riverfreak

Q: Beware! Numbers (v4; Sierra) cannot open docs from v3.6 (El Cap)

I've just noticed that Numbers v4.0 (Sierra) seems unable to open docs created/updated on v3.6, the most current release on El Cap.

 

I found a dumb workaround: export the document as Numbers '09 on the El Cap machine. v4.0 is able to open these files, then save. You will be prompted to upgrade the document to the newest version.

 

I'm just glad I had an old machine still running El Cap/Numbers v3.6 around.

 

I don't know if this also applies to Pages and Keynote documents.

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016), macOS Sierra (10.12), null

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 11:28 AM

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Q: Beware! Numbers (v4; Sierra) cannot open docs from v3.6 (El Cap)

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  • by Stoaty,

    Stoaty Stoaty Oct 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to SGIII
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    Oct 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to SGIII

    Your comment is not helpful and nor are Peggy's.  Please respect the issue as described by the contributor rather than assuming they have a different problem.

     

    Some of us are having real issues with the upgrade to Numbers 4.0 with documents created or edited with Numbers 3.6.2.  An ill-researched suggested solution that does not address the issue described by a forum user is not helpful and not on topic either. 

     

    Numbers 2 (i.e Numbers'09) does not run on OSX 10.12 (well certainly not on this machine). 

     

    The only useful contributions have been by riverfreak, who came up with a workaround, and those others who have confirmed it has affected other users.

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Oct 14, 2016 4:10 PM in response to Stoaty
    Level 8 (38,937 points)
    Applications
    Oct 14, 2016 4:10 PM in response to Stoaty

    You are obviously not referring to the post by Powmari1 that I specifically replied to. Powmari1 said:

    • "Similar issue.....With Sierra, Numbers v.4 could not open any spreadsheets created with v3.62..and El Capitan. Recieved a message "xml data missing" on every document I tried to open...including those in iCloud. Restored old Numbers application via Time Machine...no problem now"

    Your desire to keep all replies pertinent to the original question is admirable but rarely happens in these forums. Please get the facts straight before attacking those trying to help.

  • by Stoaty,

    Stoaty Stoaty Oct 14, 2016 4:47 PM in response to Peggy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    Oct 14, 2016 4:47 PM in response to Peggy

    I am not trying to attack anyone.  I am trying to focus on the issue that some of us are having with documents edited or created with Numbers 3.6.2 that cannot be opened by Numbers 4.0.  Suggesting user error in identifying the application we are using is not helpful and off topic. 

     

    Confirming the issue is not isolated to one user or suggesting a workaround are helpful.   Flaming contributors for trying to keep on topic is not. I suggest you heed you own advice on "get the facts straight" by reading the posts of users affected by this issue and not assume user error.

  • by Powmari1,

    Powmari1 Powmari1 Oct 14, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Stoaty
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Stoaty

    I think I may have isolated the problem, and I think you  ALL are  correct…

     

    Soaty, you understood my issue the most clearly

     

    Peggy & SGIII, you made me recall that among my applications I still had the iWorks 09 folder which was needed in order to download the stand alone Numbers update for free, back in the day.

     

    While the default Numbers version currently running was 3.6.2, is it possible that the Numbers program sitting quietly in the iWorks folder was causing the conflict with v.4???

     

    I’ve trashed iWorks and its preferences and, will try updating again….. after the beta version!

     

    Thanks to all

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Oct 14, 2016 6:41 PM in response to Powmari1
    Level 6 (10,796 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2016 6:41 PM in response to Powmari1

    Hi Powmari1,

     

    If you get the "xml missing" message then I believe Peggy is almost certainly correct in pointing out that is caused by inadvertently launching Numbers 2x (iWork '09) when opening a document. That can happen much more easily than one would think, sometimes by just double-clicking a document in Finder.  In fact, the subject has come up so often that it is even the subject of a popular user tip by Wayne.  The "xml missing" message (a common one, in addition to the one Wayne illustrates in his user tip) is a pretty sure tipoff that is indeed what occurred in your case, because from version 3 on Numbers has used entirely different "file" formats and therefore doesn't look for xml. 

     

    This isn't really a "user error";  it's more "user taken by surprise" because a lot of people upgrading from a previous version of an app aren't necessarily expecting an old version to still be there that can be activated by double-clicking a document or clicking a familiar icon in the Dock.

     

    It is likely that Apple chose to leave the old version on the machines of upgraders because while Numbers 2 and later versions share the same name, they are quite different apps. Many users were heavily dependent on Numbers 2 features that didn't make the cut in later versions. As later versions have matured, the need to keep Numbers 2 around has diminished, at least in my case.  If you've already trashed Numbers 2 you may never miss it. But it can be nice to have around, just in case.  I don't believe there is any conflict between it and the latest version.  You can have both versions running at the same time if you wish. It's just that you've got to keep straight which documents you want to open with which version.

     

    The way I make sure I am opening a document in the version of Numbers that I want is to first open the app and then File > Open and navigate to the document.

     

    In general, as suggested above, I tend to rebuild important documents from scratch rather than rely on Numbers to do the document upgrading.

     

    SG

  • by ~Bee,

    ~Bee ~Bee Oct 15, 2016 3:24 PM in response to Stoaty
    Level 7 (31,802 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2016 3:24 PM in response to Stoaty

    I am sorry if you misunderstood,

    I am not trying to attack anyone.

    Your comment is not helpful and nor are Peggy's.


    Really ?????

    You've been here long enough that you should know that every response you get is from just another user / volunteer who cares enough to take the time to try to help others.  Your dismissive, condescending "superior" attitude is what will be remembered about you, should you seek help in the future. 


    Before you get your scathing attitude on again, think about this:  Peggy has been helping here as a volunteer for 16 years.  The results of her posts are over 38,000 points of "Helpful" and "Solved" points.  How many times have you attempted to help anyone else? 




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