Pages loses formatting and text when converting from docx or doc

Question

Level 1

13 points

Pages loses formatting and text when converting from docx or doc

I receive .docx or .doc documents that I need to convert to a PDF. However, I frequently lose both formatting and text when I open the document in Pages. I don't understand how to fix the problem. I have tried copying/pasting the text into a new Pages document, but nothing changes.

Also, I have heard there is a freeware program out there that some Apple users use that retains the formatting, but I don't know the name.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I have to use a PC in the meantime.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 20, 2010 10:12 PM

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Answer 1

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Dec 21, 2010 1:21 AM in response to Tricia_S

I never got the described behavior.

May you send a sample file to my maibox ?

Click my blue name to get my address.

The free clones of Office which I know are :

openOffice
http://www.openoffice.org/

neoOffice
http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/fr/index.php

libreOffice
http://www.documentfoundation.org/download/

OOo4kids
http://download.ooo4kids.org/

OOoLight
http://download.ooo4kids.org/en/pre-version-ooolight-en

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) mardi 21 décembre 2010 10:21:36

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Answer 2

Tricia_S Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 9, 2011 11:41 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Hi. Sorry it's been a while but I didn't see your reply until I logged in. Evidently, the setting that tells the support group to send me an email when someone posts a reply to my post/question isn't working.

In any event, I don't know if I can forward the problem to you, but I'll try next time I get one. If it's not happening to you, then I'm not sure the problem will occur for you the same way it does for me.

I will try some of the links you sent, though, and thank you for them.

Keep an eye out for a future email direct to you if this happens again.

Thanks!

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2011 1:51 PM in response to Tricia_S

The compatibility between various versions of Word and Pages only goes so far. if it's mostly text, no problem. as soon as there's any formatting, multiple columns, or imbedded graphics, the resulting file in Pages is terribly malformed.

That's why MS Office 11 is available for Macintosh.

BTW the same is true for XLS/X > Numbers and PPT > Keynote. Some compatibility, doesn't go far.

the two sets of software are NOT EQUIVALENT and if you were sold iWork based on compatibility you should get a refund and purchase Office for Mac

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Answer 4

Tricia_S Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 14, 2011 8:11 PM in response to Karl_out_West

Thanks to all for replying. I know the compatibility is not perfect and that iPages is not MS Word. But it's not even very close. At the very least, I would expect that even if I lose formatting, I would have all the text. But that's not even the case. I didn't get Office because it's expensive, and I don't need it. At least, when Apple told me that iPages would suffice in accepting .doc and .docx, I thought I didn't need it. I at least applaud Apple for not trying to sell me something just to make a bigger sale.

I have a line on other conversion programs, but so far, one wanted to take 24 hours to download. Pretty sure I don't want to do that.

In the meantime, my only solution is to open these documents on a PC with Word and go from there. I'm going to keep trying, but I still think it's not right that iPages loses content, not just formatting. If anyone has any ideas about that problem, I'm all ears.

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Answer 5

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jan 14, 2011 9:43 PM in response to Tricia_S

Hi Tricia,

Like Yvan earlier, I must confess some surprise at Pages losing text content of a Word document on translation. Formatting, yet.

The only circumstance where text loss seems at all likely is if the text was contained in a Text Frame. Even then, I would expect the frame to be converted to a Text Box, and the contents retained in the Pages document.

Meantime, I would recommend you try OpenOffice.org or NeoOffice, either of which will open .doc and .docx files, and will save to either of those formats as well. The links will take you directly to the sites for these applications.

Regarding the long download times: a 24 hour estimate would indicate you are on a dialup connection, or getting only dialup speeds. Most public libraries and a large number of coffee houses here in Canada offer free wireless hot spots that provide a high speed connection. If that's also true in Colorado, you might find it more efficient to take your MacBook to one of them for a shorter download time.

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 6

fruhulda

Level 6

15,167 points

Jan 14, 2011 10:03 PM in response to Tricia_S

Tricia_s, open the Word document in TextEdit. Does it retain the text?
In Pages what warning message do you get?
How much text are you missing?
I have opened large .doc files in Pages but all text is there even if the formatting in text frames are changed.

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Answer 7

Jan 15, 2011 1:12 AM in response to Tricia_S

I receive .docx or .doc documents that I need to convert to a PDF. However, I frequently lose both formatting and text when I open the document in Pages. I don't understand how to fix the problem.

Probably, the description of the problem is incomplete. It is unlikely that plain text is lost, provided plain text is represented as plain text. This implies that what you think is represented as revisable plain text is not in fact represented as revisable plain text.

From your phrasing of the problem, it appears that you work with PDF Portable Document Format. Everyday endusers who work with PDF do not necessarily, as a minor mountain of mail indicates, distinguish non-revisable .PDF from revisable document formats such as .DOC.

PDF leads to all sorts of problems, in particular if the domain of imaging is not intertwined with the domain of information through what is technically termed 'tagged PDF' which requires PDF 1.4 and higher with matching of the rendering order at the level of graphic data by reading order at the level of graphic metadata through Adobe XMP Extensible Markup Platform.

/hh

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