Where have all my templates gone?

Question

Level 1

52 points

Where have all my templates gone?

My Pages and Numbers templates are in hiding!

I wanted to remove a template from the My Templates in Pages. I have always been able to access those files by Option clicking on Go in the top menu bar, selecting Library > Application Support > iWork > Pages (or Numbers), and then I could drag the old template to the trash.

But now both Numbers and Pages show the Template files, including My Templates, as empty. There is nothing in either folder.

If I create a new document in either Pages or Numbers, a basic template pops up that I can use.

How can I find the templates? Or restore them?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Apr 30, 2016 7:47 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Yellowbox

Level 7

20,383 points

May 1, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Cutter6666

Hi Cutter,

If you are using Pages 5, there is no need to search your Library for templates. Pages 5, by default, opens the Template Chooser

If that does not work, then your Pages Preferences may be set to open a chosen template:

Hold down the option (alt) key to see 'New' in the File menu change to 'New From Template Chooser'.

In Template Chooser, right click (or control click) on a Custom Template (My Templates).

Choose Rename or Delete.

Ditto for Numbers 3.

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 2

May 1, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Cutter6666

If you had an existing iWork '09 installation, and upgraded (not a clean install) OS X, your original iWork '09 template hierarchy and your custom templates would remain in their original locations.
If you wiped your hard drive as part of an OS X installation, and followed that by a reinstallation of the iWork '09 applications, then your custom templates would be gone. If you restored from a Time Machine backup that did not include your custom '09 templates, then this too would explain their absence.
If you migrated to a new Mac, and reinstalled the iWork '09 applications, then you would not have any custom templates present, unless you thought to put them on a USB stick and migrated them to the current template hierarchy.

The first installation of Pages v5, Numbers v3, and Keynote v6 would check for the presence of custom iWork '09 templates, and providing they were compatible, the new applications would convert and copy these custom templates into the respective new application template locations. Unlike the iWork '09 applications, their newer counterparts permit a right-click on custom templates where you can choose to rename or delete them.

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Answer 3

Cutter6666 Author

Level 1

52 points

May 1, 2016 1:08 PM in response to VikingOSX

Well, I'm not aware that I did any upgrades or installations, and I only have a new Mac in my dreams, 😉 but indeed, right-clicking on custom template does allow me to delete it so my problem is solved, thanks!

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Answer 4

Cutter6666 Author

Level 1

52 points

May 1, 2016 1:09 PM in response to Yellowbox

Thanks, I followed your directions and it works! BTW, including the little screen shots of the Template Chooser, Preferences, really helped me. Appreciate it!

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