iWork 09 will not open on G4 10.4.11

What do you mean by DVD installer (upgrade version)? Do you have iWork 09 on a DVD or not? If so and you have installed them have updated iWork through Software update check??? iWork 09 does work on Tiger 10.4.11.

Thanks. My late night posts usually drift away from the lucid side of reality. 😉

For clarification:

iBook originally had iWork 08 installed (was included on the machine when purchased used). Purchased the iWork 09 DVD upgrade disk and installed 09. No problem. Been using iWork on that machine for awhile. Also, the DVD installer did not require a registration number.

After reinstalling Tiger, I moved back to the HD all iWork related files on the clone (applications/applications support (both libraries)/receipt pkgs/preference files in User Lib) to the HD. None of the 3 apps would open. Message was "files that iWork needs are missing. To restore the missing files use the iWork Installer to reinstall iWork).

As the iWork DVD was for the first version, I trashed any pkg files from the receipt folder related to subsequent upgrades. I also trashed the 3 apps in the application folder since they were a version subsequent to the DVD. Ran the DVD installer again. No problems with install (certain Tiger files were added per the screen prompts). When I clicked on any of the 3 apps, nothing happens, not even a prompt.

The cloned HD remains intact. In fact, I booted from it and iWork operates as intended.

Hope that provides you enough information. Seems there may be invisible files on the clone, or perhaps a file that contains registration information.

Appreciate any feedback. thanks.

Hi Peggy

Thanks for the feedback.

As you'll see from my recent post, I trashed all those files both manually. Also, after a second install I removed everything via the supplied script.

Also I ran software update after reinstalling via the DVD. No updates appeared. As I mentioned in my last post, prior to the DVD install, I trashed any iWork related pkg files other than iWork09.pkg from the receipt folder.

Hi Yvan

I ran your script again. Plus removed all related items out of the Receipts folder. Reran DVD Installer. Checked that all files you mentioned are installed. The only file missing was iWork09.plist in /Library/Preferences. I moved that copy from the clone to the correct location. Initial versions of the iWork suite are installed. However, when I try to open Pages, Numbers or Keynote, I get the prompt telling me files are missing. All files you mentioned are on the HD in their correct location.

Perhaps the iWork09.plist reflects updated information from a later version of iWork09.

Not sure which other files the program is looking for?

Software Update did not show any updates available, nor has it in any of my attempts to get this working. As I noted, I removed the 02 and 03 packages from the receipts folder, only leaving the iWork09.pkg file there. Strange SU doesn't recognize iWork,

Hi Peggy,

The most common reason for Software Update not recognizing updates for iWork apps is moving or renaming them.

I did not rename or move the apps. The 3 apps are located in /Applications/ iWork '09 folder.

Seems there may be an issue with the receipts folder. I'd call Apple, however the machine is well out of warranty. And I don't want to sit through 30 minutes of someone telling me everything already hashed out in this thread. By chance, do you know Steve Jobs telephone number. 😉

Appreciate your working this out with me.

Thanks, Joseph

Hi Peggy

Absurdity exercise continues. 😟

I trashed every possible iWork related file mentioned in various threads (including this one), as well as any Software Update files. Also purge the Cache folders of any iWork related items. Restarted the computer. Ran the DVD Installer again. Opened Pages. Same prompt that files are missing?

Noticed the com.apple.iWork09.plist was not installed in /Library/Preferences. Moved that file from my clone. Same "missing file" prompt. Noticed no iWork entries in the ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost folder. So, added them from my clone drive. Opened Pages...same "missing file" prompt. 😟

I'm going to reinstall Tiger (again). Once I go through the various Software Updates, I'll install iWork 09 via DVD before I do anything else.

I'll post back.

(1) installing Preferences plist files borrowed from an other install is very bad practice. When the application doesn't find the preferences files, it rebuild them starting from its internal resources. When you install borrowed ones, the app try to use them and, as they contain links to an other Hard Disk, it claims "files unavailable". From my point of view it's perfectly logical.

Agreed. Yes, I understand now the oddities I created when I first moved iWork from the clone to the HD. Running the DVD Installer on top of it no doubt added to the confusion. There must be other files (perhaps System files) that prevented Pages etc from opening. Hence, my decision to reinstall Tiger and start from scratch.

I reinstalled Tiger and updated to 10.4.11. Then ran the iWork DVD installer. This time it worked. Software Update is still a no-go, so I instead downloaded/installed the updates via Apple.

Thank's to everyone for their input and help. Much appreciated.

Regards, joseph