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Set the initial (default) window size

The default size of Pages (actually, of all the iWork apps) is smaller than I like and I repeatedly have to resize the window to a size I prefer. Is there any way to specify a new default window size for iWork apps?


Thanks.

iWork-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 13, 2011 11:44 AM

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15 replies

May 13, 2011 12:18 PM in response to LDMartin1959

You can set the default zoom for new documents created from templates or imported documents in the Pages preferences > Rulers. It doesn't matter what the zoom was of a template you created when you save it, it will always open at the setting in the preferences. Only if you save a document at a particular zoom will it reopen at that same setting.


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May 14, 2011 9:39 AM in response to LDMartin1959

One of my frequent answers:


You need to create your own default template. Open the blank template & insert a table, click in it & choose the font, size, color, etc. you want in the fonts panel or format bar. You can do similar changes to inserted objects & text boxes. While you're at it resize the box if you want, set the amount of extra space in the wrap inspector, etc. Delete each text box, object & table after you've set them. Now, save this document as a template & select that template as default in preferences. If you decide to make any changes to the template down the road, just Save As Template again with the same name & replace the previous version.


Now, save this as a template then, in Pages > Preferences, select this template as the default for new documents. All of your new documents will have these settings for inserted objects, images & tables. Unfortunately, the settings won't apply to any other templates or "foreign" documents you open with Pages.


About the only thing you can’t set a template to do is remember to show invisibles & the window position. It is possible to get a template to show invisibles when opened, if you want. Save this document as a document then, in the Finder, change the extension from .pages to .template & put it in your My Templates folder in HD > Users > (your account) > Library > Application Support > iWork > Pages > Templates > My Templates.Set up your document with the line spacing, margins, headers, etc. as you'd like. Redefine all of the paragraph & character styles to have your desired font.

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May 17, 2011 9:18 PM in response to Peggy

Interesting. When I set the window size I wanted, then selected View | Zoom | Fit Width the zoom setting in the Rules Prefernces was set to a specific size (based on the zoom that was required to fit width) but that apparantly doesn't work. I wonder if it is simply the act of using the drop down you directed me to or if it was that the size which appeared there (280%) was not a standard size therefor not sufficiant for the template requirement....


Thanks for the info though. That helped a log.

May 18, 2011 2:16 AM in response to LDMartin1959

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. The View > Zoom control has nothing to do with setting a default display zoom. By dragging the lower right corner of a document window then choosing fit width or fit window the % in the lower left of the document window changed but the preference setting doesn't. It only allows a choice of one of the % in the drop-down menu.


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May 18, 2011 7:26 AM in response to Peggy

Actually, I think we are talking about the same thing, which may be why it didn't work for me the first time. Previously when I had resized the window and gone into the initial zoom settings (in the ruler preferences) it read 280%, which was the zoom level I that was set when I did View | Zoom | Fit Width, so it gave the appearance to me of having set the default zoom to the currently selected zoom level. I understand what you are saying, that changing the visible zoom level shouldn't/doesn't have anything to do with the default zoom settings, but what I saw was that it was changed when I changed the visible zoom level. It's just that it wasn't changed dispite what it seemed to be indicating.

Set the initial (default) window size

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