Most people use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you have data trapped in a Word (.doc/.docx), Excel (.xls/.xlsx), or PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx) file format, you can transfer and view the data on your iPad by simply emailing the files as attachments and then opening those attachments on your iPad. Your iPad can also view documents, spreadsheets, and presentations created with Apple's iWork suite for the Macintosh.

However, if you want to edit these office files on your iPad, you need to go through some additional steps. First, buy what you need from Apple's iWork office suite for the iPad, which consists of Pages (word processor), Numbers (spreadsheet), and Keynote (presentation program). Each of these apps costs $9.99, so you may not want to buy the whole suite.

After you buy, download, and install one or more iWork apps on your iPad, the next step is transferring your files into your iPad. (For complete file compatibility, you'll want to use iWork to create new documents on your Macintosh.) After editing your files on your iPad, you'll have to transfer your files from your iPad back to your computer if you need to use them there. Once you have these apps, you can also edit the Microsoft Office files that you receive in your email on your iPad.

In this chapter, you will learn how to edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on your iPad.