iPad and iMac not connecting

Thank you, but not the answer, I have checked finder multiple times, there is nothing I can do at my level of computer knowledge to actually find the iPad in the sidebar, it is simply not there, moreover, there is no method other than finder that is supposed to connect the device. The only thing I could do is reset my iPad and try that, which will be a tedious operation, and I already tried that on the iPad I returned as that method did not work. I am really unhappy about the situation, the above information from Apple does not work. I have tried without success many times, I am not thick, but such a problem should not occur. The iPad and iMac will connect in 'mirroring' but that is not what I want, I have connected my camera to the iMac, SD cards with an adapter, I have a 'Time Machine'connected and an external dvd drive connected all no problem at all. I cannot understand, why connecting an Apple product to another Apple product would cause so much trouble. Alas, Alas. Thank you anyway.

Thank you, I have recently discovered that my IPad couldn't be found on bluetooth on my iMac. I learned from an Apple help site, 'try turning your bluetooth on/off on your iPad', after doing this several times the iPad appeared in the bluetooth menu. At least this was something new. Haha ha. I am going to switch my printer off which is very close to my iMac and is permanently connected to Wifi, to see if there is any change of my iPad being recognised in Finder. It all seems a bit hit and miss technology. The help centre, using live chat was unhelpful, and they cut me off! The online help from Apple is of no help and I won't be the only iPad user having the same fault. It is a pity Apple cannot look at my operating system or check for errors or something, I mean when I worked as an engineer at Royal Mail during the first few months of new sorting equipment being operational, Siemens could remotely look at each machine, operational and data wise, and this was 20 years ago.I rest my case. But trying to solve this problem has taken over my life.

I have tried that, but the iMac does not show my iPad in the Finder. I think I will have to just put it down to bad luck and hope (miracuously)something in the system will wake up. Meanwhile I will just have to manually transfer all my contacts information over to the iPad. Or perhaps someone high, very high in Apple will condescend to reach down to my level and sort out the problem, you never know I may just hit on something. Thanks for your assistance but I think that is it.Finito, Thank you.