Hi, I'm excited to try out MobileSheets. I currently use forScore but have had some concerning crashes recently and MobileSheets has been recommended as an alternative.
Some questions:
- I create my own scores on my Mac using notation software and export them as PDFs. What is the easiest way to sync them to my iPad? On forScore I just open the PDF in the Mac version of forScore and they sync to my iPad over iCloud. Should I install the MobileSheets iPad app on my Mac, or use the companion app? Or export the PDFs directly to a cloud folder. I prefer sync to happen as automatically as possible rather than having to remember to manually sync before leaving home.
- I often update my own scores on my Mac in-between rehearsals and want to overwrite the PDFs before the next rehearsal. What's the most straightforward way to do this? If I sync using a OneDrive folder, can I just overwrite the PDFs using my Mac and have the new PDF automatically update on my iPad when I next open MobileSheets?
Many thanks!
You really can use either for importing, however the full version of MobileSheets on your Mac would let you have access to more features, such as the ability to annotate your scores, add link points, add bookmarks, add smart buttons, and more. If you purely need to just import files from the Mac and you don't need to manage those other aspects, then the companion app works great for that. You just connect over WiFi to MobileSheets on your iPad, and then you can drag & drop the PDFs into the companion app and new songs will be created in your library (and the files are transferred over during this). I don't currently support automatic synchronization in MobileSheets, so you could use the full version on your Mac and manually sync changes over to your iPad, but like I mentioned, that is only necessary if you need features beyond simple library management and file importing. Based on your description, I would recommend using the companion app.
You cannot just overwrite a file in a cloud folder and that file will be automatically updated in MobileSheets. If you use the companion app, you can connect, then import the file(s), and it will ask if you want to replace the existing files in your library. Select yes, and it will update the songs connected to those files. That is the simplest option. If need to exchange an existing file for one with a different name, right-click the song in the companion app and select "Swap File". You can then swap in a different file to use in that song.
Mike
I asked Gemini if there is a more streamlined way to update PDF scores and it provided this answer. Is it correct?
I like the sound of it because then I could set my notation software to export the PDF directly to my Dropbox folder, overwriting the existing one. And I wouldn't have to start the companion app and sync my tablet before leaving home, I could leave my tablet in my gig bag and sync it with the cloud from anywhere.
Quote:Since you are updating your scores frequently throughout the week, the "Swap File" method will become tedious very quickly. You are correct that a more automated workflow is needed.
Because MobileSheets treats files as local library assets, simply overwriting a file in Dropbox does not trigger a "push" update to the tablet. However, you can achieve the automated workflow you want by using the Sync to a cloud folder feature.
The Efficient Workflow: Sync to a Cloud Folder
Instead of just "dropping" files into Dropbox, you should configure MobileSheets to treat a specific Dropbox folder as your "Library Home."
- Set up your Cloud Folder:
- In MobileSheets, go to Settings > Storage > Cloud Storage > Select Cloud Storage.
- Authorize your Dropbox account.
- Select the specific folder where you keep your music.
- Configure Synchronization:
- Go to Settings > Library Synchronization > Synchronize to a cloud folder.
- Point this to your Dropbox folder.
- When you perform a Library Sync, MobileSheets will scan your Dropbox folder for changes. If the file has the same name as an entry in your library, MobileSheets will recognize that the file has been modified (based on the timestamp or file size) and offer to update it.
Why this is better for your usage- [b]Batch Updates:[/b] You don't have to update scores one by one. You can make all your edits on your computer, save them to the designated Dropbox folder, run the Sync operation in MobileSheets, and it will pull down all modified files at once.
- Maintains Integrity: Because the sync function is built into the library management system, it updates the files inside the app's local storage while keeping all your metadata, annotations, and setlist assignments exactly as they were.
Important Note on "Overwriting"Even with the Sync feature, you must ensure your file naming remains consistent. MobileSheets tracks the relationship between your library entry and the filename. If you change the filename in Dropbox, the sync function will see it as a "new" file rather than an "update" to the existing one.
That's inaccurate in various ways. Some of the settings it listed don't exist, and the way it explained to access things is wrong. You don't need to go into the settings to authorize your Dropbox account. Tap the three dots on the library screen, tap "Sync Library", then tap "Synchronize with a cloud folder". When you tap the folder icon, you can then tap "Dropbox" to select the folder to sync to. A couple of things with this:
1) The folder becomes a copy of your library. Do not modify this folder. Do not add files to it yourself. Let MobileSheets manage the folder or you will run into problems if everything is not handled properly.
2) I would not recommend scanning for new files through the sync screen. Instead, import your files into your library on the tablet, then use "Synchronize with a cloud folder" and select "Update Folder" as the sync type. This will push the changes you made. You can then pull those changes on another device with the sync type set to "Update Device"
3) There is nothing automatic about this - you have to push and pull changes when needed
This is another example of AI providing incorrect guidance. I would not trust AI for things like this.
Mike
Thanks for the clarification! Then it's good I checked!
I think I've found a way to achieve what I'm after which is to be able to update existing scores in my Library from my Mac, sync the changes to the cloud, then at a later moment pull those changes down to my iPad (something I'm very used to as a forScore user).
I can install MobileSheets on both my Mac and my iPad, and enable "Synchronize with a cloud folder" for both.
On my Mac I set my notation software to export PDFs to a local folder. Using Keyboard Maestro, I have a macro that watches for new files being added to that folder and opens them in MobileSheets. Then I will need to choose Update Existing Song With New File and then Synchronize to update the cloud folder.
Then just before a rehearsal or performance I can pull all the changes down from the cloud to my iPad.