Reading RPG PDF on a tablet

[WhimsyTheFae]

In looking a bit further at it, Documents might allow you to access your computer. I still need to test it, but it looks promising. It's also free, so isn't really a risk.

 

[Stormonu]

GoodReader is the app I have been using to read PDFs since I got my iPad (it's a gen 1, supports only up to iOS5, so I haven't been seeing any crashes)

GoodReader has the ability to browse/download to web pages, so if you have computer program that can render your files via HTTP and you have your iPad on the network, you should be able to access them. My router has an attached hard drive that allows me to do this, I haven't tried to see if I could access things directly from my PC.

 

[Janx]

GoodReader is the app I have been using to read PDFs since I got my iPad (it's a gen 1, supports only up to iOS5, so I haven't been seeing any crashes)

GoodReader has the ability to browse/download to web pages, so if you have computer program that can render your files via HTTP and you have your iPad on the network, you should be able to access them. My router has an attached hard drive that allows me to do this, I haven't tried to see if I could access things directly from my PC.

yeah, the cheesiest way to do this on Windows is to enable IIS or (or install the new developer IIS-like replacement for Casini whose name I forget) and setup a site pointing at your PDF files.

This actually DOES make your PC become a webserver, so then iOS can browse to it and you're good to go.

 

[Janx]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for.


I'm surprised as well; it actually seems a bit strange that this would be something that is somehow blocked by iOS. I wonder if it's simply a case of a lack of appropriate app. After all, my Nexus 7 didn't have that capability out-of the-box.



From a cursory reading, it seems that this allows the converse of what I'm looking for. Transferring file to/from the iPad while working from a PC. I'm instead looking for something that allows me to tranfer/access files while using the iPad.

Google up "iOS SMB file browser" and you'll get some hits.

technically, SMB (pronounced Samba) is the protocol used for Windows file shares.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I'm using Box on an iPad for school. It works pretty well as a cloud storage device and pdf reader, though you have to do most of the file management from a PC.

I read gaming pdfs on a Kindle. Works well as well -- you can get a Kindle app for the iPad -- especially since you can email yourself the pdfs. It doesn't do multiple tabs or simultaneous documents, though (the app, that it -- the Kindle does them fine).

 

[Cergorach]

I use Goodreader to connect to my (Synology DS1010+) through FTP or SMB. I download the pdf to Goodreader and can open it as soon as it's finished downloading. I like the client so much that I also use it to download epubs that I then open with iBooks, the same goes for comics and Comic Zeal. The only issue I have with Goodreader on my iPad Air is that I got a relatively lot of grey pages, but <deleted see below> (it isn't a solution, just a workaround). Still the best pdf reader for iOS imho. I also like the ability to use popular cloudstorage platforms such as Dropbox, Google Drive and Skydrive. Often useful to quickly access company files or files from other computers which don't have access to my home NAS...

Edit correction: If your using an iPad Air it's more efficient to switch to the slower engine and turn on page caching. With a 350MB pdf I have no slowdowns, with a 700MB pdf I have a few seconds (2-4) before the pdf loads and sometimes it hangs a second if I try to quickly browse through a lot of pages. luckily I don't have a lot of 700MB pdfs ;-) The iPad Air is that fast!

 

[Nine Hands]

Good Reader on my iPad has the ability to connect to FTP, SFTP, AFP, and SMB servers. I'm sure your NAS supports SMB in some capacity.

On top of that you an use Good Reader on SkyDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, SugarSync, Box.net.

I had some crashes with Good Reader until I turned off the Prefer faster engine. Once I did that, I have not had a crash in over a week.

 

[Nikosandros]

Thanks to everyone for the advice, you've been helpful.

I'm still somewhat surprised that there isn't some app that allows for straightforward browsing of network directories, but I'll deal with it... BTW, for anyone who has an Android device, I heartily recommend ES File Explorer (which I mentioned in my OP). It's very easy to use and makes transferring files to and from a device very convenient. I use it also to back up the photos on my Samsung phone without having to bother with Kies.

Getting back to another question in my OP. Does anyone has a suggestion for a good PDF reader for Android?

 

[Nikosandros]

Good Reader on my iPad has the ability to connect to FTP, SFTP, AFP, and SMB servers. I'm sure your NAS supports SMB in some capacity.

On top of that you an use Good Reader on SkyDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, SugarSync, Box.net.

I had some crashes with Good Reader until I turned off the Prefer faster engine. Once I did that, I have not had a crash in over a week.

Does Good Reader support multiple tabs?

 

[TarionzCousin]

Does Good Reader support multiple tabs?

It does for me. On an iPad 2.