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Pages Replacement

Huntn

Huntn

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
May 5, 2008
24,090
27,182
The Misty Mountains
I've been using Pages 09 since it came out as part of iWork '09. When Apple dumped the bookmark feature with Pages v5 (I believe) I was upset, but happy the 09 version still works. However something tells me, I'm on borrowed time, that at some point Pages 09 will no longer be compatible with a new MacOS version. I'm really happy with the ease of use of this application for both text and layout, and am familiar with it so I'm not all that happy about this prospect.

Is there an easy work around to get the bookmark feature working on the newer version of Pages? I just want something that makes it easy to jump to different points in a long document.

I've read that in Pages v5, a Table of Contents can be added that automatically updates? I'll have to look at this. What's really nice about Pages 09 is that the bookmarks resides in a little window as part of the inspector, so you don't have to scroll back to the beginning of a document to access the TOC. Comments on that feature?

That said, any recommendations on a productivity MacOS native substitute other than an office suite which would have both the text editing and layout features and include an organizational feature like bookmarks?
Thanks!
 
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Nisus Pro has bookmarks. It's a great word processor and would probably be a much better long document creator than Pages. Aside from bookmarks it can also do cross references, and it has a strong set of tools for TOC's, indexing, etc.

But page layout, OTOH, isn't it's strength. It can draw and place stuff, but it is primarily for word processing.
 
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Huntn said:
I've been using Pages 09 since it came out as part of iWork '09. When Apple dumped the bookmark feature with Pages v5 (I believe) I was upset, but happy the 09 version still works. However something tells me, I'm on borrowed time, that at some point Pages 09 will no longer be compatible with a new MacOS version. I'm really happy with the ease of use of this application for both text and layout, and am familiar with it so I'm not all that happy about this prospect.

Is there an easy work around to get the bookmark feature working on the newer version of Pages? I just want something that makes it easy to jump to different points in a long document.

I've read that in Pages v5, a Table of Contents can be added that automatically updates? I'll have to look at this. What's really nice about Pages 09 is that the bookmarks resides in a little window as part of the inspector, so you don't have to scroll back to the beginning of a document to access the TOC. Comments on that feature?

That said, any recommendations on a productivity MacOS native substitute other than an office suite which would have both the text editing and layout features and include an organizational feature like bookmarks?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
iWork '09 continues to work in OSX Yosemite. It has been reported to work well in the follow-on, OSX Eric Clapton.

I too heavily use iWork 09 (currently on Mavericks) and am also concerned about being on "borrowed time". That is why I took time to invest in learning the in's and out's of LibreOffice. It has been able to handle some pretty advanced layouts (some involving linked text boxes). I'm quite pleased with the capabilities and performance. The recently released LibreOffice 5 offers even better compatibility with MS Office formats.
 
I, too, found Pages 09 very helpful, but didn't want to live on borrowed time. After trying a few programs I settled on iCalamus, and it works very well. I had some initial problems, but the developer has been very responsive.

I have Affinity Phot and Designer, and am eagerly waiting for their Publisher program due later this year. If it meets my needs, then I will switch to it.
 
Thanks guys for the input! I will check out your suggestions. Page layout is vital. For me it's seems unbelievable that Apple would drop the bookmark feature. I think they dropped the ball. This seems to be a trend. I went through the same thing transistioning from AppleWorks to Pages after AppleWorks was no longer functional when Rosetta went away.. o_O
 
Huntn said:
Thanks guys for the input! I will check out your suggestions. Page layout is vital. For me it's seems unbelievable that Apple would drop the bookmark feature. I think they dropped the ball. This seems to be a trend. I went through the same thing transistioning from AppleWorks to Pages after AppleWorks was no longer functional when Rosetta went away.. o_O
Click to expand...
Now you did it. You HAD to mention AppleWorks! :eek:

Nearly a decade before I bought my first Apple computer I was using ClarisWorks and AppleWorks for Windows. Talk about a little powerhouse. I was able to do things with those apps that made MS Office users jealous. The discontinuing of AppleWorks is just another software sore spot.

If Apple does anything to prevent iWork 09 from running on OSX, even though I have a very capable alternative in LibreOffice, I might just go back to Windows and AppleWorks. :p
 
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sracer said:
Now you did it. You HAD to mention AppleWorks! :eek:

Nearly a decade before I bought my first Apple computer I was using ClarisWorks and AppleWorks for Windows. Talk about a little powerhouse. I was able to do things with those apps that made MS Office users jealous. The discontinuing of AppleWorks is just another software sore spot.

If Apple does anything to prevent iWork 09 from running on OSX, even though I have a very capable alternative in LibreOffice, I might just go back to Windows and AppleWorks. :p
Click to expand...

What is very unsettling is opening one of those office suites and seeing masses of jargon, squiggles, and alien icons all around the edges. My brain all most goes tilt. In comparison Pages is neat and clean. This is my goal. :)
 
Huntn said:
What is very unsettling is opening one of those office suites and seeing masses of jargon, squiggles, and alien icons all around the edges. My brain all most goes tilt. In comparison Pages is neat and clean. This is my goal. :)
Click to expand...
I can understand that. All of that is customizable in LibreOffice. After you go through configuring it once, it is set. Since I have to use MS Office for work, I have installed an Office 2013 icon set for LibreOffice so maintain a visual consistency.
 
sracer said:
I can understand that. All of that is customizable in LibreOffice. After you go through configuring it once, it is set. Since I have to use MS Office for work, I have installed an Office 2013 icon set for LibreOffice so maintain a visual consistency.
Click to expand...
I'll have to look at it. Can't beat the price as I recall. ;)
 
sracer said:
I can understand that. All of that is customizable in LibreOffice. After you go through configuring it once, it is set. Since I have to use MS Office for work, I have installed an Office 2013 icon set for LibreOffice so maintain a visual consistency.
Click to expand...

I posted this thread today: Looking For Advice
Then I saw this thread at Apple Discussions about the loss of RTF in Pages.

It may be time to install Libre Office. I want something to make the back and forth between the Guides I write and post to MacRumors without undue formatting hassles. Hopefully this is the answer. I forget, but did anyone mention if LibreOffice includes a "bookmark" feature?

Thanks! :)

exegete77 said:
I, too, found Pages 09 very helpful, but didn't want to live on borrowed time. After trying a few programs I settled on iCalamus, and it works very well. I had some initial problems, but the developer has been very responsive.

I have Affinity Phot and Designer, and am eagerly waiting for their Publisher program due later this year. If it meets my needs, then I will switch to it.
Click to expand...

Does iCalamus offer a bookmark type feature? Thanks!
 
Part 1: Example of using LibreOffice to copy/paste Rich Text into a MacRumors Forum Post.
Note that the bold and imbedded links are carried in. After posting, I will copy and paste from MacRumors to my Libreoffice document and report back. Undesired formatting exposed.

Rich Text Paste:
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }

This is a Rich Text Test

This is a Rich Text Test


Here is a link.

ODT format Paste:
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }
This is a Rich Text Test

This is a Rich Text Test


Here is a link.

Part 2: Copy/Paste from Macrumors back to LibreOffice, then back to Macrumors:

Example of using LibreOffice to copy/paste Rich Text into a MacRumors Forum Post. Note that the bold and imbedded links are carried in. There is some extraneous formatting that is exposed.

Note there is some formatting that is exposed. This is a good first step.

Rich Text Paste:
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }

This is a Rich Text Test

This is a Rich Text Test


Here is a link.

ODT format Paste:
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }
This is a Rich Text Test

This is a Rich Text Test


Here is a link.

Summary for this post:
There are some formatting that is carried along with the copy/pastes which is undesirable. I've noticed that LibreOffice has about 10 formats which the document can be saved in. Any ideas, which would be best to avoid the formatting showing?

Like this: { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }. Don't want that showing. :)
Thanks!
 
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I recommend Scrivener. You need to go via Pages or Word to create the final output. But IMO nothing trumps Scrivener for working with long documents.
 
Unless I've lost my mind, it appears that the latest version of iOS Pages no longer has a B for bold text key. What the hell? I started a thread in the iOS forum asking about this, hopefully it's still there somewhere. :confused:
 
Huntn said:
Unless I've lost my mind, it appears that the latest version of iOS Pages no longer has a B for bold text key. What the hell? I started a thread in the iOS forum asking about this, hopefully it's still there somewhere. :confused:
Click to expand...
Does command+B work? Seems to on mine. Unless I'm losing my mind and you're talking about soemthing else!
 
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I realize the OP is from August, but Pages '09 seems to work fine with both Yosemite and El Capitan.

I sense that it will continue to run for some time into the future, perhaps through several more releases of the Mac OS...
 
Fishrrman said:
I realize the OP is from August, but Pages '09 seems to work fine with both Yosemite and El Capitan.

I sense that it will continue to run for some time into the future, perhaps through several more releases of the Mac OS...
Click to expand...

That's good to know. I am happy with Pages 09. I'm been mulling over upgrading to El Capitan. Does it by chance have a smaller footprint, any performance improvements, or compelling reasons to upgrade from Yosemite, which I'm currently using?
 
Fishrrman said:
I realize the OP is from August, but Pages '09 seems to work fine with both Yosemite and El Capitan.

I sense that it will continue to run for some time into the future, perhaps through several more releases of the Mac OS...
Click to expand...
Be warned: There are some issues with Pages '09 running on El Cap.
 
sracer wrote above:
"Be warned: There are some issues with Pages '09 running on El Cap."

What are they, please?
 
After starting this thread last Fall, I finally got serious about LibreOffice and it crashed on me twice within 15 min using Yosemite. :( Any new suggestions for 2016? :)

The search continues- Is anyone using Ulysses? My understanding, this does not include page layout which I like having and use on occasion.

robgendreau said:
Nisus Pro has bookmarks. It's a great word processor and would probably be a much better long document creator than Pages. Aside from bookmarks it can also do cross references, and it has a strong set of tools for TOC's, indexing, etc.

But page layout, OTOH, isn't it's strength. It can draw and place stuff, but it is primarily for word processing.
Click to expand...

I'll finally take a look at Nisus Pro.
 
I have to say give MS Office another look. Its is the gold standard when it comes to Office apps. All the others strive to be like it but none have been able to set themselves apart.
 
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Huntn said:
I've been using Pages 09 since it came out as part of iWork '09. When Apple dumped the bookmark feature with Pages v5 (I believe) I was upset, but happy the 09 version still works. However something tells me, I'm on borrowed time, that at some point Pages 09 will no longer be compatible with a new MacOS version. I'm really happy with the ease of use of this application for both text and layout, and am familiar with it so I'm not all that happy about this prospect.

Is there an easy work around to get the bookmark feature working on the newer version of Pages? I just want something that makes it easy to jump to different points in a long document.

I've read that in Pages v5, a Table of Contents can be added that automatically updates? I'll have to look at this. What's really nice about Pages 09 is that the bookmarks resides in a little window as part of the inspector, so you don't have to scroll back to the beginning of a document to access the TOC. Comments on that feature?

That said, any recommendations on a productivity MacOS native substitute other than an office suite which would have both the text editing and layout features and include an organizational feature like bookmarks?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Forget pages. Try Keynote. I know it sounds silly but with keynote you can do almost everything you do with pages , and bookmarks work. I stopped using pages because of that and then I remembered that keynote is not just for presentations, its a word processor as well. Just try it.
 
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The importance of bookmarks to me, is that when working with a long document, I depend on the bookmark window to quickly jump/navigate around the document.

iStudio is a pretty amazing as a desktop publishing program and very reasonably priced ($30). Alas, no bookmarks.
Ulysses is a more expensive, with bookmarks, and seems full featured, but I really want to have some desktop publishing capabilities for those occasions when I want it. If it had that I'd pay the $45.

Guys, thanks for the suggestions! :)

maflynn said:
I have to say give MS Office another look. Its is the gold standard when it comes to Office apps. All the others strive to be like it but none have been able to set themselves apart.
Click to expand...

At $150 MSO is steep for personal use. Ironically during my career, Apple Works and Pages filled the bill. :(

pnvgordinho said:
Forget pages. Try Keynote. I know it sounds silly but with keynote you can do almost everything you do with pages , and bookmarks work. I stopped using pages because of that and then I remembered that keynote is not just for presentations, its a word processor as well. Just try it.
Click to expand...

I'll look at it. Thanks! :) I went to my Apps folder thinking Keynote would be there, but all I have is the Keynote 09 version that came with iWork. I assume there is newer if I want to purchase it. The thing about iWork 09 is that it's getting old. That's why I'm looking for a Pages 09 replacement. :)

neutrino23 said:
Apple is still updating iWork. Go to the feedback site for Pages and explain to them how important this feature is for you.
Click to expand...

I've sent feedback to them. It seems with Apple, their heart is no longer in the apps they include with their OS. With Appleworks followed by Pages, sure make it simpler, but the long term trend seems to be less features over time. I had some pretty amazing templates in Appleworks where I could print 2 sided half pages, with an outline formatted style. This still aggravates me. :(
 
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