Quick Tip: How to Set Up GoodReader Sync with Dropbox

When Apple released the iPad, it forgot about file management.

The company thought the iPad would be the greatest media consumption device ever created and ignored including an app for file storage. No one thought that the iPad would become a business device used by doctors, lawyers, and other business professionals to manage their documents away from the office. Fortunately, GoodReader ($4.99) has provided a simple, easy way to manage and store files on the go.

Here’s how you can sync your GoodReader file cabinet with your office computer.

Follow the instructions below to get started.

On Your Office Computer

First, you need to setup Dropbox on your office computer:

1. Go to the Dropbox website and create an account, which is free up to 2GB of storage.

2. Install the program on your computer.

3. Save a shortcut to your Dropbox folder on your desktop, open it, and right-click to create a new folder called, “Open Cases.”

On Your iPad

Next, you need to setup GoodReader on your iPad:

1. Go to the app store and download the GoodReader app.

2. Open GoodReader and select “Connect to Servers” > “Add” > “Dropbox” and input your account information.

3. Each time you want to connect to your Dropbox, select “Connect to Servers” and tap on your Dropbox icon.

4. Now it’s time to sync: select “Connect to Servers,” click on Dropbox, tap the folder “Open Cases,” and select “Sync” (the bottom center button):

5. Click “Proceed” and select “Download Here and Sync”:

6. Choose to download the Open Cases folder to your main GoodReader location:

7. Keep the default settings and click the “Download Here and Sync” button.

Sample Case: How to Use Sync to Stay Connected

Let’s assume you were hired by John Doe for an employment case.

At your office computer, you would open Dropbox, click on Open Cases, right-click and create a new folder called “John Doe,” where you would store all of his documents going forward.

For example, when you create an open case memorandum for John Doe in Microsoft Word, you should save it his Dropbox folder. As you work on the case, save everything you generate for the client (memos, letters, discovery, plea offers, exhibits) to the John Doe case folder in Dropbox.

Then, open GoodReader and click the sync button (located next to Web Downloads) to transfer everything to your iPad before you leave for court:

Remember, you need to be connected to the Internet to sync your files.

Other Apps: Use Open-In and Save to GoodReader

On your iPad, you can always use other apps such as Notability to take notes or PDF Expert to sign documents, and use the “open-in” feature to keep everything organized in GoodReader’s intuitive file folder structure. That way, everything you do on the iPad for the John Doe will sync to the office, and you can be connected whether at your desk or on the go.

Conclusion

There are a number of reasons to use GoodReader as your case management system.

You can store almost any file type (.pdf, .txt, .doc, and .mp3) in a GoodReader case folder. All of your files are stored locally, meaning you can access case documents even when you are not connected to the Internet, as is often the case in rural Virginia and elsewhere. The .pdf annotation tools allow you to mark up case documents from within the app.

Most importantly, you can use the GoodReader sync feature to connect your case documents to your office via a cloud service such as a Dropbox.