Q: Pages 5 features checklist
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Oct 26, 2013 1:18 AMby PeterBreis0807,editor_at_large wrote:
This isn't really a subtracted feature (because I never was able to find it in Pages '09), but is anyone else missing cross-references?! It seems like such a basic function to include in word processing software.
Bookmarks - gone in Pages 5
Also, I haven't been able to find Insert > Layout break.
Gone
User guide is there in altered form - click Tips at the top, then check the bottom of the screen (Learn more about Pages) which takes you to a user guide.
I believe that is a rather skimpy on-line Help
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Oct 26, 2013 1:52 AMby Ash435,Another removal:
In the old metrics inspector you could drag out image files from the file info section. I use this to get images into an image editor. With the image marked as a media placeholder I can just paste the edited image back in.
In Pages 5 there is no ability to drag out the image (even though there is still an icon visible).
Combined with the limitations of copy and paste, a lot of neat interation with other OS X apps is going to be impossible with Pages 5.
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Oct 26, 2013 2:05 AMby 1Azhar,MacPhelim wrote:
Also, I don't think I mentioned earlier but I can't get paste-and-match-style to work. Used to be cmd-shift-V. Now the keyboard shortcut is cmd-shift-option-V, requiring contortionist fingers to work and it doesn't even work. I haven't yet gotten something to properly paste using the target style.
This one really drove me crazy!! Why on earth have they removed it from the options when right-clicking on the canvas??
But it's still there. Now you have to press on Shift+Alt+Cmd+V.
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Oct 26, 2013 2:08 AMby robogobo,I don't work for Apple, and I use Pages everyday. What I've learned from twenty years in the design business is clinging to an incremental cumulative development pattern is the road to bloat, in software and anything else. Apple is one of the few companies that recognizes this, and it's the secret to their success. They're not afraid to throw away a design and start over if it isn't working for them. FCPX is a perfect example of this, but certainly not the only one. Pages has been updated and vastly improved over the years, in an attempt to parallel the features of Word. It was pretty good but not perfect. Apple released the iOS versions and saw an overwhelmingly positive response. I imagine this is the reason they're starting over with the OSX version.
Just be patient. Go back to the old version if the new one doesn't suit you yet. Many of the features listed have simply been moved of modified, and I'm 99% sure the others will return or be replaced by something better. Change isn't easy, but Apple has shown over and over again that it's sometimes necessary to move forward.
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Oct 26, 2013 2:19 AMby PeterBreis0807,You're just making this up robogobo. Go on you can admit it!
Next you'll be telling us that a major corporation would never cripple the work of its loyal customers…
…Oh, they have!
…repeatedly.
Peter
PS You forgot to add "Some of my best friends are Users, but…"
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Oct 26, 2013 2:16 AMby PeterBreis0807,editor_at_large wrote:
Brilliant idea!
Another thing that's gone AWOL: I don't seem to be able to highlight text anymore!! Has anyone found where they've hidden this?
Text highlighting is now under Format > gear icon > Advanced Options > Character Fill Color > Color
Peter
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Oct 26, 2013 2:19 AMby 1Azhar,robogobo wrote:
I don't work for Apple, and I use Pages everyday. What I've learned from twenty years in the design business is clinging to an incremental cumulative development pattern is the road to bloat, in software and anything else. Apple is one of the few companies that recognizes this, and it's the secret to their success. They're not afraid to throw away a design and start over if it isn't working for them. FCPX is a perfect example of this, but certainly not the only one. Pages has been updated and vastly improved over the years, in an attempt to parallel the features of Word. It was pretty good but not perfect. Apple released the iOS versions and saw an overwhelmingly positive response. I imagine this is the reason they're starting over with the OSX version.
Just be patient. Go back to the old version if the new one doesn't suit you yet. Many of the features listed have simply been moved of modified, and I'm 99% sure the others will return or be replaced by something better. Change isn't easy, but Apple has shown over and over again that it's sometimes necessary to move forward.
I would agree with you on some points. But, in my case, I'm not complaining because of change. I'm complaining because they removed features that are very useful.That is what bothers me, and, I assume, most of us. It's not about refusing change.
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Oct 26, 2013 2:59 AMby Tobias Nopper,Did anyone figure out yet how to tell OS X to open Pages documents with the old Pages even if the new Pages is installed?
The usual way using the info panel doesn't work, it keeps switching back to the new Pages.
I tried deleting the new Pages, too, but it was reinstalled within the next auto-update cycle.
(No, I don't want to switch auto-update off, since it's my computer-wise inexperienced father's Mac which I want to be running current software all the time... except Pages that is)
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Oct 26, 2013 3:12 AMby paolotramannoni,Those considering an alternative might want to look into Nisus Writer (two versions). It doesn't have everything that was dropped (no outlining)
I'm surprised you say this, since I find Nisus Writer Pro has the most comfortable outliner around.
1. Apply a Heading-type style to your headings.
2. Open the Navigator sidebar. Your outline is there.
3. Choose whether to see headings or bookmarks (for "alternative" outlining) in the Navigator.
4. Drag & drop items in the Navigator to rearrange the corresponding text.
Nisus Writer is a great long-document editor, way cleaner than Word and way more powerful than Pages. I'm surprised it is so often ignored when discussing of wordprocessing on the Mac. I admint the ugly icon might not help them...
Mellel is another good option to look at.
Paolo
