Recently I figured out how to make my iPad a portable pattern library, and a handy chart master. I used Goodreader, which a lot of people seem to have figured out already. If you don't already know about it, Goodreader is a dedicated PDF reader, and pretty popular with the ipad crowd.
First, I uploaded my pattern from my laptop to an online storage site, such as google docs. I opened the pattern from there on my iPad (in Safari).
I tapped the pattern center, and my iPad briefly offered me the "Open in Goodreader" button
Once I was open in Goodreader, I tapped again in the middle of the screen to view all the menu options:
On the right side of the screen, there are highlight and line drawing options which I saw quickly that I could use to keep track of such things as where I am in a chart. Goodreader wanted to know if I wanted to make an annotated copy, to which I agreed.
Now I could draw lines that I could manipulate as I worked through a chart. It was constantly accompanied by the Cancel/Done button. I ignore it while knitting and moving the line along as I go, then press Done when I put the knitting down, or leave some version of that line there to save my spot. The annotated version saves my notes, and I can add to them each time I open it if I like. There's also the rectangle option which is kind of cool.
Highlighting means that I can go through the pattern and pick out all my size numbers ahead of time.
Another feature I discovered as useful was this button that allowed me to bypass the iPad's rotating screen to fix a larger chart in landscape mode for easier reading.
I'm sure I've made this more complicated than it has to be for myself, but if you discover any tricks to add, or a way you prefer to mine, please share them in the comments.
I've used GoogleDocs quite a bit but I like way this app handles charts and keeping your place. Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: Carole | August 08, 2011 at 05:18 PM
It's official. My husband is never getting his iPad back.
Posted by: Annie | August 08, 2011 at 05:20 PM
Awesome! I've been using Goodreader for a while but had NO idea it could keep track of charts. Thanks or posting this.
Posted by: gale (she shoots sheep shots) | August 08, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Wow, how cool is that?!
Posted by: Liz | August 08, 2011 at 09:24 PM
One more to add to the reasons I need to get an iPad for my birthday.
Posted by: Ruth | August 09, 2011 at 10:25 AM
I understand there's a way to do a mass download of all the PDF's in your Ravelry library to Goodreader. Check out the 'Favorite iPad apps' forum on Ravelry. It's fairly recent, and there are nice detailed instructions. It's on my to-do list.
Posted by: Annie Driscoll | August 09, 2011 at 11:06 AM
The link to the fave ipad apps discussion is here: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ilove-my-ipad/1092064/ for anyone wondering :)
Posted by: Jenn | August 09, 2011 at 02:41 PM
very cool!!
Posted by: margaux | August 09, 2011 at 03:05 PM
...and yet another reason to petition for an iPad
Posted by: Darci | August 12, 2011 at 01:24 AM
I've got a lot of my PDFs on my little ereader but of course not as spiffy as the ipad. My DD has the ipas2 so maybe I should put some of them on hers :)
Posted by: catsmum | August 12, 2011 at 05:41 AM