Pages 09 only half opens

Question

Level 4

2,128 points

Pages 09 only half opens

It's been a while since I've used this program. I'm using 10.8.4 OS X and 4.3 version for Pages.

When I click on the Pages icon to open the program the menu at the top of the screen loads but that is it.

If I manually click on "File > New from template chooser" nothing but a black screen appears.

How can I fix this? I heard that there is a file that I can trash, and then it will make a new one the next time I open it, but what file?

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion, (10.8.4)

Posted on Sep 3, 2013 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

Barry

Level 9

59,861 points

Sep 3, 2013 11:08 PM in response to MyApple8MyPC

You're thinking of the .plist file, the usual suspect whien an application that has been working quits working.

Quit Pages.

In the Finder:

Go menu, press and hold the option key as you choose Library.

This puts you in your User Library.

From here, locate and open Preferences,

then locate the file com.apple.iwork.pages.plist and drag it to the trash.

Relaunch Pages.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 2

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 3, 2013 11:23 PM in response to Barry

Thanks Barry, but that did not do anything. It still acts the same way.

I just noticed that Numbers is reacting the same way too.

Clicking on Keynote actually brings up an error. It says "An unexpected error has occurred. Please start Keynote again".

Anything else I can try?

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Answer 3

Sep 4, 2013 5:23 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Other things to try:

Restart your computer

Run Software Update

Use OnyX to clear chaches, repair permissions, etc.

Jerry

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Answer 4

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 4, 2013 9:34 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Thanks Jerry. Tried all of that. No joy.

I also tried reinstalling iWork. Other than now having the icons in my dock there are no changes.

Problem seems to be with the template chooser. Is it possible that it's not in the right location?

I never moved it manually but maybe when I installed 10.8 something happened.

Yesterday the template chooser opened - once - but it was just a blank black page. Now it won't even open that, it just opens my document folder.

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Answer 5

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 4, 2013 11:52 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Every now and then the template choser opens, but it's empty.

Where are they supposed to be located?

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Answer 6

Sep 4, 2013 12:18 PM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Have you tried running Pages from another User Account?

Jerry

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Answer 7

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 4, 2013 1:33 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

I did try using a "guest" account.

A few more screens opened up but still no templates loaded, and when I go online and download a template to test it, it pops up a "Pages cannot open this file" error.

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Answer 8

Sep 4, 2013 4:57 PM in response to MyApple8MyPC

I'm not surprised that a downloaded "template" wouldn't open in Pages. At this point I would do a complete uninstall and reinstall. Yvan Koenig has written an uninstaller script that you can download from this page.

Jerry

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Answer 9

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 5, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

As noted above I already tried to reinstall it. No joy.

I also noticed that the template chooser does NOT have any buttons on the left side.

In what folder are the default templates supposed to be? Maybe it just can't find them.

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Answer 10

Sep 5, 2013 7:45 PM in response to MyApple8MyPC

What you didn't say above is how you uninstalled the old copy of Pages. That's the key.

Jerry

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Answer 11

MyApple8MyPC Author

Level 4

2,128 points

Sep 6, 2013 1:48 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Well here's the thing, I can't delete the old copy. I can only install the program again because I can't find the install key anywhere. All I have is the install disc, no box.

I was going to contact Apple and ask them for a new code by giving them ny old key listed in 'About Pages" but the link says the registration department is closed. I think the program is going to ask me for that information as soon as I try to do a fresh install. On Apples website it says "Most Apple products can be registered when you turn them on for the first time and begin the setup process".

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Answer 12

Yellowbox

Level 7

20,347 points

Sep 6, 2013 2:44 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Hi,

I can't delete the old copy.

As Jerry said, Yvan Koenig has written an uninstaller script that you can download from this page. The file is called Uninstall iWork'09.zip

Have you tried it?

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 13

Sep 6, 2013 8:01 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

The problem is you seem to have transferred the software badly and the installation is messed up.

You need to remove every last piece of iWork and reinstall it from the DVD which requires no serial number.

After you have reinstalled it you need to manually update it to the latest version v4.3.

Peter

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Answer 14

Sep 6, 2013 8:03 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

Here is the reinstall ion procedure:

http://www.freeforum101.com/iworktipsntrick/viewtopic.php?t=105&mforum=iworktips ntrick

Peter

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Answer 15

Sep 6, 2013 8:56 AM in response to MyApple8MyPC

There's a hole in your logic. The program isn't working and you are afraid that if you follow our instructions the program won't work. You know it doesn't work now, so what have you got to lose?

Jerry

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