How to use iCloud to store and sync app files

What "works" for me is just simple:

NSFileManager *fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];

NSURL *ubiq = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLForUbiquityContainerIdentifier:nil];

if (ubiq == nil) {
    return NO;
}

NSError *theError = nil;

[fm setUbiquitous:true itemAtURL:backupUrl destinationURL:[[ubiq URLByAppendingPathComponent:@"Documents" isDirectory:true] URLByAppendingPathComponent:backupName] error:&theError];

Apple says to call on the non-UI thread. Having the files "moved". You can query for them via NSMetaDataQuerylike this:

self.query = [[NSMetadataQuery alloc] init];
[self.query setSearchScopes:[NSArray arrayWithObject:NSMetadataQueryUbiquitousDocumentsScope]];
NSPredicate *pred = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat: @"%K like '*.db'", NSMetadataItemFSNameKey];
[self.query setPredicate:pred];
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self 
                                         selector:@selector(queryDidFinishGathering:) 
                                             name:NSMetadataQueryDidFinishGatheringNotification 
                                           object:self.query];

[self.query startQuery];

- (void)queryDidFinishGathering:(NSNotification *)notification {
    NSMetadataQuery *query = [notification object];
    [query disableUpdates];
    [query stopQuery];

    [self loadData:query];

    [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] removeObserver:self name:NSMetadataQueryDidFinishGatheringNotification object:query];

    self.query = nil; 
}

Sample of enumeration through the query results:

- (void)loadData:(NSMetadataQuery *)query {
    [self.backups removeAllObjects];

    for (NSMetadataItem *item in [query results]) {
        NSURL *url = [item valueForAttribute:NSMetadataItemURLKey];
        [self.backups addObject:url.lastPathComponent];
    }

    [_table reloadData];

    [self.loadingBackupIndicator stopAnimating];
    self.loadingIndicatorLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat: @"%d backups found", [self.backups count]];
}

And to start "download" of the concrete file:

NSFileManager *fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];

NSURL *ubiq = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLForUbiquityContainerIdentifier:nil];

if (ubiq == nil) {
    return NO;
}

NSError *theError = nil;

bool started = [fm startDownloadingUbiquitousItemAtURL:[[ubiq URLByAppendingPathComponent:@"Documents" isDirectory:true] URLByAppendingPathComponent:backupName] error:&theError];

NSLog(@"started download for %@ %d", backupName, started);

if (theError != nil) {
    NSLog(@"iCloud error: %@", [theError localizedDescription]);
}

With checks for file "being downloaded":

- (BOOL)downloadFileIfNotAvailable {
    NSNumber *isIniCloud = nil;

    NSURL *ubiq = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLForUbiquityContainerIdentifier:nil];

    NSURL *file = [[ubiq URLByAppendingPathComponent:@"Documents" isDirectory:true] URLByAppendingPathComponent:self.backupName];

    if ([file getResourceValue:&isIniCloud forKey:NSURLIsUbiquitousItemKey error:nil]) {
        // If the item is in iCloud, see if it is downloaded.
        if ([isIniCloud boolValue]) {
            NSNumber*  isDownloaded = nil;
            if ([file getResourceValue:&isDownloaded forKey:NSURLUbiquitousItemIsDownloadedKey error:nil]) {
                if ([isDownloaded boolValue]) {
                    [self.loadingBackupIndicator stopAnimating];
                    self.loadingIndicatorLabel.text = @"Downloaded";

                    ....

                    [[NSFileManager defaultManager] copyItemAtPath:[file path] toPath:restorePath error:&theError ];

                    ....

                    return YES;
                }

                self.loadingCheckTimer = [NSTimer timerWithTimeInterval:3.0f target:self selector:@selector(downloadFileIfNotAvailable) userInfo:nil repeats:NO];
                [[NSRunLoop currentRunLoop] addTimer:self.loadingCheckTimer forMode:NSDefaultRunLoopMode];

                return NO;
            }
        }
    }

    return YES;
}

I didn't expect the code to be that long and sorry for providing very raw snippets here. No intent to say the above can be a production quality of code, just sharing the concept.

I have not yet submitted that inside my app to Apple, so can't tell that would be "approved" to the app store (if they find or care...)

I know how you feel, iCloud is a bit daunting. However, I think there is no way around UIDocument, file coordinators etc. and to simply use iCloud as a simple folder.

If you are looking for an easy to understand sample code, please have a look at this post:

iCloud basics and code sample

I included a full sample code which covers the bare minimums of iCloud and pretty much uses it like a directory. Perhaps this makes it less daunting for you to use UIDocument, file coordinators etc.

But, like you, I wish there was an easier and more compatible way with the good old documentary folder idea. However, as this is iCloud and as iCloud does several things more (like keeping everything in sync on different devices, constantly updating to cloud etc.), there will be no way around UIDocument etc.