If you need to edit lots of Microsoft Office files on your iPad, you'll want to transfer them to and from your iPad using the iTunes program on your computer. Depending on the type of Microsoft Office file you want to edit, you'll need to first buy, download, and install Pages (to edit Word files), Numbers (to edit Excel spreadsheets), or Keynote (to edit PowerPoint presentations) on your iPad.
To transfer Microsoft Office files from your computer to your iPad, follow these steps:
Make sure you have downloaded and installed the Pages, Numbers, or Keynote apps on your iPad.
Connect your iPad to your computer using the USB cable.
Run iTunes on your computer.
Click the name of your iPad in the Devices category.
Click the Apps tab. The Apps screen appears.
Scroll down to the bottom of the Apps screen until you see the File Sharing category, as shown in Figure 38-1.
Note
If any other iPad apps you have can share files with your computer, you'll find those apps listed in this File Sharing category as well.
In the Apps category, click the name of the app that will open your Microsoft Office file. (In other words, click Pages for Word documents, Numbers for Excel spreadsheets, or Keynote for PowerPoint presentations.) The right list box displays Pages, Numbers, or Keynote Documents.
Click Add. A Choose a File dialog appears where you can click a file and click Choose. (For a faster way to import a file, just drag and drop the file into this document list box.) Your chosen file appears in the Documents list box.
From the Home screen of your iPad, tap the icon of the iWork app that you want to use to edit the Microsoft Office file you just added. Your chosen app (Pages, Numbers, or Keynote) screen appears.
(Optional) Tap My Documents/Spreadsheets/Presentations if the My Documents/Spreadsheets/Presentations screen doesn't appear when you open the iWork app, as shown in Figure 38-2.
Tap the Folder icon in the upper-right corner of the My Documents screen. An Import Document window appears, listing all the files you can import, as shown in Figure 38-3.
Tap the Microsoft Office file that you want to import. Your iWork app opens your chosen file. Now you can view and edit this document as much as you want.
