you tap the "Add" button, a list of connection options will appear. Select the connection type you would like to create, and fill in the information asked of you.
When you have finished inputing your information, tap the "Add" button. You now have a connection between GoodReader and your other servers.
Using Notability
Notability is an app that allows you to create and annotate documents. You can type, write, draw and highlight on both new and preexisting documents. From the home menu of the app you can organize and create files.
- To create a new note, tap the square button in the upper right corner of the app. Use the toolbar at the top to create content.
- To open a document, simply tap its name.
- To create a folder (a.k.a., subject), tap the plus button and title the folder.
- To move a file, tap and hold the preview thumbnail and drag it into the subject folder with your finger.
- To connect a file to another app, tap the arrow in the upper left corner. Tap on the note(s) you wish to move and tap the arrow again.
- Tap the button under "Choose a Destination."
- Select the destination where you would like to send your file.
- Tap the "Send to" button at the bottom of the "Share" box.
To open a file in a different app, tap the arrow in the upper left corner, as in the example above. This time, select the "Open in" option from the share list. Select the app you wish to use from the drop-down list.
Using Files Connect
Files Connect is a file sharing tool that you can use to transfer documents between a variety of servers.
- To open a file with another app, tap the name of the file, then select "Open in" in the bottom right corner and tap the name of the app you wish to use.
- To create a new folder, tap the cog in the upper right corner of the app. An "Action menu" will appear. Tap "New" then "Folder." Type a name for your folder and tap "Done" or "Enter" on your keyboard.
- To connect the app with another server, tap the plus button next to the heading "Saved Places" and select the type of connection you would like to create:
- Dropbox - Tap the Dropbox icon. Type in your Dropbox username and password when prompted. Enter a name for your Dropbox connection in the "Alias" field.
- Google Docs - Tap the Google Docs icon. Type your Gmail address and password when prompted. Enter a name for your Google Docs connection in the "Alias" field.