This page applies to iOS and iPadOS devices running Graphical Analysis, Spectral Analysis, Instrumental Analysis, and Vernier Video Analysis.

Google Drive can be an easy way to move files between devices, such as from a computer to an iPad.

If Google Drive is installed and authenticated on an iPad or iPhone, files in Drive can be displayed in the Apple Files app. Graphical Analysis and other Vernier apps use the Files app to see and save files to locations visible to the Files app. However, a problem with the way files are offered to local applications by Drive means that opening a file from within Graphical Analysis is apparently impossible. When attempting to open a .gambl file located in a Drive folder, for example, the file will be grayed out and inaccessible. On choosing Choose File from the opening dialog, you can navigate to a folder in Drive as seen here.

Google Drive view from Open File dialog in iOS

A .gambl file will be grayed out when located, such as the file at left called force data.gambl:

.gambl file is grayed out and inaccessible to Graphical Analysis

Nothing happens if you tap this file. However, there is a workaround. Press and hold the file name to see the additional options for that file:

View after a long press of the force data.gambl file

Tap Get Info. There, you’ll see a blank rectangle that represents the file icon.

Get Info dialog for force data.gambl

Tap that. Your file will open in Graphical Analysis if it is compatible with Graphical Analysis.

Use similar workflows in Spectral Analysis, Instrumental Analysis, and Vernier Video Analysis.

These screens were captured with iOS 15.5, and may change slightly as iOS is updated.

On iPadOS the view corresponding after tapping Get Info is this:

Get Into for a file in iPadOS

Again, tap the white rectangle to open your file.

One may be tempted to double-tap a file from within the Files app to open a file, but this is unreliable at best and cannot work if the receiving app is a web app such as Vernier Video Analysis.

Graphical Analysis Troubleshooting and FAQs