publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/550988
ILTA WHITE PAPER: JULY 2015 WWW.ILTANET.ORG 50 WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH DOCUMENTS ON AN iPAD VIEWING DOCUMENTS Viewing a document seems like an easy thing to do on mobile devices, right? We see an email message come through with an attachment, and it implores us to click and view. What can happen if all you are doing is viewing a file attachment? Well, viewing is not as simple as it used to be. Apple iOS: The iPad comes with a native document viewer that is used when you click to open an attachment. This simple, intuitive act, however, can cause multiple viewing issues: • Track changes/comments can be lost • Numbering seems to disappear Not being able to see track changes and/ or comments using the native viewer opens the door for major metadata risks and potential embarrassment to your personal and/or firm's reputation. Imagine forwarding a document you thought was free of internal firm tracking and comments to opposing counsel or to a client, only to learn that what you could not see was there for everyone to see. Things could turn ugly quickly. When numbering disappears from a document viewed on a mobile device, it can cause confusion and waste time. If the sender references "Article I" in an email message, but the file attached shows no article sections when opened in the native iOS viewer, some additional back and forth will be required. Mobile App: One of the lesser-known and advanced capabilities available on the iPad is the ability to open documents in alternate mobile applications. Here's how: Step 1: Locate the email with the attachment you wish to view Step 2: Tap and hold the file Step 3: From the app options that appear to the right, choose the mobile application that is best This slightly extended workflow for viewing a document on alternate apps allows you to avoid some of the hazards of viewing a document via the native iOS viewer. Beware, however: not all mobile applications are created equal — each has pros and cons. VIEWER PROS AND CONS Here are pros and cons of four of the industry's top mobile document viewer applications. APPLICATION PROS CONS Native Viewer • Access is intuitive • Built-in • Track changes not visible • Comments not visible • Numbering visibility issues Word for iPad • Track changes visible • Comments visible • Track changes navigation • Comments navigation • Numbering visible • Access not intuitive • Document has to be imported into app for viewing Pages • Track changes visible • Comments visible • Track changes navigation • Comments navigation • Access not intuitive • Document has to be imported into app for viewing • Numbering visibility issues Documents To Go • Track changes visible • Comments visible • Document does not have to be imported • Access not intuitive • No track changes navigation • No comments navigation • Numbering visibility issues