With Pages 5.6.1, when I have different font sizes on a document, how can I make font size proportionally bigger or smaller on the whole document? When I do a command + or a command -, the whole document becomes one size, which destroys my layout. I used to be able to do this in Pages. Why can't I do it now?
iMac (24-inch Early 2009), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)
Because you aren't using Pages '09 v4.3 — which Pages v5.6.1 was never based on. Recommendation: Newer is not better, and I recommend using Pages '09 v4.3 if you still have it in your Applications : iWork '09 folder.
More precisely, the Bigger + and Smaller - icons from the Pages v5.6.1 customization panel are broken. If you have a sentence with mixed Helvetica 12 and 14 pt text selected, and click the Smaller - toolbar icon, all of the text is reduced to Helvetica 11 pt. In Pages '09 v4.3, a single click of the Smaller icon will reduce the Helvetica 12 pt to 10pt and Helvetica 14pt to 12 pt — the proportional effect that you seek.
Thanks for your response. As I said, I know prior versions of Pages (and even Appleworks) allowed me to edit type size proportionally without destoying the layout. My question is more fundamental: How can such an egregiously stupid software design exist? You say it is "broken"? Does that mean Apple will fix it? Or is it part of Apple's attempt to integrate iOS and OSX? In which case, Pages will remain hopelessly stupid.
Pages v5 and Pages '09 v4.3 are entirely different applications, and the former, not based on the latter, omits substantial functionality, ignores practical user word processing requirements that are found in its predecessor, and falls far short of nearly all competing third-party products.
I believe that everything that could be said about Pages v5 has been stated here since Fall 2013. Apple has set an obvious pattern of status quo with this product. Whether one chooses to continue using this product, or more fully featured and productive third-party applications — is a decision away.
Pages 5.6.1 how to reduce font size proportionally
