rtf with Images

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Level 1

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rtf with Images

I am trying to open .rtf wiles with images in them using Pages and it looks like pages does not properly parse the images. It will load everything else, but skips the images. I open the file using Microsoft Word and it looks perfect.

This is a rather important feature for us as we generate rtf files for reports and the like. Many of our clients (perhaps 25% of them) have a Mac and we would just love to be able to support Pages as an alternative to Microsoft Word.

thanks,

Scott Schmitz

Mac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Apr 19, 2011 12:11 PM

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Answer 1

Peggy

Level 8

41,829 points

Apr 19, 2011 2:02 PM in response to ScottSchmitz

Have you tried opening the rtf in TextEdit to see if the problem is with Pages or the Mac in general? It could be a problem with the format used by Word. Microsoft is well-known for "doing their own thing." 😮

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Answer 2

ScottSchmitz Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 19, 2011 2:20 PM in response to Peggy

The file opens perfectly using Microsoft Word. However, when opened with TextEdit or Pages, the images are not displayed. This is due to a limitation in how Apple parses the .RTF file. The format specification clearly allows embedded images. But Apple is not properly parsing that data.

Here's the rtf specification:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Text_Format

This will require Apple to make a change to their parsing algorithm so that they will load the images. This is really the right thing to do.

I should mention that OpenOffice will correctly load the image inside of the .rtf file.

Scott.

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Answer 3

fruhulda

Level 6

15,167 points

Apr 20, 2011 1:16 AM in response to ScottSchmitz

RTF usually doesn't handle images. RTFD does.

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Answer 4

ScottSchmitz Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 20, 2011 9:38 AM in response to fruhulda

The problem with RTFD is that Microsoft Word does not read it. In fact, it is a Mac only file format and technically not possible to open a RTFD file on a PC. RTFD is a rather clever extension to RTF that is Mac specific.

Everything we do is platform-neutral. So, to save a file that can not be opened on a PC, makes no sense. As does creating something can can't be opened on a Mac.

The solution to this problem is that Apple needs to write some code that parses and reads the embedded images that are inside of a RTf file.

They can continue to support RTFD. THis loading of images in RTF does not exclude that at all.

There's really no excuise for not doing this.

Scott.

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Answer 5

Dec 6, 2016 12:22 PM in response to ScottSchmitz

Hi Scott,

I'm running into this same issue and filed bug reports about it. I agree, there is no excuse for Apple to use RTFD instead of just simply implementing the actual RTF spec which allows for proper image handling. It would be good if you (and everyone) can provide feedback to Apple to support the full RTF spec.

Mo

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Answer 6

Dec 6, 2016 1:11 PM in response to Mohannad Hashem

The current version of Pages 6.05 does not support rtf nor rtfd to my knowledge.

Peter

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Answer 7

Dec 6, 2016 1:15 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Pages 6 in general just *****, but that's a whole different discussion. What I am talking about is basic support for the full RTF spec (on an OS level). This enables better compatibility with Windows users in addition to overall better standards support.

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Answer 8

Dec 6, 2016 2:21 PM in response to Mohannad Hashem

We agree on Pages 6, but again I believe that Pages 5 and 6 do not support rtf nor rtfd

Neither opening nor exporting to those formats, so I am not sure what you are talking about.

Peter

btw OSX has a Core Text framework in OSX since OSX 10.3 and why Apple yet again shows that it can't use its own standards in its own software beggars belief.

https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/StringsTextFonts/Conce ptual/CoreText_Programming/Introduction/…

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Answer 9

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,218 points

Dec 6, 2016 2:19 PM in response to Mohannad Hashem

Full RTF spec support? Seriously? Apple has shot that dog in the arse, and moved on. The last vestige of RTF on the Mac is in the clipboard, and there it uses Mac extensions.

Even LibreOffice v5.2.3 will not open RTFD documents on the Mac. The recently updated Bean v3.2.9 (strictly for macOS Sierra) does open RTFD documents with the content intact as though opened by Pages '09 v4.3.

There is explicitly no support for RTF in any release of Pages v5, or v6.

You can provide Pages feedback from the Pages application menu, but all it will do is get the remaining members of the Pages product team to laugh even harder at their folly.

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Answer 10

Dec 6, 2016 2:28 PM in response to VikingOSX

Nice use of the word "arse" Viking! 🙂 In Australia we would say that Apple has made a total arse of their software, which has a nuanced meaning on the American word which would merely mean "a fool of itself". Which also applies but doesn't cover the complete stuff-up and conversion to krypto-uselessness.

Apple's sanctimonious nanny language vetting system is totally culturally introverted.

Peter

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Answer 11

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,218 points

Dec 6, 2016 3:06 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Arsing up in the vernacular. 😉

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