How do I transfer PDF files to my iPad to take on a business trip

Question

I'm preparing to go on a week long business trip where I will need access to dozens of PDF files which I have on my work PC. I want to take them on my iPad so that I can read and review them during my trip but I have the following constraints:

1. All my PDF files are on my work PC
2. I cannot install iTunes on my work PC so I need a way to transfer them to my iPad using just the standard USB-to-iPad cable
3. I don't mind paying for an app on my iPad
4. I don't mind it if I have to read all the PDFs on an app on my iPad

I have tried searching for solutions but am not able to find one that checks all the above boxes.

The only solution I can think of are to email all the PDFs to myself and open them once so I can see them later (is this the only feasible solution?). I have lots of PDFs so this is a sub-optimal workaround at the moment...

Any pointers would be gratefully received.

Thank you very much!

Solution

Just copying .pdf files to the iPad will not do; the trick is to imitate Apple's ".plist" configuration files.

If you are comfortable using python, here is a simple script that will do the job for you. Simply place your .pdf files in the Books/Managed folder (after you have connected to a computer) and then run the following in that directory. Once this script is run, the iPad will recognize your .pdf files (this is in the standard iBooks app). Your .pdf files can even by in subdirectories.

import os

header = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC \"-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN\" \"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd\">\n<plist version=\"1.0\">\n<dict>\n <key>Books</key>\n  <array>\n"

footer = "  </array>\n</dict>\n</plist>"
fst = "     <dict>\n            <key>Inserted-By-iBooks</key>\n         <false/>\n             <key>Name</key>\n            <string>"
tnd = "</string>\n          <key>Page Progression Direction</key>\n         <string>default</string>\n          <key>Path</key>\n           <string>"
lst = "</string>\n          <key>s</key>\n          <string>0</string>\n        </dict>\n"
bodystr = ""

for root, dirs, files in os.walk(".", topdown=False):
    for name in files:
        sttmp = os.path.join(root, name)[2:]
        if not ".pdf" in sttmp:
            continue
        bodystr+=fst
        bodystr+=sttmp[:-4]
        bodystr+=tnd
        bodystr+=sttmp
        bodystr+=lst

file = open("Managed.plist", "w")
file.write(header);
file.write(bodystr);
file.write(footer);
file.close();

Comments

[Ramhound]

Why can't you use Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, or any number of services? All of the above support browser uploading. If this is a work iPad, and this is a business trip, talk to your company about getting the files on your iPad for you.

[Automate This]

Can you e-mail it to your iPad? Or use google Drive?

[David Richerby]

The question already rejects mailing all the PDFs to himself as a solution.

[iCaramba]

I should have mentioned that using PDF Expert you can open ZIP archives, so it should be easy to zip them all and then just open them.

[Shahryar Saljoughi]

this script did not work for me. It creates a file named: Manages.plist what should I do with this file? (that script has no other effect!) Thank you in advanc