PaoloT.

Q: Unhiding filename extension of exported files

Hi,

 

When exporting a file from Pages (PDF, DOCX…) the filename extension (.pdf, .docx…) is automatically hidden, even if it appears in the file save dialog. Since these are mostly files to be sent to collaborators on a PC, seeing the filename extension is very important.

 

Is there any way to force Pages to let these extensions visible?

 

Thank you!

Paolo

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 6:51 AM

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Q: Unhiding filename extension of exported files

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  • by PeterBreis0807,

    PeterBreis0807 PeterBreis0807 Sep 19, 2016 6:57 AM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 8 (35,750 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 6:57 AM in response to PaoloT.

    It is up to your PC users own settings as to whether they see file extensions or not.

     

    On a Mac just select the file and Get Info (command i) then check the Show file extension checkbox.

     

    There also is a checkbox in the Save dialogue to either show or hide the extension.

     

    Peter

  • by PaoloT.,

    PaoloT. PaoloT. Sep 19, 2016 7:06 AM in response to PeterBreis0807
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iWork
    Sep 19, 2016 7:06 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

    Hi Peter,

     

    Before being the PC user's, the lack of filename extension is my own problem, since I have a list of files with the same name in the Finder (My Document.pages, My Document, My Document). The file icon is not always all that useful, especially if you use the list view.

     

    The Export File dialog does not contain a Show file extension checkbox, at least in Yosemite. The extension is shown in the name field, but then is not shown in the Finder.

     

    Paolo

  • by Peggy,Helpful

    Peggy Peggy Sep 19, 2016 2:37 PM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 8 (38,890 points)
    Applications
    Sep 19, 2016 2:37 PM in response to PaoloT.

    There is a setting in Finder > Preferences > Advanced to show all file extensions. This preference exists in all versions of OS X at least as far back as Tiger, OS X 10.4.11 (the oldest version I have running on a Mac). The items in the window may be different with the different OS versions, but show all extensions is the first one in all versions I checked.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-19 at 9.49.09 AM.png

  • by VikingOSX,Helpful

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Sep 19, 2016 2:37 PM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 7 (21,165 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 2:37 PM in response to PaoloT.

    Pages does not export with extensions shown, and there is no means to force it to do so.

     

    Here is a short AppleScript that will unhide any hidden file extensions. Select the file(s) in a Finder window, and run the script. You can save the script as an application, or script, and double-click it to run it.

     

    -- enable visible file extensions for selected files in Finder

    tell application "Finder"

         set sel to selection

         if sel = {} then

              display dialog "No items selected"

              return

         end if

         repeat with aFile in sel

              set extension hidden of aFile to false

         end repeat

    end tell

    return


    I also have an AppleScript that is voice activated, and all I have to do is speak "show extension" and the extension appears in real time on the selected file.

  • by PaoloT.,

    PaoloT. PaoloT. Sep 19, 2016 2:39 PM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iWork
    Sep 19, 2016 2:39 PM in response to PaoloT.

    Thank you all for the hints. Unfortunately, I fear the straight answer, here, is "No, you can't export files with unhidden extensions". I hope sooner or later they will follow my request, and fix this bug.

     

    Paolo

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Sep 19, 2016 3:11 PM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 8 (38,890 points)
    Applications
    Sep 19, 2016 3:11 PM in response to PaoloT.

    I have never had a problem having exported Pages or Numbers files having the desired extension showing. I just did a brief test again in both Pages 4.3 & Pages 5.6.2 & both exported the file with the .docx extension visible. Perhaps it is because I always have file extensions showing, I don't know.

  • by PaoloT.,

    PaoloT. PaoloT. Sep 19, 2016 3:42 PM in response to Peggy
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iWork
    Sep 19, 2016 3:42 PM in response to Peggy

    Peggy, yes, if you have the extensions always shown in the Finder preferences, you get exported files with the extension shown. If you prefer to decide for each type of file, and leave the Finder preference so that you are free to show or hide the extensions, then Pages exports with hidden extensions.

     

    Paolo

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Sep 19, 2016 8:54 PM in response to PaoloT.
    Level 8 (38,890 points)
    Applications
    Sep 19, 2016 8:54 PM in response to PaoloT.

    That does make sense. I learned years ago to always use file extensions just as I've learned to always show invisibles. I find the benefits out-weigh the negatives.

  • by PeterBreis0807,

    PeterBreis0807 PeterBreis0807 Sep 20, 2016 12:06 AM in response to Peggy
    Level 8 (35,750 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 12:06 AM in response to Peggy

    I agree Peggy.

     

    One of the more astonishing features of Windows, which more or less introduced the concept of file extensions, now that I am using W10, is how it persists in hiding the extensions, much to my annoyance.

     

    Peter

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Sep 20, 2016 9:22 AM in response to PeterBreis0807
    Level 8 (38,890 points)
    Applications
    Sep 20, 2016 9:22 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

    One benefit of using file extensions is that you can have multiple files of the same name & content in the same location. As long as the file extension is different, Finder recognizes that they are different files.

     

    I got used to using file extensions way back when I moved to OS X with Jaguar, OS X 10.2, & AppleWorks files.