Save as in Pages on Lion

Craig,

We got that one solved.

Take a look here...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3200692?answerId=15701894022#15701894022

Craig,

I wouldn't call this implementation "solved." Saving in Lion is sooo poorly implemented, I can't begin to express how frustrating it is.

Here's a simple example from using TextEdit, but it's just as bad in Pages and all the other apps. Consider this:

I open file named database.xml file and edit it with TextEdit. Previously, all I would have to do was hit Cmd-S or go to the File menu and click "Save". Done. That's it.

Now, my save options are:

Close

Save a Version…

Duplicate

Export as PDF…

Revert to Saved

"Save a Version..." creates a new file in the original file location named database.txt -- not what I want to do.

Duplicate creates a new copy and now gives me the new option of "Save…" which still wants to save a text file and will force me to go through a warning dialogue to save over the original document - which I just wanted to save in the first place.

To add insult to injury, if I opened the file by browsing to it, the finder is pointed to the right location. But if I didn't, I have to hunt through my folders and find the location where I want to save the file, change the extension from .txt to .xml, and go through the warning dialogue stating that I'm about to save over a file of the same name.

Again, compare this to the previous work flow:

1. Open the xml document

2. Edit it

3. Click save.

That's it. No changing the friggin' extension, no new versions or duplication or hunting through folders. No warning dialogues.

This really is a terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible (I really can't say it enough), TERRIBLE implementation. SOOOO ANNOYING! Please give us back Save and Save As...

We went from elegant to byzantine. This is the kind of crap we'd expect from Microsoft, not Apple. If you don't have time to call (although there's free support for Lion for 90 days), go to the support pages in the apps (e.g., in Pages go to Pages menu and click "Provide Pages Feedback...")

Can't help but agree. Ridiculous implementation

I fully agree, whilst I was looking forward to Lion, having run the 2nd Developer release for a while, now that it is out I find a lot that is extremely irksome and this is beyond irksome.

It is like Apple is taking the confused uninformed iOS user as a model and then choosing their very limited usage as the model for how applications should work. leaving everyone else struggling to get around arcane procedures that require stickies all over your monitor so you get through the minefield of multiple extra steps safely.

Just like DOS users used to have to do it!

Ridiculous is too kind a word.

Peter

Have followed your advice and complained to the Apple pages team about the lack of "Save As" eg easily for diff versions and "back/undo button". I have asked for my money back as I also have bought Word for Mac and unless I can use the above functions, which will make Pages functional, I wont be using it again and dont think I should pay for a product that is dysfunctional on such a basic level.

Simple Answer: Switch to Word. So Much better. Less Hassle.

Astonishing to me after decades with Apple products to be sold a basic function as dysfunctional as "Save as" is in Pages with the best advice being to buy MS Word.

with the best advice being to buy MS Word.

That's hardly the best advice. It's just an opinion from a consumer who has just joined the Apple Support Discussions. The advice is from someone who obviously loves Word. (I couldn't see how anyone could honestly describe Word as "much better" or "less hassle".) You'll find all different sorts of "best advice" here about this and other issues.

I Totally Agree....totally.

I'll try the work around solution posted in this thread, at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3200692?answerId=15701894022#15701894022

I'll try the workaround but IT IS RIDICULOUS that one of the most common, useful and everyday commands in the Menu has been changed for no good reason.

I've noticed in Lion a few other things like this...some sort of 'art nouveau' streamlining that may seem cool but hinders fundamentals.

We all got to Stand Up! -- go to our work room window at shout out: "Stop the Art Nouveau Streamlining! Before someone gets hurt. (Note: I did get stuck in the middle of this and lost a previous copy of a document because I didn't want to wipe out my current work and had no option to save it under a new name (as usual procedure).

Apple is a fine company and I'm sure when they 'get the message,' they will fix the problem.

I hope they get the message.

Try the soluiton in this thread &, as always, leave polite feedback for Apple for Lion & all applications you use.

You are right, very frustating! i'd like to contribute my humble not-perfect solution for brain-dead people (like me!), though i guess that it has been mentioned before on the forums.

i jst go to the folder window showing my Pages document that i want to "save as", and i drag its icon while pressing Option, which gives me a copy of it. Rename as needed. Et voilà (duh!)

Nice tactic (above). As they say, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."

Thanks Craig, that worked like a charm. I feel it’s a better way than the "Save as" option. With 'Save as" you need to remember that you are working in a saved document, and if you forget to use "Save as" when you close it, it will overwrite your previous doc; an extra thing that always had to stay in the back of my mind when I formerly used, MS Office > Word.

With Duplicate in Pages, you get a brand new separate doc from the moment you start working, (kinda like launching a "fire and forget" smart missile, (no more worries) and a warning option popup to choose a different name, or amend the extension when your ready to close it...brilliant.

Many times I just want to use the same doc with a few amendments, but not worry about messing up my original, and this works great.

This is crazy... like doing a circle of your car before getting in.

And Peggy, if you call your link a solution... that's more like climbing through the trunk to get to the drivers seat.

Why not leave "Save as" in place? So, simple.

I never said it was ideal, I merely offered it as an option. None of us are Apple employees, just users like you. And, like you, can only give feedback to Apple, both to the Pages & Lion teams.