File Save / Recall

The Save/Recall page is used to store data, recall it, and also to export it. File storage can be local (on the device), or on Apple iCloud.

Locally stored files can easily be located for opening, copying, or viewing by using the new Files app on your iOS device. The files can be found by opening the Files app, tapping Browse on the bottom, and navigating to On My iPhone (or iPad). There you will find a folder with the name of this app and its icon. Tap the folder, and go to the public folder, this is where the user-readable data for the app is stored. Tap the app or module name (such as RTA or FFT), and you will find the file types listed below.

When using iCloud, all of these files and all of the local files are stored on the iCloud and may be accessed from any iOS device that is running the app and connected to the same iCloud. Also, the tab-delimited data file, audio files, image files, and notepad files are available on any PC or Mac with access to the same iCloud.

See the help file on the Settings-->General-->Cloud Storage page for more information about setting up and using iCloud.

Naming Files

You can name a file with any combination of up to 32 letters, numbers, and spaces. Files are stored in folders by file type (like RTA or FFT) so you can use the same file name for different types. There is no limit other than storage space for the number of files that you can store.

Folder Organization and File Types

Files are stored in folders to prevent file name conflicts and also to keep files of the same type together. There are two main types of files, which are in different top-level folders within the "studiosixdigital" folder on iCloud, or internally under the Documents folder.

Files used internally by the app to display graphics are store in the /internal folder, while files meant for use outside of the app, like the tab-delimited data file which can be opened in Excel or Numbers, are stored in the /public folder.

Under each of these folders, there are folders for each type of module that can store data. The folder names are descriptive, for example RTA is the name of the RTA data folder.

In most cases, the files that you will want to access are in the public folder tree. These include these types of files:

Storing Files

To store a file, enter a file name in the field on the top of the screen and tap Done on the keyboard. A prompt will appear asking if you wish to store the file, use the name as a screen title only, or just cancel.

When you store a file, it is saved on the device locally, or on iCloud in the /internal folder. The local files are backed up to your computer when you back up your device, but if you are using local storead and you delete the app the local files will also be deleted. Files on iCloud are not deleted if you delete the app.

In most cases, a tab-delimited file of the raw data will also be saved in the /public folder. This file will have the name that you entered, with the .txt extension.Microsoft Excel will normally open this file directly. The contents of this file will vary by file type, but will always include the date and time of the measurement, in the local timezone, along with the test data. In some cases, an audio file may also be stored in the /public folder.   

File Operations               

The available files are shown in a scrolling table on this page. Tap a file to select it, and the table cell will change to yellow.Once selected, you can perform these operations by tapping the icon or word in the toolbar on the bottom of the page:

When you recall a stored file, the information needed to redraw the graph will be recalled and the graph will be shown on the screen.         

Other Operations

Tap the menu icon (3 bars) to bring up the File Options menu. This brings up a list of other options that are available. This includes:

Transferring Files to Your Computer

The easiest way to manage files is by using the Files app.

Exporting Files

You can either use the Export button on the Save / Recall screen, or the Utility->Files module to bring up the WiFi transfer screen. Or, you can leave the built-in WiFi server always running, by turning on the "Enable Background Server" option on the General page in the Settings menu.

Enter the URL shown in your browser on your computer, and then select the folder containing the files that you want, and either Ctrl-Click, or Command-Click on the file name to download it. The file will be in tab-delimited XLS format.

You must be on the same LAN address, including the subnet, on both the computer and the iOS device. This means that the first 9 characters must match, such as 192.168.003.xxx. In this case all numbers must be the same except for the last 3.

To get the raw data (for importing to another device), the photo, or the notepad, see the instructions below for iTunes File Sharing.

WiFi connectivity is required for this feature. You can transfer using a LAN, or set up an ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) local network on your PC.

You may also email the tab-delimited data file to yourself (or anyone else), by tapping the compose icon in the toolbar.

iCloud

iCloud is full supported in AudioTools, and is the recommended storage method. Using iCloud, all of your files are automatically copied to your computer, and other iOS devices can also open them. As you save data out in the field, an co-worker back in the office can open them.

Apple iCloud is fully supported. Some of the features include:

iCloud is the preferred method for storing files in the cloud and for accessing files on your computer. We prefer it over Dropbox for several reasons, the most important one being that Apple tightly integrates iCloud support into their apps. Also, having global access to test results from any iOS device on the same iCloud account is a huge advantage.

iCloud Operation

To enable iCloud support in AudioTools, first make sure that you are logged into iCloud and that you have iCloud Drive turned on in your iOS device settings.

Update iOS to the latest version.

Next, turn on "Show iCloud Drive on the Home Screen". Available in iOS 9. Not strictly required, but it is very useful to be able to see all the files that are stored and to be able to delete or rename them.

Apple gives you a free 5Gb iCloud drive, and it is fairly inexpensive to upgrade to larger sizes.

Lastly, go to the Settings->General page in AudioTools and select iCloud as your cloud storage preference. Tap the "Cloud File Storage" button on the top of the page in the File Storage box.

You can migrate files that have been stored locally on the device to iCloud, by tapping the "Move Local Files to iCloud" button. Note that it may take quite a while before all of the files appear on other devices.

iCloud File Management

Every data file will be saved on iCloud. Apple manages the syncing of files automatically, and you can easily access the files from your computer File Manager, or the iCloud Drive app on your iOS device.

You can delete or rename files manually on your iCloud, using the iCloud Drive app on your device or by using the iCloud folder from your Mac, or from browser on any computer, by logging into your iCloud account at icloud.com.

Note that if you are accessing files that were created on another device, the first time that they load it may take some time for iCloud to download and sync them. This is normal, and the next time that you download them they will open immediately.

Files like the SPL Graph audio files will be transferred from the app's local storage to iCloud, and will not be available using the local file access browser or iTunes File Sharing methods. They will, however, be available on the local device by using the iCloud Drive app on the device.

iTunes File Sharing               

If you are not using iCloud and you have a lot of files that you would like to transfer en masse to your computer, you can use iTunes file sharing.               

To do this, open up iTunes, connect your iOS device and select it, and then select the apps tab. Look down the page and you will see AudioTools listed. Select the Public folder (not the top-level apps folders) and click the Save to.... button. Put the folder somewhere, and inside you will see all of the .txt files, audio files, and any other files that have been stored in folders with the name of the modules.                  

GPS Location               

The current latitude and longitude coordinates will be stored in your file. This feaure uses the location services of your device, if enabled. Note that it will often take several seconds for accurate data to be obtained. Location data is shown when you browse to a stored file.                 

Importing Files Using Internal Storage               

If you are using local (internal) storage, use the Files app to import files.

Open the Files app, tap Browse on the bottom, and navigate to On My iPhone (or iPad). There you will find a folder with the name of this app and its icon. Tap the folder and then go to the import folder. Copy a file from any other location and paste it here.

Importing Files Using iCloud

You can also use iCloud. Make sure you get all of the files associated with the file's name in the /internal folder. This may include various file extension such as .hdr, .dat, .bin, .dtf, .dvr or .ddr. Importing the files from the public folder is not required, as those are not ready by the app.