Set .doc as Default File Type

That's not the problem. The problem is that Apple is working against convenient interoperability with a competitor's product.

Making Pages write out as .doc by default would be trivial to implement, and valuable for those of us working cross-platform with Linux and Windows; its pure business logic leading Apple to make saving as .doc a more manual operation than saving as .pages

Hi Jay27,
Welcome to Pages '09 discussions.

I don't know of any way to have Pages save a file by default as .DOC. To me that isn't a deal breaker, it's something I can cope with.

Create the file in the Pages when you're finished do a File > Save As, as the bottom put a check mark in Save Copy As Word Document. Or when you're sending it via e-mail use the Share > Send Via Mail > Word. Again to me not a big deal, I do this day in day out.

These Discussions are enduser helping enduser, not Apple employees answering questions. Apple provides these discussion forums for endusers however, Apple neither monitors nor engages in discussions. Enduser such as yourself when they have extra time answer questions.

Again, welcome to Pages '09 Discussions, have fun here.

Cordially,
RicD

I assume that I can't set .doc files to open as default with Pages too, rather then Word.

You should be able to do that:

http://www.bittbox.com/os-x/how-to-set-the-default-program-to-open-a-certain-typ e-of-file-in-mac-os-x/

Jay27 wrote:
Yeah, I understand all of that.

A little bit disappointed overall with iWorks, not quite as good as I hoped.

Hi Jay27,
FYI; iWork not iWorks.

iWork is a wonderful program, it's better in many areas than you can imagine. Using the Users Guide (Help > Pages Users Guide) you'll find it has tremendous power, many whistles and bells. It isn't the same as MS Word (that wasn't its intent), in many areas MS Word isn't as good as Pages '09. If you're wanting a more direct MS Office replacement then look to NeoOffice, OpenOffice.

For you most likely Pages '09 may not do some of what you want, certainly doesn't make it not a good program. There hasn't been any program I've ever worked with that does all I want or I think it should. Give yourself time with Pages '09 and the users guide.

Have fun here.

Cordially,

RicD

I understand your frustration, but the problem is that pages is not a trying to be an MS Office like tool. In my view, it is really best in a stand alone or limited external environment (unless you have a really fortunate group that uses Mac exclusively). You can "export" or "save as" but only to "leave" pages.

I'm currently writing my dissertation in Pages and have to "export" it to Word for the dissertation committee and re-convert it back after the changes. It does a fine job of doing that for me so far.

MS Word is an excellent companion product (not free). It contains a great deal of features. I'm torn at times as to which program to use. For simplicity sake, I always find myself back in pages.

Jay27 wrote:
I assume that I can't set .doc files to open as default with Pages too, rather then Word.

This question is completely different of the original one.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 17 janvier 2009 19:00:48)

Jay27 wrote:
I assume that I can't set .doc files to open as default with Pages too, rather then Word.

Hi Jay27,
It sounds as though you come from Windows and that you're new to Mac. That's not a bad thing at all welcome to the World of Mac.

In Windows you are familiar with file association; Mac has it as well. You associate the .DOC file to open in Pages. Tom Gewecke provided you with the link to do it. Or you can highlight the file then do File > Open With.

See how easy that is. Your comment "...I assume that I can't set .doc files to open as default with Pages too, rather then Word." sounds as though you may want to explore the Mac Help files.

Cordially,

RicD

I think this forum topic has strayed away from the original question, which has actually never been answered.

To summarize, and perhaps close this forum topic --

NO you can not default save as a .doc file. You must always use the "Save as" and check the Word Document radio box. Pages isn't a Microsoft product. It can convert your files for you, but it's written to be its own standalone product.

YES you can set all .doc to open in Pages, but for those who use both Word and Pages, you aren't going to want to do that. The easiest way to open a .Doc file in Pages is just to drag the document onto the Pages doc icon, or right click an select open with...

"Making Pages write out as .doc by default would be trivial to implement, and valuable for those of us working cross-platform with Linux and Windows; its pure business logic leading Apple to make saving as .doc a more manual operation than saving as .pages"

Take a look at NeoOffice and/or OpenOffice.org. You'll notice that neither of these support setting .doc as the default format for saving word processing documents either. One or both do warn you that the MS Office format for this type of document may not support some of the formatting you have done in the document, and suggest that you save in the native Open Document format.

The same applies with Pages, Numbers and Keynote—some things you can do with the iWork applications is not supported by the MS Office applications (and vice versa).

If what you suggest is critically important to your use and enjoyment of this application, go to the Pages menu, choose Provide Pages Feedback, and request that this feature be added. If you (and a sufficiently large number of others) make similar requests, it may convince the developers to add this feature. If little interest is expressed, it's not going to happen.

Regards,
Barry

cshirky wrote:
That's not the problem. The problem is that Apple is working against convenient interoperability with a competitor's product.

Making Pages write out as .doc by default would be trivial to implement

Your response is perfectly absurd.
This would be a perfect nono.

A program is designed to operate on its own native format.

Every other format IS imported or exported.

Pages '08 documents are IMPORTED by Pages '09 which is forced to rebuild the document's structure.
Pages '09 is forced to EXPORT if you want to get a Pages '08 document.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE dimanche 12 avril 2009 18:13:32)

There are so many stuck up Apple Fan Boy jerks on these forums. Not only is it absolutely appropriate to want this functionality from Pages, but it's also VERY simple to get it.

Lee Findlow has instructions (as well as a pre-fixed, ready to download edited .plist file) on his blog:

http://leefindlow.com/blog/2009/01/iwork-09-pages-doc-support/

Scroll down a bit for the simple, non-techie version. Takes about five seconds, and saves you about 15 every time you save your word document.

Done and done. Should have been implemented in the first place, in my opinion.

I should add that, even better, this fix only affects documents you have already saved as .doc files.

In other words, if you're trying to save the document as a .doc file for the first time, you'll still need to check the box, but the next time you open up the document, you'll be able to use Command-S to save your work, just like usual.

Normal people get to have a native, fast, and stable .doc editor that's not overloaded with Microsoft crap features, and Apple geeks can keep sending each other beautifully designed notes about new specials at Whole Foods via Bonjour file sharing to the .01% of the Earth's people who use the .pages format.

Peace returns to the land.

It is ridiculous to get Pages to just use it as a Word replacement.

MacWord is the ultimate MsWord replacement, though even that is imperfect. Otherwise NeoOffice and *Open Office* are better choices than Pages if all you want is a Clayton's Word.

Pages is good at making Pages documents, as a bonus it saves to and opens Word documents. But that is not its +Raison d'être+. All you are doing is handicapping the good functions in Pages.

It is a bit like going out with a new girl you like, but insisting she dresses, talks and acts like your old girlfriend.

P.

Hi Peter

From time to time I disagree with you but this time I wish to say that your message is perfect !

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE mercredi 15 avril 2009 12:19:41)