Cannot set Numbers 2.3 as default app

Same thing on my Mac. Making Pages 4.3 the default app was successful, but that doesn't work with Numbers. I had to delete it.

I have found a way to have the iWork '09 apps be the default but still have the new apps available based on a couple of posts I read here.

After I installed the new iWork updates I created a folder on an external drive & named it "other applications." I then moved the new iWork apps to this folder. I have icons for two versions of Pages & Numbers (I rarely use Keynote) in my Dock. Even with two versions of Pages running, double-clicking an existing file opens in Pages 4.3.

Gunnar,

Spotlight remembers the last search on a particular string and which item you chose. Doing that search again results in the item selected last as being the "Top Hit". So, if you search for "Numbers" once and pick "Numbers - iWork", that version will be the Top Hit from then on until you intentionally choose Numbers - Applications (the new version). So, just type Num.. hit Return pick Numbers - iWork and worry no more. From then on type Num and hit return. With those few keystrokes you will launch the old version.

Jerry

You're right. So don't do that. Open from the Numbers File menu.

Jerry

I'd do that too, but I want to follow the revisions just to see how the complaints are addressed.

Jerry

Since "upgrading" to Numbers 3 I cannot do many of the things I used to do easily . I run a small home business and all the accounts are on one Spreadsheet. I used the click and drag before for monthy headings and Function then Sum for sets of additions for monthly sales etc. I can't do this now. I have complained to Apple. I think I may have to use an Opensource spreadheet. The joy of Apple iwork used to be that it was "intuitative" to use for ordinary folk we seem to have lost that .

We are all just end-users like yourself here. Leave feedback for the Pages team using the link in the Pages menu.

Hi AP,

Select the cells you want to sum. SUM (and many more simple statistics) appears bottom left of the window.

Drag the SUM button to the cell where you want the formula

Regards,

Ian.

1. Create a folder with any name.

2. Moved from Applications in this folder Numbers 3.0 (or Pages 5.0).

3. Open the System Preferences / Spotlight / Privacy and add the folder to the window.

4. Delete the folder in the trash with Numbers 3.0 (or Pages 5.0).

5. Open Info any file and set the default for all files of this type Numbers 2.3 (or Pages 4.3).

6. Return the remote folder on the disc.

7. You can safely work with older versions of the software before the first opening Numbers 3.0 (or Pages 5.0).

8. If you have to open the Numbers 3.0 (or Pages 5.0), then you need only again repeat steps 4 to 6.

I've tried a bunch of methods to get this to work, and nothing seems to stick or work to my needs (I don't want to turn off auto updates). So, I've solved the problem with Applescript.

Basically, I created three launchers and told Finder to use those instead of the new (or old) iWork apps. Since there's no version conflict, the default app change sticks in Finder... and you can have both old and new iWork installed and auto-updating.

1. Download the scripts from here (Dropbox)

2. Unzip, and place anywhere (e.g., Documents, etc)

3. Get info on an iWork document, and under "Open with:", select "Other..." and browse for the script you just installed ("Number defaulter" for Numbers file, and so on).

4. Click "Change All..." and accept.

Voila! You can now double click iWorks file and have them open in iWorks.

For those interested (or wary of downloading scripts), here's the text of each script bundle. Just modify "Keynote.app" to "Numbers.app" or "Pages.app" and resave.

on opentheFileList

set oldiWorkPath to "/Applications/iWork '09/Keynote.app"

repeat with theFile in theFileList

tell applicationoldiWorkPath to opentheFile

end repeat

tell applicationoldiWorkPath to activate

end open

I had to rename the older version so it would be different from the new one. When it had the same name as the new version, I couldn't get "open with" to stick. After changing the name, it would stick. I named it Numbers09.

That doesn't work for me.