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Is there any way to automatically have pages use the .docx file format?

This might be a dumb question, and maybe one without a solution, but it's the internet and so I'm going for it.


I use pages to type documents because I love it's simple and clean interface, but whenever I'm submitting documents or sharing them, the standard file formatting is still .doc or .docx, or .pdf. I was wondering if there was any way that I could just have the files saved in a doc format without having to export them every single time?


Thank you in advance!

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 9:25 PM

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Posted on Jan 21, 2022 5:15 AM

Apple's Pages is not a Word clone that provides a means to directly save in Word .docx format. As Barry explained, there is a translation process for opening and exporting Word documents which may not result in the document appearance that you planned. Apple makes no guarantee about this translation process.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 21, 2022 5:15 AM in response to waldoishere

Apple's Pages is not a Word clone that provides a means to directly save in Word .docx format. As Barry explained, there is a translation process for opening and exporting Word documents which may not result in the document appearance that you planned. Apple makes no guarantee about this translation process.

Jan 20, 2022 10:09 PM in response to waldoishere

No.


Like most applications (including MS Word) files are saved by default in the applications standard format.


When you export a Pages document to MS Word format, Pages must translate the file from it's own internal language to the language used for MS Word documents. In the process, all features supported in Pages, but not in Word and most features supported in a different way by the two applications are 'lost in translation.' Similarly, when you open a .docx file in Pages, all features supported in MS Word, but not supported in Pages and most supported in a different manner in the two applications are 'lost in translation.'


You might be able to build an Automator routine that would save you the hassle of having to go through the steps to export a Pages file to .docx format, but that would not eliminate the built in changes (all losses) involved in the translate and export process itself. If you are gegularly sending .docx files that were originally composed in pages, you should seriously consider installing MS Office Mac on your Mac. Even if you do not use it for typing your documents, it could be useful (and possibly enlightening) to see what the recipients of those translated files see on their Windows devices.


Regards,

Barry

Is there any way to automatically have pages use the .docx file format?

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