Level 8

41,339 points

Pages won't open document

We are getting an increased number of users all with files that refuse to open in Pages 5, particularly Pages 5.1.

I have gone over several of them and been unable to correct the problem, only able to open the Document.iwa sub file in the package to look at the mix of text snippets and I presume .xml.

Apple reportedly has also examined these and been unable to rectify them.

To aid some kind of resolution I ask that users who have had the problem post here, detailing the last things they did with the file and whether there is anything particular to the files that may be leading to the problem.

Particularly relevant would be where and how the files were last saved.

Are they being transferred or backed up to iCloud?

Are you using 3rd party syching or backup solutions like DropBox?

Are they being re-edited on iDevices, iWork for iCloud beta or back and forth from Word .doc?

Were there any preceeding warnings or difficulties of any kind with the document?

Or anything else you can think of.

Thank you,

Peter

Posted on Mar 19, 2014 5:37 PM

181 replies

TimBlake

Level 1

8 points

Oct 15, 2014 6:12 AM in response to TimBlake

I should add; I can look inside of the document via quick look, there was a copy of the document in trash but after taking it out it won't open either. I tried deleting plists, the document is stored on the cloud and is a shared document although no one else has edited it or commented on it.

Oct 20, 2014 12:05 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Hi, was pages supposed to come built into my macbook?

Peggy

Level 8

42,061 points

Oct 20, 2014 12:08 PM in response to SalmaSaysz

If you have never previously purchased iWork ’09 and have not bought a new Mac since October 1, 2013, you will have to purchase the applications.

Oct 20, 2014 12:12 PM in response to Peggy

I have the most recent macbook pro retina display that I bought in September 2013 I believe, Also, someone sent me a pages document and I cant seem to open it up. . what can I do to open it?!

Peggy

Level 8

42,061 points

Oct 20, 2014 8:03 PM in response to SalmaSaysz

You will have to purchase the new Pages from the Mac App Store or try iWork for iCloud.

Oct 23, 2014 8:03 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

I am having this problem with a document that was created in Pages on my iMac using Mvericks and the complementary version of Pages. I have updated my new iPad Air to OS 8 and called up the document via iCloud. I edited the document using iOS 8 complementary version of Pages and then emailed it to a friend to be able to do more detailed editing than I am able to on iPad. We tried to open the doc on her iMac Air (running Yosemite and complementary version of Pages) and could not open it. We had to open it using Google Drive, copy and paste to a new document, and do massive reformatting. Tried to send it back to my iPad using email. I could not open the document on my iPad in Pages, only using Safari or Chrome. The message we got when trying to open on friend

s MacBook Air was "unable to open document--older version of Pages"--or something close to that.

This is SO frustrating as I'm trying to meet a deadline for a job submission today!!! For whatever it's worth, I'm also having trouble editing what I'm typing HERE on this forum reply

Peggy

Level 8

42,061 points

Oct 23, 2014 11:33 AM in response to SalmaSaysz

As I just wrote in reply to another thread:

The newest version of Pages is 5.5 & only runs in Yosemite. Your best option would be to open the file in iWork for iCloud. If necessary, you could then save the file as Word that you would then be able to open with any prior version of Pages.

EDIT: sorry, this was meant in response to TheReverendMother

TRNC

Level 1

4 points

Oct 31, 2014 3:51 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

After reading all the post it blows my mind that this billion dollar company continues to put it users in these situations. I can't open a doc created in Pages 5.5 that I've been working on for over a week. The file shows on iCloud but won't open. What in the HECK is Apple doing. Is it time to dump them after all these years.

Peggy

Level 8

42,061 points

Nov 1, 2014 9:26 AM in response to SalmaSaysz

Read my previous post. You must have purchased a new Mac on or after October 1, 2013, to get Pages for free. September, 2013, doesn't qualify.

You can try iWork for iCloud to open the file.

Nov 14, 2014 11:34 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

For anyone not having success with the solutions mentioned in this thread I have found another solution which I have detailed on my site:

http://osx-sos.com/the-file-pages-couldnt-be-opened/

I'd be interested to know if it works for anyone else

let me know!

Peter

Nov 25, 2014 5:53 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Hey there. I also encounter this problem where my Pages 5.2.2 app suddenly close by itself while I editing my document. When I reopen it says some of my Pages document cannot be open. So I tried to convert my Pages 5.2.2 document to Pages 4 ('09) document using online software, and it works! I use cloudconvert.com to convert those files. I can open the converted files using both Pages 5.2.2 as well as Pages 09. Hope this help. Cheers.

Macbook Pro 13 (2011). Mac OSX Yosemite (10.10)

rbDESIGN

Level 1

24 points

Jan 15, 2015 9:14 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

HI , updated to Pages 5.5.2 (2120).

Now pages will not open a file outside of the program. i.e.: if I double click on a file name in finder, it won't open. The program reports that "the required index.xml file is missing".

If I go into the program, and through the pull down menu 'File', open the same document, no problem.

This is a basic function that Apple requires of all developers that want to work with the Apple OS, so it doesn't look good that Apple hasn't met the same requirement.

Best Regards -rob

VikingOSX

Level 10

128,778 points

Jan 15, 2015 9:29 AM in response to rbDESIGN

You have Pages '09 v4 running when you attempt to double-click a Pages v5 generation document. That causes this error dialog — because Pages v5 documents contain no index.xml file and Pages '09 documents do. Double-clicks with both applications installed will default to Pages v5 (any version). You must either make certain that Pages '09 has quit, or use the following methods to open its documents:

Control-click, or two-finger tap, or right-click on document icon
Open with Pages (4.3)
Drag and drop the Pages '09 document on the Pages '09 application icon
Pages '09 File chooser
Pages '09 File > Open, or File > Open Recent

rbDESIGN

Level 1

24 points

Jan 15, 2015 10:38 AM in response to VikingOSX

Excellent. Problem solved. Not sure why the old program opened, but it was the problem.

Thanks you -rob

Jan 15, 2015 12:43 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

This fault is intermittent. I can create a document in Pages and save it but can't then re-open it. I can however open it in iCloud, which isn't ideal but a solution. I can sometimes open it again in Pages (as installed on my Mac) but it's choosy, more often than not it refuses.

Amazing really, take a great program and break it.

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Pages won't open document