File management has always been a sore point for an iPhone user. Unlike its top rival Android, the iOS operating system had never offered a compelling file manager. The scenario changed with the introduction of iOS 12. Apple finally acknowledged the problem and delivered the Files app for the platform.
The app is filled with basic functions such as move, copy, creating a new folder, and the integration of cloud storage apps, including OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. As its case with every other Apple app, an alternative is always ready to fill in gaps from the App Store.
Explore the best File Management software for Mac. Browse our catalog of over 50 000 mac apps. MacUpdate is serving app downloads since 1997.
In this post, we are going to talk about the top five third-party file manager apps for iPhone and how they differ from each other as well as the official one. Letâs jump in.
1. Total Files
Total Files takes you to the default homepage with device folders and recent downloads. By default, it integrates iCloud, but you can also add other cloud storage as well.
The biggest highlight of the app is its ability to download videos from various sites. You can easily download media from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. I have been using the app to download Twitter videos on the phone, and it works flawlessly.
Total Files also let you create virtual folders on the device. Create a new folder and add relevant files from the device as well as any cloud service.
The app comes with a built-in web browser, which is used to download videos and do some basic web-browsing. Itâs straightforward and gets the job done. Download Total Files for iPhone
Also on Guiding TechXender vs AirDroid: Which App Is Best for File SharingRead More2. Documents by Riddle
I think Documents is one of the most complete file manager on iOS. By default, the app takes you to the homepage, which contains photos folder, iTunes files, iCloud integration, and Downloads.
The second tab is called services which lets you add multiple cloud storage services to the app. It works quite well with all the popular cloud storage options out there.
For organization, you can add color tags to a certain file or favorite the documents to access it easily from the bottom tab.
The most interesting part of the app is the Wi-Fi Direct transfer. The app lets you easily share the content from phone to PC and vice versa. Simply select, connect to a computer, and head to docstrsafer.com on the web to establish the connection.
The service is similar to Xender or SHAREit and works quite well between the devices. Following Total Files, the app offers a built-in browser, and while itâs capable on its own, I donât see any reason to use it over the mature platforms like Safari or Chrome. Download Documents for iPhone
3. File Manager & Browser
Unlike its rivals, the File manager apps donât automatically fetch up data from the device. The app relies on manual input from the user to do the job.
On its home screen, you can directly create a folder, add photo/video, add a note and even a voice note. It works as an all-in-one solution for the majority out there. For example, the note-taking functionality does come with several options to choose from.
As always, the cloud apps integration support exists for iCloud, OneDrive, and Google Drive. The app also includes a web browser, which frankly I donât know why a file manager needs it for.
The app also comes with a Wi-Fi Sync capability, which works similarly as a Documents app.
Talking about other functions, you can favorite certain file for easy access, and the app also lets you password protect it via Touch ID or Face ID. Download File Manager & Browser for iPhone
Also on Guiding TechTop 10 Ways to Use the Files App on iOS Like a ProRead More4. Files App
As the name suggests, Files app follows the simplicity around file management and organization. It takes you to the built-in web browser to download the direct content from the web. You can customize certain options such as set at default browser, switch on private browsing, add passcode lock, etc.
From the Files tab, you can simply add new folders, integrate Dropbox, create a playlist, and import photos from the devices.
The app also offers a Wi-Fi transfer function which acts the same way as Documents by Riddle.
Download Files App for iPhone
5. OneDrive
OneDrive works as a cloud service, but itâs also useful for file management. Microsoft provides excellent files on demand service so that you can call-up the required file from the cloud and not the whole data.
The iOS app lets you auto-upload pictures to the service and its categorizes them by month/year in the Camera folder. You can upload any file to the OneDrive and access the offline functionality as well.
The app is available on every platform, which technically means that you can carry your files and file manager wherever you go.
OneDrive offers 5GB of storage for free. By purchasing Office subscription, Microsoft unlocks the full potential of the app with 1TB of data. Download OneDrive for iPhone
Also on Guiding Tech#productivityClick here to see our productivity articles pageWhich One Should I Use?Apple File Manager For Mac
As you can see from the above comparison, every app offers a feature or two above the default Files app. For me, the Documents by Riddle wins by a margin with clean UI and several useful add-ons. OneDrive is for those working across multiple devices all the time.
Next Up: Unfortunately, the official Files app is missing the ability to zip/unzip a file on the go. Read the post below to see on how to do that without help from a third-party app.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Extract ZIP Files on iPhone and iPad (Without Third-Party Apps)Also See#File Explorer #comparison Did You Know
Notion was founded by Ivan Zhao.
More in iOSTop 5 RSS Reader Apps for iPhone
A file system handles the persistent storage of data files, apps, and the files associated with the operating system itself. Therefore, the file system is one of the fundamental resources used by all processes.
APFS is the default file system in macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. APFS replaces HFS+ as the default file system for iOS 10.3 and later, and macOS High Sierra and later. macOS additionally supports a variety of other formats, as described in Supported File Systems.
Regardless of the underlying format, all of the disks attached to the deviceâwhether they are physically plugged in or are connected indirectly through the networkâcontribute space to create a single collection of files. Because the number of files can easily be many millions, the file system uses directories to create a hierarchical organization. Although the basic directory structures are similar for iOS and macOS, there are differences in the way each system organizes apps and user data.
Before you begin writing code that interacts with the file system, you should first understand a little about the organization of file system and the rules that apply to your code. Aside from the basic tenet that you cannot write files to directories for which you do not have appropriate security privileges, apps are also expected to be good citizens and put files in appropriate places. Precisely where you put files depends on the platform, but the overarching goal is to make sure that the userâs files remain easily discoverable and that the files your code uses internally are kept out of the userâs way.
About the iOS File System
The iOS file system is geared toward apps running on their own. To keep the system simple, users of iOS devices do not have direct access to the file system and apps are expected to follow this convention.
iOS Standard Directories: Where Files Reside
For security purposes, an iOS appâs interactions with the file system are limited to the directories inside the appâs sandbox directory. During installation of a new app, the installer creates a number of container directories for the app inside the sandbox directory. Each container directory has a specific role. The bundle container directory holds the appâs bundle, whereas the data container directory holds data for both the app and the user. The data container directory is further divided into a number of subdirectories that the app can use to sort and organize its data. The app may also request access to additional container directoriesâfor example, the iCloud containerâat runtime.
These container directories constitute the appâs primary view of the file system. Figure 1-1 shows a representation of the sandbox directory for an app.
An app is generally prohibited from accessing or creating files outside its container directories. One exception to this rule is when an app uses public system interfaces to access things such as the userâs contacts or music. In those cases, the system frameworks use helper apps to handle any file-related operations needed to read from or modify the appropriate data stores.
Table 1-1 lists some of the more important subdirectories inside the sandbox directory and describes their intended usage. This table also describes any additional access restrictions for each subdirectory and points out whether the directoryâs contents are backed up by iTunes and iCloud.
An iOS app may create additional directories in the
Documents , Library , and tmp directories. You might do this to better organize the files in those locations.
For information about how to get references to the preceding directories from your iOS app, see Locating Items in the Standard Directories. For tips on where to put files, see Where You Should Put Your Appâs Files.
Where You Should Put Your Appâs Files
To prevent the syncing and backup processes on iOS devices from taking a long time, be selective about where you place files. Apps that store large files can slow down the process of backing up to iTunes or iCloud. These apps can also consume a large amount of a user's available storage, which may encourage the user to delete the app or disable backup of that app's data to iCloud. With this in mind, you should store app data according to the following guidelines:
About the macOS File System
The macOS file system is designed for Mac computers, where both users and software have access to the file system. Users access the file system directly through the Finder, which presents a user-oriented view of the file system by hiding or renaming some files and directories. Apps access the file system using the system interfaces, which show the complete file system precisely as it appears on disk.
Domains Determine the Placement of Files
In macOS, the file system is divided into multiple domains, which separate files and resources based on their intended usage. This separation provides simplicity for the user, who only needs to worry about a specific subset of files. Arranging files by domain also lets the system apply blanket access privileges to files in that domain, preventing unauthorized users from changing files intentionally or inadvertently.
Figure 1-2 shows how the local, system, and user domains map to the local file system of a macOS installation. (The network domain is not shown but is similar in many ways to the local domain.) This figure shows the visible directories that the user might see. Depending on the userâs system, other directories may be visible or some of the ones shown here may be hidden.
For information about the contents of the directories in macOS, see macOS Standard Directories: Where Files Reside. For information about the directories that macOS normally hides from the user (and why), see Hidden Files and Directories: Simplifying the User Experience.
macOS Standard Directories: Where Files Reside
Whether provided by the system or created by your app, every file has its place in macOS. Table 1-2 lists some of the top-level directories in a macOS installation and the types of content that each one contains.
Important: The files in the userâs
Documents and Desktop directories should reflect only the documents that the user created and works with directly. Similarly, the media directories should contain only the userâs media files. Those directories must never be used to store data files that your app creates and manages automatically. If you need a place to store automatically generated files, use the Library directory, which is designated specifically for that purpose. For information on where to put files in the Library directory, see The Library Directory Stores App-Specific Files.
Although the directories in Table 1-2 are the ones seen by macOS users, they are not the only directories present in the file system. macOS hides many directories to prevent users from accessing files that they donât need to.
Sandboxed macOS App File Containers
macOS apps that are sandboxed have all their
Application Support , Cache , temporary directories and other related documents stored within a directory located at a system-defined path that you can obtain by calling the NSHomeDirectory function.
For more information, see App Sandbox Design Guide.
Hidden Files and Directories: Simplifying the User Experience
To simplify the experience for users, the Finder, and some specific user-facing interfaces (such as the Open and Save panels), hide many files and directories that the user should never have to use. Many of the hidden items are system- or app-specific resources that users cannot (or should not) access directly. Among the files and directories that are hidden are the following:
Although the Finder and other system interfaces hide files and directories from the user, Cocoa interfaces such as
NSFileManager do not filter out files or directories that are normally invisible to users. Thus, code that uses these interfaces theoretically has a complete view of the file system and its contents. (Of course, a process really has access to only those files and directories for which it has appropriate permissions.)
Files and Directories Can Have Alternate Names
In some situations, the Finder presents users with file or directory names that do not match the actual names as they appear in the file system. These names are known as display names and are used only by the Finder and specific system components (such as the Open and Save panels) when presenting file and directory information to the user. Display names improve the user experience by presenting the user with content in a more friendly way. For example, macOS uses display names in the following situations:
Display names do not affect the actual name of the file in the file system. Code that accesses a file or directory programmatically must specify the itemâs actual name when opening or manipulating the item using the file system interfaces. The only time your app should ever use display names is when displaying the name of a file or directory to the user. You can get the display name for any file or directory using the
displayNameAtPath: method of NSFileManager .
Important: Your code should not allow users to modify display names directly. When you want the user to specify the name of a file, use a Save panel.
For information on how to localize the directories your app creates, see File System Advanced Programming Topics. For more information about localizing app content, see Internationalization and Localization Guide. Omnisphere zip pay.
The Library Directory Stores App-Specific Files
The
Library directory is where apps and other code modules store their custom data files. Regardless of whether you are writing code for iOS or macOS, understanding the structure of the Library directory is important. You use this directory to store data files, caches, resources, preferences, and even user data in some specific situations.
There are several
Library directories throughout the system but only a few that your code should ever need to access:
After selecting which version of the Library directory to use, you still need to know where to store your files. The Library directory itself contains several subdirectories that subdivide app-specific content into a few well-known categories. Table 1-3 lists the most common subdirectories that you might use. Although Library directories in macOS contain many more subdirectories than the ones listed, most are used only by the system. If you want a more complete list of subdirectories, though, see macOS Library Directory Details.
The iCloud File Storage Container
iCloud provides a structured system for storing files for apps that make use of iCloud:
Documents that the user creates and sees in an app's user interfaceâfor example the document browsers in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote should be stored in the
Documents directory. Another example of files that might go in the Documents directory are saved games, again because they are something that an app could potentially provide some sort of method for selecting.
Anything that the app does not want the user to see or modify directly should be placed outside of the
Documents directory. Apps can create any subdirectories inside the container directory, so they can arrange private files as desired.
Apps create files and directories in iCloud container directories in exactly the same way as they create local files and directories. And all the fileâs attributes are saved, if they add extended attributes to a file, those attributes are copied to iCloud and to the user's other devices too.
iCloud containers also allow the storage of key-value pairs that can be easily accessed without having to create a document format.
How the System Identifies the Type of Content in a File
There are two primary techniques for identifying the type of content in a file:
A uniform type identifier is a string that uniquely identifies a class of entities considered to have a âtype.â UTIs provide consistent identifiers for data that all apps and services can recognize and rely upon. They are also more flexible than most other techniques because you can use them to represent any type of data, not just files and directories. Examples of UTIs include:
Whenever a UTI-based interface is available for specifying file types, you should prefer that interface over any others. Many macOS interfaces allow you to specify UTIs corresponding to the files or directories you want to work with. For example, in the Open panel, you can use UTIs as file filters and limit the types of files the user selects to ones your app can handle. Several AppKit classes, including
NSDocument , NSPasteboard , and NSImage , support UTIs. In iOS, UTIs are used to specify pasteboard types only.
One way the system determines the UTI for a given file is by looking at its filename extension. A filename extension is a string of characters appended to the end of a file and separated from the main filename with a period. Each unique string of characters identifies a file of a specific type. For example, the
.strings extension identifies a resource file with localizable string data while the .png extension identifies a file with image data in the portable network graphics format.
Note: Because period characters are valid characters in macOS and iOS filenames, only the characters after the last period in a filename are considered part of the filename extension. Everything to the left of the last period is considered part of the filename itself.
If your app defines custom file formats, you should register those formats and any associated filename extensions in your appâs
Info.plist file. The CFBundleDocumentTypes key specifies the file formats that your app recognizes and is able to open. Entries for any custom file formats should include both a filename extension and UTI corresponding to the file contents. The system uses that information to direct files with the appropriate type to your app.
For more information about UTIs and how you use them, see Uniform Type Identifiers Overview. For more information about the
CFBundleDocumentTypes key, see Information Property List Key Reference.
Security: Protect the Files You Create
Because all user data and system code are stored on disk somewhere, protecting the integrity of files and the file system is an important job. For that reason, there are several ways to secure content and prevent it from being stolen or damaged by other processes.
For general information about secure coding practices when working with files, see Secure Coding Guide.
Sandboxes Limit the Spread of Damage
In iOS and in macOS 10.7 and later, sandboxes prevent apps from writing to parts of the file system that they should not write to. Each sandboxed app receives one or more containers that it can write into. An app cannot write to other appsâ containers or to most directories outside of the sandbox. These restrictions limit the potential damage that can be done in the event that an appâs security is breached.
Developers writing apps for macOS 10.7 and later are encouraged to put their apps in sandboxes to enhance security. Developers of iOS apps do not have to explicitly put their app in a sandbox because the system does it for them automatically at install time.
For more information about sandboxes and the types of restrictions they impose on file system access, see Mac App Programming Guide and App Sandbox Design Guide.
Permissions and Access Control Lists Govern All Access to Files
Access to files and directories is governed by a mixture of access control lists (ACLs) and BSD permissions. Access control lists are a set of fine-grained controls that define exactly what can and cannot be done to a file or directory and by whom. With access control lists, you can grant individual users different levels of access to a given file or directory. By contrast, BSD permissions only allow you to give access to three classes of users: the fileâs owner, a single group of users that you specify, and all users. See Security Overview for more information.
Note: For a file on a network server, do not make any assumptions about the ACLs and BSD permissions associated with the file. Some network file systems provide only a summarized version of this information.
Because iOS apps always run in a sandbox, the system assigns specific ACLs and permissions to files created by each app. However, macOS apps can use Identity Services to manage access control lists for files to which they have access. For information about how to use Identity Services (and the Collaboration framework), see Identity Services Programming Guide.
Files Can Be Encrypted On Disk
Both macOS and iOS provide support for encrypting files on disk:
In iOS, apps that take advantage of disk-based encryption need to be discontinue the use of encrypted files when the user locks the device. Because locking the device destroys the decryption keys, access to encrypted files is limited to when the device is unlocked. If your iOS app can run in the background while the device is locked, it must do so without access to any of its encrypted files. Because encrypted disks in macOS are always accessible while the computer is running, macOS apps do not need to do anything special to handle disk-level encryption.
For more information about working with encrypted files in iOS, see App Programming Guide for iOS.
Synchronization Ensures Robustness in Your File-Related Code
The file system is a resource shared by third-party apps and system apps. Because multiple apps are able to access files and directories at the same time, the potential arises for one app to make changes that render a second appâs view of the file system obsolete. If the second app is not prepared to handle such changes, it could enter an unknown state or even crash. In cases where your app relies on the presence of specific files, you can use synchronization interfaces to be notified of changes to those files.
File system synchronization is primarily an issue in macOS, where the user can manipulate files directly with the Finder or with any number of other apps at the same time. Fortunately, macOS provides the following interfaces to help with synchronization issues:
Files, Concurrency, and Thread Safety
Because file-related operations involve interacting with the hard disk and are therefore slow compared to most other operations, most of the file-related interfaces in iOS and macOS are designed with concurrency in mind. Several technologies incorporate asynchronous operation into their design and most others can execute safely from a dispatch queue or secondary thread. Table 1-4 lists some of the key technologies discussed in this document and whether they are safe to use from specific threads or any thread. For specific information about the capabilities of any interface, see the reference documentation for that interface.
Even if you use an thread-safe interface for manipulating a file, problems can still arise when multiple threads or multiple processes attempt to act on the same file. Although there are safeguards to prevent multiple clients from modifying a file at the same time, those safeguards do not always guarantee exclusive access to the file at all times. (Nor should you attempt to prevent other processes from accessing shared files.) To make sure your code knows about changes made to shared files, use file coordinators to manage access to those files. For more information about file coordinators, see The Role of File Coordinators and Presenters
Mac Os File Management
Copyright © 2018 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Updated: 2018-04-09
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |