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Apple Updates iWork for iOS and Mac with Yosemite and Continuity Support
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It's a bug and iWork apps won't pick from Dropbox. You only see Dropbox if you have another app installed which gets register but even so you can't pick from Dropbox. I believe Dropbox will have to update. It's still confusing because if you pick from another location the app (eg. pages ) will still make a copy in its own folder duplicating the file. I thought this wasn't supposed to happen and solve the problem of duplicate files in each app but I guess not.
Documents Saved with Pages 5.5 Do Not Show A Quick Look Preview
I installed Pages 5.5 and opened, edited, and saved one of my documents. When I tried to Quick Look the document, I saw only a blank sheet with a spinning loading icon appearing on it. I closed that sheet and tried again, and it managed to load a sheet with an icon that showed the first page of the document, but not the normal Quick Look window in which you can scroll through the pages of a document. I restarted the Mac. Returning to the Finder and trying to Quick Look the Pages document, I again saw a sheet with an icon that shows the first page of the document, but not the normal Quick Look window in which you can scroll through the pages of a document.
Also, clicking on the arrows to turn through the pages of the thumbnail preview of a Pages document in the Finder shows a loading animation on the arrow, but no subsequent pages ever display.
This is only happening with documents saved with Pages 5.5. My documents saved with earlier versions of Pages show correct Quick Look previews.
I'm not sure if this is a bug (I did report it) or a problem on my end. Can anyone replicate the problem?
Thank you all!
I installed Pages 5.5 and opened, edited, and saved one of my documents. When I tried to Quick Look the document, I saw only a blank sheet with a spinning loading icon appearing on it. I closed that sheet and tried again, and it managed to load a sheet with an icon that showed the first page of the document, but not the normal Quick Look window in which you can scroll through the pages of a document. I restarted the Mac. Returning to the Finder and trying to Quick Look the Pages document, I again saw a sheet with an icon that shows the first page of the document, but not the normal Quick Look window in which you can scroll through the pages of a document.
Also, clicking on the arrows to turn through the pages of the thumbnail preview of a Pages document in the Finder shows a loading animation on the arrow, but no subsequent pages ever display.
This is only happening with documents saved with Pages 5.5. My documents saved with earlier versions of Pages show correct Quick Look previews.
I'm not sure if this is a bug (I did report it) or a problem on my end. Can anyone replicate the problem?
Thank you all!
Also when you don't use an iOS device to write documents... I see no reason to use anything but a PC, so feature parity at the expense of features is extremely frustrating.
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Well, I've been using that "crap" since 2008 for high school and college work and have loved it. I didn't think it would be good at first. It ended up killing off the last MS products I used EXCEPT for Excel. Pages is missing some useless Word features, and Keynote has lots of features PowerPoint doesn't have. The applications are all much more stable and user-friendly than their Office counterparts, which is why I even used Numbers for less serious documents. That is, in the good versions of iWork.
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It doesn't duplicate the file, if you look the file will have the title in gray, and if you try to delete it will ask you to delete the reference in pages or the document to in iCloud drive.
Not the most intuitive thing but at least it doesn't create a duplicate. You might think it like a "recent documents" list.
I am mostly referring to Pages. I have never been a hard user of Keynote, especially because I work in an environment where I must send all presentations in PowerPoint format, and therefore I have always used PowerPoint to make sure everything would be 100% compatible and that I would have no unpleasant surprises at the moment of the presentation.
LaTeX has that covered, as it does the outline format I needed that Pages didn't have.
It's been on my radar to learn how to use LaTeX forever, but I've never done it. It makes sense, given the rest of my personal workflow is markdown. Most of what I've done this year was through Byword. Still, at the end of it, it all needs to go into frickin' Word so that I can make it look good for print. Grrr...
Well, if I wanted my software in 2014 to have the same features that I had in 1994 or 2004, then I would not spend a single penny to buy new hardware. I only buy new hardware to make use of new and improved software, with more features that make me more productive. So, yes, I am complaining because I want better software. I paid US$ 2,000+ for my Mac so I could run better software that makes my work better, and not just because it looks nice.
Software is not free nowadays. Apple iWork comes free with new machines, but only because you are paying a large sum of money for a computer. Google Docs is not free either, it is paid with both ads and with the opportunity Google has of offering the service to companies. Nothing is really free. Besides, I do not mind paying for software. I am a subscriber of Office 365 and the US$ 100 I pay annually are more worth than the free iWork suite.
I tried to use Pages several times. It is beautiful, but the features I need are not there. They are not bloated features. They may be bloated to you, but you should respect the needs of other people that need these features or that may find these features useful. In Word 2013 for Windows, when I open a document, it shows where I was when I left it, and this saves me time, especially in large documents. It helps me find synonyms to words so I do not have to repeat the same word over and over again. It shows me where my grammar mistakes are, so it saves me time. It allows for cross-references, which saves me a lot of time because I do not have to update cross-references manually (which often leads to mistakes as well). It allows footnotes being split in two pages or more, so I am able to use long footnotes, which is sometimes useful. Pages does not do any of this, and these are very useful features that I take advantage of. As a result, Word allows me to make better documents in less time. It is useful, it is not bloat. Just because you do not use it, do not assume nobody needs it.
I am not going to become a software engineer. I am willing, however, to pay for using software, and I do. However, I am tired of waiting for Apple to make iWork decent. I may instead buy a Windows machine and use Office 2013 instead, which is great and much better than any iWork version that ever existed.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
This thread seems to have a split of people who have used the old version of Pages mostly as a Word Processor vs. those who have used it mostly as a "just works" DTP solution. While oversimplifying, the new version does a fair job of the former but jettisons much of the latter. So those posting how great the update is are probably people who have traditionally used Pages as a WP. Those finding fault are probably mostly people who have at least dabbled in features that are more typical of the "page layout" or DTP side of Pages.
I wish Apple would recognize the want for the DTP side and maybe revisit '09, package up that half of the program as a new program and add it to the iWorks group. Microsoft Office had (still has?) a program separate from MS Word called MS Publisher. While the latter was a mess, I'd certainly be first in line to buy a iWorks Publisher (even if it was pretty much Pages '09 "page layout" side functionality repackaged). That would be the easiest way to support this desire for computer-web-iDevice feature uniformity (let the WP half of Pages be that) WHILE resurrecting much of what was lost when Apple decided to go that way.
The Pages '09 page layout (the DTP side) was/is quite good- an excellent mix of fairly powerful DTP features to put a lot of "just works" DTP capabilities in average Joe hands. It's much easier to learn Pages '09 DTP (side) than to go fully into DTP software like Indesign or Quark, which is loaded with overkill for many (most?) DTP projects.
I can easily imagine that innovating ways to support the DTP in the online and iToy versions somewhat forced Apple's hands (as soon as Apple decided it wanted feature parity over DTP support). So, my suggestion would be to split it out... maybe revisit the iBook Author program http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/ and merge those features in full into that (it's a lot like Pages '09 anyway) but give it the same mix of export options as Pages '09 so that it can be a book publisher (and everything else DTPublisher like Pages '09).
Else, I believe the answer for the '09 DTP crowd is to look elsewhere. Eventually, an OS update is going to break '09. One cannot really choose not to upgrade the OS forever. I find it difficult to envision Apple finding a way to resurrect all those Pages '09 DTP side features in a version that will work well on the web and on iDevices. So I suspect it just won't happen.
I'm with the crowd wishing Pages '09 lost features WOULD be resurrected ASAP but I think that's like clinging to AppleWorks or the older version of Final Cut Pro after years of Apple doing nothing with it. It's probably OVER.
Some threads make it sound like it might work in Yosemite while some other posts imply things are not working in full. If I was guessing, the '09 word processor side of things is probably what is working in (or nearly in) full while something in the DTP side might be having some problems (or not, it's not really clear yet).
Myself? I'm looking at PrintWorks from Belight. It looks Pages '09-like in many ways but I'm certain there are some differences. If anyone who uses Pages '09 DTP has given that a try or decides to give the free trial a good pounding to see if it could be a modern (regularly updated) replacement for much of the DTP side of '09, I'd love to read your review. If someone finds something else that is more of a Pages '09 DTP-side replacement, I'd love to be pointed that way.
I wish Apple would recognize the want for the DTP side and maybe revisit '09, package up that half of the program as a new program and add it to the iWorks group. Microsoft Office had (still has?) a program separate from MS Word called MS Publisher. While the latter was a mess, I'd certainly be first in line to buy a iWorks Publisher (even if it was pretty much Pages '09 "page layout" side functionality repackaged). That would be the easiest way to support this desire for computer-web-iDevice feature uniformity (let the WP half of Pages be that) WHILE resurrecting much of what was lost when Apple decided to go that way.
The Pages '09 page layout (the DTP side) was/is quite good- an excellent mix of fairly powerful DTP features to put a lot of "just works" DTP capabilities in average Joe hands. It's much easier to learn Pages '09 DTP (side) than to go fully into DTP software like Indesign or Quark, which is loaded with overkill for many (most?) DTP projects.
I can easily imagine that innovating ways to support the DTP in the online and iToy versions somewhat forced Apple's hands (as soon as Apple decided it wanted feature parity over DTP support). So, my suggestion would be to split it out... maybe revisit the iBook Author program http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/ and merge those features in full into that (it's a lot like Pages '09 anyway) but give it the same mix of export options as Pages '09 so that it can be a book publisher (and everything else DTPublisher like Pages '09).
Else, I believe the answer for the '09 DTP crowd is to look elsewhere. Eventually, an OS update is going to break '09. One cannot really choose not to upgrade the OS forever. I find it difficult to envision Apple finding a way to resurrect all those Pages '09 DTP side features in a version that will work well on the web and on iDevices. So I suspect it just won't happen.
I'm with the crowd wishing Pages '09 lost features WOULD be resurrected ASAP but I think that's like clinging to AppleWorks or the older version of Final Cut Pro after years of Apple doing nothing with it. It's probably OVER.
Some threads make it sound like it might work in Yosemite while some other posts imply things are not working in full. If I was guessing, the '09 word processor side of things is probably what is working in (or nearly in) full while something in the DTP side might be having some problems (or not, it's not really clear yet).
Myself? I'm looking at PrintWorks from Belight. It looks Pages '09-like in many ways but I'm certain there are some differences. If anyone who uses Pages '09 DTP has given that a try or decides to give the free trial a good pounding to see if it could be a modern (regularly updated) replacement for much of the DTP side of '09, I'd love to read your review. If someone finds something else that is more of a Pages '09 DTP-side replacement, I'd love to be pointed that way.
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A fair appraisal, though I'd add that the strong template creation features in '09 and before were equally useful in a word processing environment. I created a report template in the first version of Pages that we've been using ever since (with revisions). It includes inserts for figure and photo pages. They can be dropped into the report wherever needed, quickly, easily and with total formatting consistency. This feature is just great. It is now gone. The form-creation abilities of '09 and its predecessors are also strong. Even discounting for the loss of text box flow, something else happened in the current version to blow up our forms completely.
If you're an iWork veteran, you will probably remember that the original version of Pages was non-modal. The word processing and page layout features were merged together. This never bothered me, but apparently many users found it confusing so with the next version Apple created word processing and page layout modes.
Considering that precedent, instead of deleting or crippling the advanced formatting capabilities of Pages, Apple could have added another mode for mobile app compatibility. If you want the power, you've got it. If you want the compatibility, you can have that. Then, everybody could be happy. As it is, the choice they made was the wrong one. The sad part is that those who only discovered iWork after it became free don't even know what they are missing and some of them at least seem to think that the veterans are just making it all up.
I am also waiting on the reports from advanced Pages '09 users upgrading to Yosemite. It hasn't been broken so far, but I am concerned.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I agree. For me, probably 85% of my Pages '09 use was in "layout" or DTP mode. That's what makes the new versions mostly useless for me.
As to user reviews in Yosemite, proceed carefully. You know how it is around here. There's always the bucket of guys who will post all is well no matter what. Even in the iOS 8.0.1 thread, there are multiple posts of how all is fine on "my iPhone" right up until Apple took it down.
Personally, I'm going to cling to the current version of OSX until about .3 update version. I've learned the lesson of early adoption enough times already, though I unfortunately upgraded to iOS 8 too quickly and missed the window to roll back.
As to user reviews in Yosemite, proceed carefully. You know how it is around here. There's always the bucket of guys who will post all is well no matter what. Even in the iOS 8.0.1 thread, there are multiple posts of how all is fine on "my iPhone" right up until Apple took it down.
Personally, I'm going to cling to the current version of OSX until about .3 update version. I've learned the lesson of early adoption enough times already, though I unfortunately upgraded to iOS 8 too quickly and missed the window to roll back.
Yeah, I thought I would do the same after the iOS 8 debacle. I still don't have functioning WiFi on my iPad...
Then my finger just clicked "upgrade" on my work laptop. I don't know, it just happened. I had some vague hope that the updated Keynote might be more useable, but I don't think I was thinking clearly at the time.
It was taking forever to upgrade, and while I was waiting I hit "upgrade" on my home desktop.
I think I might have a problem...
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes you are correct. What happened is I opened a word doc in another folder and it converted it, saving a pages version in its folder. If I open a pages folder elsewhere it does what you said above.
When you can't add a page, duplicate a page or delete a page out of a document, you have a problem. This is still so dumbed down as to be un-usable for me. It's sad that 2009 software is far in advance of the 2014 version. I struggle to see why anyone would choose the 2014 over the 2009.
I still use 09 mostly for Numbers Reorganize button, which is a quick and dirty way of doing stats/filtering on tables and allowed me to get over the lack of Excels PivotTables for day-to-day stuff.
Any news on whether this features been brought back to life?
Any news on whether this features been brought back to life?
I have to disagree with you. Pages was never good as a word processor, not the '09 version, neither the current one. I never really used the DTP capabilities of Pages, but I guess it has always done a better job at that than most word processors out there. In fact, I was under the impression that this was the big deal of Pages. The last time I have used a desktop publishing application was during the 90s, and it was Adobe PageMaker, when it was still being actively developed after Adobe bought Aldus. Some time ago.
However, I have been using word processors a lot, and I have learned the abilities of word processors that can save me time and effort. I have to say that Pages is a poor word processor. Most word processors Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, LibreOffice/OpenOffice Writer, Nisus Writer Pro, Mellel, and the list goes on have some features that make writing structured documents easier and less painful. Pages lacks these features; in fact, Pages cannot even split a footnote in two pages. It is not suitable for anything more complex. You can write text on it, certainly, but it is not good at word processing.
So, should we come to the conclusion that, while Pages mixes word processing and DTP elements, it does a poor job at both?
No. Yes it mixed elements of both, but no it didn't do a poor job at both.
Maybe it was inadequate for you, but based on the comments in this thread and basically everywhere else it is discussed, the overwhelming opinion is that it met the needs of many. Certainly well enough to lament over the current state of the software.
It's clear that nothing less than MS office is sufficient for you. That's fine but it shows that you have a different perspective than those who are able to use iWork effectively.
We've been on the same side on this debate for awhile, so no surprise that I agree entirely. It never fails to amaze me how ready some are to define their specific needs as the definition of adequacy for everyone. I guess those 200 page documents I created in Pages were inadequate because I didn't need to split a footnote.