jeff1806
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can't open Numbers spreadsheet on iMac Yosemite

iMac 3.2; 8gb

Yosemite 10.10.2

Numbers 3.5.2 (2118)


When I click on File: Open, I get a complete list of all my spreadsheets but several are greyed out and have the iCloud download symbol next to them. I can't open these spreadsheets and don't know how to start (restart?) the downloading process.

 

Could someone please explain what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), Numbers 3.5.2 (2118)

Posted on Mar 23, 2015 7:12 AM

by John Galt,Solvedanswer
John Galt John Galt
Level 9 (50,431 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Another action worth considering is to sign out of iCloud completely. Select "Delete from this Mac" when it appears. Read all of the following first:

 

  • If you enabled Apple's two-step verification, don't even think about turning off iCloud unless you are absolutely certain you can comply with all its requirements: access to a trusted device that works, and your Recovery Key for example. Tattoo your Recovery Key on a part you intend to keep, and is not normally visible to others you don't trust.
  • Always have a backup plan in the event your iCloud information should become irretrievably lost – which should never occur, but that's what a backup strategy is intended to address. That means keeping backups of Contacts, documents, Notes, Mail messages and their attachments, Safari bookmarks if that matters to you, passwords stored in Keychain, and so forth, for each iCloud service.
  • Use Time Machine. iCloud Documents are stored locally in ~/Library/Mobile Documents. Time Machine backs up that folder along with everything else on your Mac, and can serve as a last resort means of restoring documents no longer retrievable from iCloud.

 

Then, sign in to iCloud again.

Posted on Mar 23, 2015 10:06 AM

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jeff1806

Q: Can't open Numbers spreadsheet on iMac Yosemite

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  • Helpful answers

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Mar 23, 2015 7:44 AM in response to jeff1806
    Level 9 (50,431 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 23, 2015 7:44 AM in response to jeff1806

    You probably aren't doing anything wrong.

     

    Open System Preferences > iCloud. Confirm its checkbox is selected. Click the Options... button adjacent to iCloud Drive and confirm Numbers is selected. Click Done, then de-select iCloud Drive and select it again.

  • by jeff1806,

    jeff1806 jeff1806 Mar 23, 2015 9:04 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 9:04 AM in response to John Galt

    Thanks John,

    When I deselect iCould I get a drop down message that says: "If you turn off iCould Drive, all documents stored in iCloud will be deleted from this Mac."

    If I then again select the iCould Drive  I assume the documents will be automatically downloaded?

     

    I suppose I should have mentioned this in my original post. The reason I ask is that this problem grew out of another problem associated with the last Security update. I took the machine to the local Apple Store Genius desk. They fixed the original problem and almost everything successfully downloaded except for a few spreadsheets. The Genius Desk supervisor said that there was a problem with the Store's servers and iCloud and that this would probably work when I got the machine back home and connected to my network.

     

    I don't for one minute doubt your advice but am wondering if there is something else I might have to do in light of the above.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Mar 23, 2015 9:29 AM in response to jeff1806
    Level 9 (50,431 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 23, 2015 9:29 AM in response to jeff1806

    If I then again select the iCould Drive  I assume the documents will be automatically downloaded?


    Yes they will, and it has never failed to do so for me. I don't blame you for being concerned though, and I strongly recommend you store backup copies on your local machine before turning off iCloud Drive. To do that you need to be able to access them first though. If you are unable to do that, you have nothing to lose.

     

    Network conditions are unpredictable and it may take some time for the documents to download. Even under ideal conditions it takes a few moments, minimum. If Apple's services become available for whatever reason, as they did a couple of weeks ago, your documents will be irretrievable until they fix that - unless of course they are already stored on your local machine.

     

    There have been several occasions in which iCloud Drive and related document syncing has not performed as well as I would like it to, but the overall trend has been positive. It has yet to instill complete confidence, for the reasons you described.

     

    The Genius Desk supervisor said that there was a problem with the Store's servers and iCloud and that this would probably work when I got the machine back home and connected to my network.

     

    Sounds like wishful thinking on their part. Did it work as they described?

  • by jeff1806,

    jeff1806 jeff1806 Mar 23, 2015 9:31 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 9:31 AM in response to John Galt

    "Did it work as they described?"

     

    Ah, no it didn't, hence my original post here.

     

    Thanks again for you help,I really appreciate it.

     

    Jeff

  • by John Galt,Solvedanswer

    John Galt John Galt Mar 23, 2015 10:06 AM in response to jeff1806
    Level 9 (50,431 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 23, 2015 10:06 AM in response to jeff1806

    Another action worth considering is to sign out of iCloud completely. Select "Delete from this Mac" when it appears. Read all of the following first:

     

    • If you enabled Apple's two-step verification, don't even think about turning off iCloud unless you are absolutely certain you can comply with all its requirements: access to a trusted device that works, and your Recovery Key for example. Tattoo your Recovery Key on a body part you intend to keep, and is not normally visible to others you don't trust.
    • Always have a backup plan in the event your iCloud information should become irretrievably lost – which should never occur, but that's what a backup strategy is intended to address. That means keeping backups of Contacts, documents, Notes, Mail messages and their attachments, Safari bookmarks if that matters to you, passwords stored in Keychain, and so forth, for each iCloud service.
    • Use Time Machine. iCloud Documents are stored locally in ~/Library/Mobile Documents. Time Machine backs up that folder along with everything else on your Mac, and can serve as a last resort means of restoring documents no longer retrievable from iCloud.

     

    Then, sign in to iCloud again.