Pages 5.0 - No mail merge?!

Thanks for the tip on using Insert Merge Field in Pages '09. Worked like a charm! WooHooo!

(now, if Mavericks would just let me print through the windows XP computer we're using as a print server...)

Mail merge is a very very common business function and I certainly use it extensively in my business processes. By removing it Apple must consider that iWorks is not for business use. On that principle I am unsure who uses Keynote other than business (well maybe a few people who want to give a talk on their stamp collection). Again spreadsheets are surely used more by business than individuals. All of this means I lose confidence in Apple as a business owner. Maybe I switch back to Office and then maybe a PC and then maybe switch buy my music from Google. Apple has lost a huge amount if my respect by doing this but then I am only a customer. As it happens I do have my iWorks09 folder in my Apps so I can use them and I will delete the new versions of both Pages and Keynote (which incidentally is also waste of space - no improvements whatsoever). Shame on you Apple.

Please, stop complaining like teenagers do! Remember, you still have access to the full iWork 9 applications. What is the problem? If you are not happy with the new Pages and new Numbers application, do not use it, delete it.. and continue working with the iWork 9 applications. This upgrade was not for you yet, then wait until the ones that will fit your needs. And if you are still not happy, then buy you a brand new computer with Microsoft product and post on Microsoft forum that you resolve your problem. Stop being victimes! Victimes never succeed in life.

It's not helpful to scold people for being upset about this. They have a right to be upset. But I agree that, going forward, the right course is to just switch software and/or platforms completely.

The old iWork is effectively dead. As the OS continues to advance, the old iWork apps will crumble and fall into disrepair, so it's not a realistic suggestion that people keep using them except maybe short term as they seek out replacements. There is a handful of excellent and fully featured word processors for the Mac, but presentation and spreadsheet software is a different story. Apple is ceding the ground for business users to Microsoft. It's possible that Apple intends to extend and develop the new iWork so that it will eventually be able to compete with Office, but I don't think so. People believed this eight years ago when iWork was first introduced, and in that time Apple didn't put much development effort into it. Bugs went unfixed for years, and Apple's focus turned more and more towards consumer electronics devices such as iPods, Phones, and Pads.

I myself have never used iWork for much. I was excited about Pages when it was first announced, and used to have great fun just playing with Keynote, but the software always felt awkward to me, as if it didn't really know what it wanted to be, or why it existed. I would say that with this new version of iWork, Apple has at the very least finally decided what it wants iWork to be: a proof-of-concept for their cloud services with just enough features to satisfy elementary school students.

I wish that one of those guys who went on stage on Tuesday to present the new iWork had had the balls to admit that this wasn't an upgrade.

Yes, I just noticed that there is no merge and no auto capitalization. So frustrated.

I fully agree, I trashed Pages / Numbers 5 and re-booted. Merge is there but when I attempt a merge I get <<No entries in Contacts>> ans some of my files have been updated to the new version and can no longer be opened.

I have changed which account is my main on in Contacts. All worked 100% before, now 5 hours gone, seacrhing twhy the change and visiting an Apple store [no luck, "genius" didn't know about the loss of Merge option.

Only + in Pages 5 is Password protect which should've been there a while ago.

There should be a GOOID feature sidebar and a WARNING one, as per Prescriptions, so at least u know what ur getting into.

hope and help wrote:

Only + in Pages 5 is Password protect which should've been there a while ago.

Great, so in the event that there's actually a business person out there who finds some usefullness in v. 5, they can password protect their document.

Most likely, it will only be used by teens attempting to hide the document with their nude selfies from the prying eyes of grandma.

How is Password protect different from Pages '09?

Peter

it wiorks like Word, I didn't see that feature in "09 before

One of the reaons wordprocessors are used, is for sending letters. I used Pages and Numbers for years, mailmerging letters with data. Without mailmerge-functionality Pages ánd Numbers have become obsolete for me. Oh joy, new versions are given away for free with new machines. We recently bought two new machines, but I will save some time and agony and will not install numbers/pages.

J*sus Apple, wft where you thinking when you took this functionality of the list.....?

I want to express my utter dissapointment that merging has dissapeared. It's a basic feature of a word processor, surely!

Your reply to Brian1355 seems to infer that you believe Apple did nothing "wrong" in eliminating what shuld be considered a basic element of an word processing tool, the ability to to merge data with documents. Your characterization of him as "complaining like a teenager" says to me that you have little regard for a customer and his or her needs and complaints, and a whole lot of sympathy for the company. Wow!! I cannot believe that you don't think a customer should voice a complaint regarding a product.

I need mail merge in Pages!

I'm not happy 😟

I have used Nisus Writer Pro for years, and can tell you that it is an excellent alternative to Pages and Word. It even has mail merge.

Here's the App Store link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nisus-writer-pro/id454320900?mt=12

Here's the official page on Nisus.com:

http://nisus.com/pro/

They have a 15-day demo version so you can try before buying:

http://nisus.com/pro/download.php