I’ve already converted all of my files from an older version of Word to Pages files and am ready to update to the Catalina OS. I do not plan on buying the 64 bit version of Office. Once I update to Catalina and no longer have an operating version of Office if someone emails me a Word document will Pages be able to read it and convert it to Pages format?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.14
The translation involved in importing an MS Word file into Pages is done by Pages. The application MS Word has no part to play beyond providing the original file. That file is read and translated in Pages. NO changes are made to the original .docx file.
Similarly, when exporting a Pages file to MS Word file format, the internal pages file is translated to MS Word format by Pages and exported as a .docx file. The original Pages file remains active in Pages, and if it has been saved, remains in the location where you saved it, Note that if you are exporting a file that you previously imported, the new Word file may overwrite the older one if you have not revised the file name since the import.
The usual cautions apply. Translations from MS Word format to Pages format is not perfect,
Any MS Word feature not supported in Pages, or supported in a different manner will not be translated.
The same is true in thr opposite direction.
If you run into problenms, you might check out LibreOffice. This open source and free application offers generally more accurate transltions of MS Office documents to its own format and in the reverse direction than does Pages.
Regards,
Barry
The translation involved in importing an MS Word file into Pages is done by Pages. The application MS Word has no part to play beyond providing the original file. That file is read and translated in Pages. NO changes are made to the original .docx file.
Similarly, when exporting a Pages file to MS Word file format, the internal pages file is translated to MS Word format by Pages and exported as a .docx file. The original Pages file remains active in Pages, and if it has been saved, remains in the location where you saved it, Note that if you are exporting a file that you previously imported, the new Word file may overwrite the older one if you have not revised the file name since the import.
The usual cautions apply. Translations from MS Word format to Pages format is not perfect,
Any MS Word feature not supported in Pages, or supported in a different manner will not be translated.
The same is true in thr opposite direction.
If you run into problenms, you might check out LibreOffice. This open source and free application offers generally more accurate transltions of MS Office documents to its own format and in the reverse direction than does Pages.
Regards,
Barry
Thank you Barry, that was very helpful. I do have a follow up question. Will other apps/programs (other than Microsoft Office) that I have loaded on my computers potentially not work if they don't have 64 bit architecture? Is there a way to check apps/programs before I update to Catalina so I know which programs I might lose?
Thanks,
Ed
Hi Ed,
Apple has information on 32 bit apps and compatibility here: 32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support
MacWorld has review of Go64, a free utility to identify the 32 bit applications on your har drive here: https://www.macworld.com/article/3409097/go64-review.html
You can download the free Go 64 application from St Clair Software here: https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/index.html
Regards,
Barry
Converting Files with Catalina OS
