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Comments and Track Changes Support

I am new to Pages and purchased it on my iPad thinking it would be great to view work documents. The majority of documents I receive are in MS Word .doc or .docx file format. The documents often contain track changes and comments. After reading the Pages description before purchasing it, the description led me to believe that Pages supports .doc and .docx files. To my dismay when I opened my first .doc document in Pages, Pages stripped out comments and does not support track changes, essentially rendering my document useless to view in Pages. My understanding from users of Pages on the Mac OS is that this does not happen.

Is my experience user error and if so, are there settings I need to change? Or is this an oversight on Apple's part and Pages for the enterprise user of the iPad is more of a shredder than useful word processor.

Thanks.
Kind regards.

iPad, iPhone OS 3.1.2

Posted on Apr 15, 2010 4:56 PM

61 replies

dp3328

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Apr 30, 2011 6:21 PM in response to techattorney

And add me as another frustrated that I cannot track changes on Pages on my iPad. Here is my take: Apple does magnificently on hardware, jot on software, especially for the workplace. The iPad is bringing Apple into the workplace more, but their software designers don't seem to appreciate the needs of professionals. Apple works much better in the home, for creative work, and for young people. A true shame. We've been testing iPads at work, and I love them, but because of software drawbacks like lack of track changes (and creation of abbreviations on my iPad Outlook software)' I've now directed our IT Dept. To bring in the new BB Gameplay tablet for testing.

May 3, 2011 8:55 AM in response to dp3328

Add me to frustration. Here is my work around:

Use Logmein (or similar) to use iPad remotely to work on tracked document directly on office computer OR to print it to pdf from office and email it to my iPad and use pdf to annotate the pdf (which shows tracked changes) from iPad.

Jul 29, 2011 8:43 AM in response to techattorney

I'll jump on the bandwhagon as well - definitely want Track Changes on Pages for iPad!

Jul 30, 2011 11:10 AM in response to ToddClayton

In Documents To Go you can READ and edit changes tracked by others but if you add new changes outside of already tracked changes, they do not show up.

beerymr

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Aug 9, 2011 8:39 AM in response to dp3328

iPad 2 is my exposure to Apple in a computing environment. Let me say that I love the device, but that it has no place in business until Apple either fixes Pages' treatment of track changes or they allow third party software that does.

I will continue to depend MS Word and a Windows device for business.

I'm truly disappointed. I wanted the iPad to be my portable device for business.

Given the number and breadth of comments and the extended time period over which they've occurred, it would appear that Apple really doesn't have much interest in this market segment.

Lullah

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Sep 8, 2011 12:37 AM in response to piatigorsky

Same here

Without track changes, the app is useless to me

Nov 11, 2011 11:17 PM in response to Lullah

Another me, too... was seriously considering an iPad 2 for proofreading on-the-go, but lack of TC in the mobile app makes it effectively useless for me.

Nov 12, 2011 1:22 PM in response to techattorney

Lack of "track changes" capability means that I still have to travel with my laptop. So what's the point of having the iPad?

Nov 13, 2011 6:41 AM in response to TimDanaher

Mind you, the implementation of Track Changes in Pages is terrible, but it's better than nothing...

Dec 12, 2011 11:22 AM in response to TimDanaher

Pages for iPad us useless for me as well if I cannot track and make changes in documents.

Dec 19, 2011 10:47 AM in response to techattorney

Yep, needs to track changes. This feature is a must for anyone beyond the age of 16.

Jan 23, 2012 7:52 PM in response to techattorney

Same here...need this functionality desperately!

Jan 24, 2012 1:20 AM in response to WriteInteractive, Inc.

Let's keep the momentum up on this one, folks... I have money burning a hole in my pocket for an iPad, but without the ability to track changes (about 80% of what I'd use it for), it's little more than an expensive drinks coaster...

Jan 27, 2012 11:40 AM in response to techattorney

Couldn't agree more. Had two examples yesterday of documents where I really really needed track changes. I have to say I won't be recommending others get an IPad until this is fixed.

Crawlpe

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Jan 27, 2012 11:57 PM in response to techattorney

Me too. Ms word is the industry standard. We have this across 1000's of Pc's and it will clearly not change in a hurry. It's essential to be able to work keeping track changes from others and to include mine. If this was available for the iPad it would be fantastic. The iPad woul become an important business tool. iPads in use are personal purchases to support travel. However wide spread roll out would never happen without track changes support, import and export support.

Could some one from apple explain why this does not happen?

Comments and Track Changes Support