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Can't email a Numbers file

I'm trying to ween myself off Microsoft Office and use iWork more...but besides the usual formatting issues that iWork apps don't support, I've just encountered another problem I can't seem to work around. If I try to email a Numbers spreadsheet (in the clear or zipped) both Gmail and iCloud mail reject it as being an executable.

Come on, Apple...it's four columns and 30 rows of pure text and numbers...nothing at all executable. And the same spreadsheet in Excel will attach and send just fine in both email services. Does Numbers somehow mark all spreadsheets as executables? If so...I can't use it. Thanks for any help.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 11, 2013 11:40 AM

40 replies

Dec 13, 2013 8:01 AM in response to George Chapman

Agree, George. In face, regardless of how proud Apple is of iCloud, Gmail has more than 3X the number of users. But even that doesn't concern me...my problem is that NONE of the people to whom I send spreadsheets uses iCloud.com, so for me this is a huge problem.

Petan

Level 1

15 points

Dec 13, 2013 12:24 PM in response to Larry McJunkin

I think there is bigger issue/bug in new Numbers....it seems to be some compatibility issue between iOS and OSx iWorks doc.....https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5524939

Dec 13, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Petan

There's another thread somewhere on here that explains how Apple has changed the whole file structure of iWorks. They apparently had a reason but the whole thing is beyond me. I doubt we'll change their minds. I'm not sure where that leaves us. Search for the thread and maybe someone can explain it to us in simple terms.

Barry

Level 9

59,861 points

Dec 13, 2013 2:35 PM in response to George Chapman

There are two.

What has been lost in Numbers 3.0 upgrade

What has been gained in Numbers 3.0 upgrade

There's also a thread discussing workarounds for many of the missing features, but it didn't jump out and say 'Here I am!' in response to my short search.

Regards,

Barry

Yellowbox

Level 7

20,383 points

Dec 13, 2013 6:21 PM in response to Barry

Hi Barry,

"Here I am!"

Hints on workarounds here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5512949?answerId=23622372022#2362237202223622372

And to complete the list:

Features that Apple has promised to reinstate:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6049

Regards,

Ian.

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 13, 2013 7:01 PM in response to Larry McJunkin

...my problem is that NONE of the people to whom I send spreadsheets uses iCloud.com, so for me this is a huge problem.

Larry, the recipients do NOT need to have an iCloud account. They do not even need to have a Mac. Anyone on a Mac or PC can access a link you send them, and download the document, as long as they have a modern browser.

Gmail does not play nicely with the new Numbers file format. Right now sending from a Gmail address doesn't work. And it's not suprising that sending a document to a Gmail address doesn't work either.

I'm a Gmail user too. But Google's security measures that have caught the new Numbers file format in their net haven't bothered me at all. Sending links, via Gmail or any other mail service, works really well.

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 13, 2013 7:15 PM in response to George Chapman

George Chapman wrote:

Yes I can send by icloud but I'm not sure everyone can get email from icloud.

George, I think you can rest easy on that particular point. Recipients will receive email sent from iCloud as well as they will receive email from another provider.

And, in my experience, sending iCloud links works well in Numbers 3. As noted above, the recipient does not need to have an iCloud account or even know what iCloud is or have a Mac.

One thing you do need to keep in mind is that, as with email, sharing a document is not secure. Currently you can't password protect it if you send it by link. Don't share if if you have confidential information in the document.

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 13, 2013 7:24 PM in response to George Chapman

George Chapman wrote:

There's another thread somewhere on here that explains how Apple has changed the whole file structure of iWorks. They apparently had a reason but the whole thing is beyond me...Search for the thread and maybe someone can explain it to us in simple terms.

I don't know the technical details but I can say that the old file format (I understand it was actually two different formats that were made to seem like one to the user) created headaches in syncing with Numbers for iOS. It's only after switching to the new format with Numbers 3 that syncing to other devices across iCloud has started working well.

For those who don't care about iOS, the new format may not seem like much. But for those who see productivity gains in being able to do data entry on the go and also display attractive output from a spreadsheet on an iPad, the new format is a big enhancement.

Dec 14, 2013 7:00 AM in response to SGIII

Larry, the recipients do NOT need to have an iCloud account. They do not even need to have a Mac. Anyone on a Mac or PC can access a link you send them, and download the document, as long as they have a modern browser.

@SGIII: I agree this works...but surprisingly, many people who use a Mac don't use iCloud at all. Good example: the person I needed to send this file to yesterday is a Mac user and is a retired commercial pilot, so he's not stupid. I sent him the link and of course it opened up in Numbers Beta in iCloud and my phone rings with, "I want this spreadsheet to be on my desktop...not online. This thing is asking me if I want to get started with Numbers Online...and I don't."

Given, he's a very casual user of Numbers, if at all, and I'm sure if he'd have played with it a few minutes he would have figured out he could click on "Tools - Download a Copy" without me telling him. But it still should be easier...especially since it's Apple.

Oh, well...I agree we're probably stuck with it and I'm sure it helps the iOS crowd. I very rarely have ocassion to use iWorks on my iPhone, but I do on my iPad, but then again I'm retired. I'm sure the business crowd sees iWorks 3 as a huge improvement. I'm glad, though, that Apple said they'd returne "most" of the previous features...even though they caveated with "over time". Thanks for your comments here.

Dec 14, 2013 7:04 AM in response to Larry McJunkin

Larry,

I don't care for iCloud Numbers or iOS Numbers myself. But, I've found iCloud storage and linking to be quite handy. Tell your friend to download the file and then dismiss the offer to open in iCloud iWork. Instead, Open from the file menu in Numbers for Mac.

Jerry

Dec 14, 2013 7:11 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Jerry, unless I'm missing something, I don't think the recipient has a choice (if he has an iCloud account). I tried sending it to my wife's Mac and she doesn't even know where iCloud is....but it still opened in iCloud. I don't see how the file can be downloaded without opening it in Numbers Beta in iCloud...otherwise you don't have access to "Tools - Download a Copy". How does the recipient download a file (after clicking on the link they get) "without" using iCloud Numbers Beta?

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 14, 2013 7:11 AM in response to Larry McJunkin

Larry,

It's really easy. No harder than opening up an attachment to an email.

Dec 14, 2013 7:13 AM in response to SGIII

SGIII...what you're showing here is from WITHIN Number Beta in iCloud. What I'm asking is how can a Mac user download a file from that link WITHOUT opening it first? I don't think they can.

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 14, 2013 7:15 AM in response to Larry McJunkin

Larry,

I think you are correct. The recipient of the email sees a link. Click the link and the spreadsheet opens automatically in the browser (no need to fuss with iCloud accounts or anything like that).

The only thing the recipient needs to do is click Download a Copy in the Tools menu. Not at all hard to do. A recipient not at a Mac can still view (and edit) the spreadsheet if needed.

SGIII

Level 8

35,306 points

Dec 14, 2013 7:20 AM in response to Larry McJunkin

how can a Mac user download a file from that link WITHOUT opening it first? I don't think they can.

Larry,

The user doesn't need worry about "opening" it. It opens automatically in a browser when the emailed link is clicked. Then it's a quick menu choice and the file downloads. (Or the recipient can make changes/add comments in the browser that will sync back to the sender's copy.)

Can't email a Numbers file