Pages
Encyclopedia
Pages is a word processor
and page layout
application
developed by Apple. It is part of the iWork
productivity suite and runs on the Mac OS X
& iOS operating systems. The first version of Pages was announced on January 11, 2005, and was released one month later. The most recent Macintosh version, Pages 4, was released on January 6, 2009, as a component of iWork '09. On January 27, 2010, Apple announced a new version of Pages for iPad
with an all new touch interface. On May 31, 2011 Apple updated the iOS version to 1.4, bringing universal binaries allowing the app to be run on iPad, iPhone
and iPod Touch
devices.
Pages is marketed by Apple as an easy-to-use application that allows users to quickly create documents on their home computers. A number of Apple-designed templates comprising different themes (such as letters, résumé
s, posters, and outlines), are included with Pages.
Each document window contains a toolbar, which gives one-click access to commonly used functions such as inserting objects (text boxes, shapes, tables, charts, and comments), uploading the document to iWork.com
, and inserting additional pages. In addition, the document window contains a contextual format bar that allows one-click formatting of text and adjustments to images. When text is selected, the format bar enables users to choose fonts, text size and color, adjust line spacing and alignment. When an image is selected, the format bar displays tools to adjust opacity, show and hide shadow and reflection effects, and mask the image. A separate Inspector window provides almost all formatting options available for any element in the open document.
Beginning in iWork '08, word processing and page layout are two distinct modes. In word processing mode, Pages supports headers and footers, footnotes, and outline and list creation. Users can collaborate with others on a document. Pages tracks changes by different users by displaying each person's edits in different colors. Users can also add comments alongside the document. In page layout mode, users have complete control over the position of objects on the page. Images and text can be placed anywhere on the canvas.
The Media Browser provides quick access to media of iTunes
, iMovie
, iPhoto
, and Aperture
. Users can drag and drop music, movies, and photos directly into Pages documents from the Media Browser window.
Pages has a number of other advanced writing tools. The "Full Screen" mode hides the menubar and toolbars, allowing users to focus on a single document without being distracted by other windows on the screen. Mail merge automatically populates custom fields with contact data from Address Book or from Numbers
to create personalized documents. For example, if a user wants to send one letter to three different people, mail merge allows them to create a single document with placeholder fields that will be populated when printing. Tables and charts pasted from Numbers
are automatically updated if the original spreadsheet is changed.
Pages can import some AppleWorks
word processing documents and Microsoft Word
documents (including Word 2007's Office Open XML format), and can export documents to rich text
, PDF, EPUB
and Microsoft Word DOC
formats.
Simple and complex mathematical equations can be written for a Pages document with Mac OS X's Grapher
, offering similar capabilities to Microsoft Equation Editor (plus 2D and 3D rendering tools only Grapher can use).
file format
. At the same time, Pages is restricted to Mac OS X
only. While there is no program that can view or edit a .pages file using Windows or Linux
, some content can be retrieved because a .pages file is actually a bundle. A user can open a .pages file in an unpackaging program, or by renaming files as .zip files
in Windows (XP and onwards), and will find either a .jpg or .pdf preview in its entirety for viewing and printing, though only possible if the creator of the .pages file elected to include a preview. The user will also find a .xml file with unformatted text. This process can also be used for users of the 2008 version of Pages to open documents saved in the 2009 version of Pages, which are not backwards compatible. iWork can also export documents into a number of formats; unfortunately, formatting is often lost during the export process. There is no third-party converter available at this time that can change the file type and save the formatting. However, the Google Docs Viewer can open Pages files.
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
and page layout
Page layout
Page layout is the part of graphic design that deals in the arrangement and style treatment of elements on a page.- History and development :...
application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
developed by Apple. It is part of the iWork
IWork
iWork is an office suite of desktop applications created by Apple for the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems. The first version of iWork, iWork '05, was released in 2005. The suite originally bundled Keynote, a presentation program which had previously been sold as a standalone application, and...
productivity suite and runs on the Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
& iOS operating systems. The first version of Pages was announced on January 11, 2005, and was released one month later. The most recent Macintosh version, Pages 4, was released on January 6, 2009, as a component of iWork '09. On January 27, 2010, Apple announced a new version of Pages for iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
with an all new touch interface. On May 31, 2011 Apple updated the iOS version to 1.4, bringing universal binaries allowing the app to be run on iPad, iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
devices.
Pages is marketed by Apple as an easy-to-use application that allows users to quickly create documents on their home computers. A number of Apple-designed templates comprising different themes (such as letters, résumé
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
s, posters, and outlines), are included with Pages.
Features
Pages is both a word processor and a page layout application. Over 140 Apple-designed templates are included. When Pages is first opened, users are presented with a Template Chooser which allows them to start with a blank document or with a predesigned template – including a résumé, outline, school report, flyer, or envelope – that contains placeholder text and images which can be replaced by dragging and dropping photos from the Media Browser.Each document window contains a toolbar, which gives one-click access to commonly used functions such as inserting objects (text boxes, shapes, tables, charts, and comments), uploading the document to iWork.com
IWork.com
iWork.com is an online service by Apple complementing the iWork suite of office productivity software. It was released as a public beta on January 6, 2009 at the Macworld Conference & Expo. The iWork.com service provides a web interface for viewing, downloading, and commenting uploaded documents...
, and inserting additional pages. In addition, the document window contains a contextual format bar that allows one-click formatting of text and adjustments to images. When text is selected, the format bar enables users to choose fonts, text size and color, adjust line spacing and alignment. When an image is selected, the format bar displays tools to adjust opacity, show and hide shadow and reflection effects, and mask the image. A separate Inspector window provides almost all formatting options available for any element in the open document.
Beginning in iWork '08, word processing and page layout are two distinct modes. In word processing mode, Pages supports headers and footers, footnotes, and outline and list creation. Users can collaborate with others on a document. Pages tracks changes by different users by displaying each person's edits in different colors. Users can also add comments alongside the document. In page layout mode, users have complete control over the position of objects on the page. Images and text can be placed anywhere on the canvas.
The Media Browser provides quick access to media of iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, iMovie
IMovie
iMovie is a proprietary video editing software application which allows Mac, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2 users to edit their own home movies. It was originally released by Apple in 1999 as a Mac OS 8 application bundled with the first FireWire-enabled consumer Apple...
, iPhoto
IPhoto
iPhoto is a digital photograph manipulation software application developed by Apple Inc. and released with every Macintosh personal computer as part of the iLife suite of digital life management applications...
, and Aperture
Aperture (photography software)
Aperture is a photo editing and management software program that was developed by Apple for the Mac OS X operating system, first released in 2005 for $499 , dropped to $199, and now released on their App Store for $79...
. Users can drag and drop music, movies, and photos directly into Pages documents from the Media Browser window.
Pages has a number of other advanced writing tools. The "Full Screen" mode hides the menubar and toolbars, allowing users to focus on a single document without being distracted by other windows on the screen. Mail merge automatically populates custom fields with contact data from Address Book or from Numbers
Numbers (software)
Numbers is a spreadsheet application developed by Apple Inc. as part of the iWork productivity suite alongside Keynote and Pages. Numbers 1.0 was announced on August 7, 2007 and thus it is the newest application in the iWork Suite. Numbers runs on Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" or newer...
to create personalized documents. For example, if a user wants to send one letter to three different people, mail merge allows them to create a single document with placeholder fields that will be populated when printing. Tables and charts pasted from Numbers
Numbers (software)
Numbers is a spreadsheet application developed by Apple Inc. as part of the iWork productivity suite alongside Keynote and Pages. Numbers 1.0 was announced on August 7, 2007 and thus it is the newest application in the iWork Suite. Numbers runs on Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" or newer...
are automatically updated if the original spreadsheet is changed.
Pages can import some AppleWorks
AppleWorks
AppleWorks refers to two different office suite products, both of which are now discontinued. Originally, AppleWorks was an integrated software package for the Apple II platform, released in 1984 by Apple Computer...
word processing documents and Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
documents (including Word 2007's Office Open XML format), and can export documents to rich text
Rich Text Format
The Rich Text Format is a proprietary document file format with published specification developed by Microsoft Corporation since 1987 for Microsoft products and for cross-platform document interchange....
, PDF, EPUB
EPUB
EPUB is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum...
and Microsoft Word DOC
DOC (computing)
In computing, DOC or doc is a filename extension for word processing documents; most commonly for Microsoft Word. Historically, the extension was used for documentation in plain-text format, particularly of programs or computer hardware, on a wide range of operating systems...
formats.
Simple and complex mathematical equations can be written for a Pages document with Mac OS X's Grapher
Grapher
Grapher is a software program bundled with Mac OS X since version 10.4 that is able to create 2D and 3D graphs from simple and complex equations. It includes a variety of samples ranging from differential equations to 3D-rendered Toroids and Lorenz attractors. It is also capable of dealing with...
, offering similar capabilities to Microsoft Equation Editor (plus 2D and 3D rendering tools only Grapher can use).
Compatibility
As of August 2010, Pages does not support OpenDocumentOpenDocument
The Open Document Format for Office Applications is an XML-based file format for representing electronic documents such as spreadsheets, charts, presentations and word processing documents....
file format
Document file format
A document file format is a text or binary file format for storing documents on a storage media, especially for use by computers.There currently exist a multitude of incompatible document file formats....
. At the same time, Pages is restricted to Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
only. While there is no program that can view or edit a .pages file using Windows or Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, some content can be retrieved because a .pages file is actually a bundle. A user can open a .pages file in an unpackaging program, or by renaming files as .zip files
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
in Windows (XP and onwards), and will find either a .jpg or .pdf preview in its entirety for viewing and printing, though only possible if the creator of the .pages file elected to include a preview. The user will also find a .xml file with unformatted text. This process can also be used for users of the 2008 version of Pages to open documents saved in the 2009 version of Pages, which are not backwards compatible. iWork can also export documents into a number of formats; unfortunately, formatting is often lost during the export process. There is no third-party converter available at this time that can change the file type and save the formatting. However, the Google Docs Viewer can open Pages files.
Version history
| Version Number | | Release Date | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | February 2005 | Initial release. |
| 1.0.1 | March 17, 2005 | Fixes isolated bugs and issues causing problems to some customers. It also allowed the deletion of template pages. |
| 1.0.2 | May 25, 2005 | Addresses issues with page navigation and organization. |
| 2.0 | January 10, 2006 | Released as part of iWork '06. Includes new templates, table calculations, photo masking with shapes and freestyle bezier curves. |
| 2.0.1 | April 26, 2006 | Pages 2.0.1 addresses issues with charts and image adjust. It also addresses a number of other minor issues. |
| 2.0.1v2 | May 1, 2006 | Pages 2.0.1 addresses issues with charts and image adjust. It also addresses a number of other minor issues. |
| 2.0.2 | September 28, 2006 | Pages 2.0.2 addresses issues with Aperture compatibility. |
| 3.0 | August 7, 2007 | Pages 3.0 released as part of iWork '08. Introduced compatibility with Office Open XML (Microsoft Office 2007) files. Introduced Change Tracking. Transparency tool for pictures. Pages 3.0 needs only a third (260 MB) of the hard disk space required for Pages 2.0 (760 MB) despite the added functionality. |
| 3.0.1 | September 27, 2007 | Addresses issues with performance and change tracking. |
| 3.0.2 | January 29, 2008 | This update addresses compatibility with Mac OS X. |
| 3.0.3 | February 2, 2008 | Compatibility issues. |
| 4.0 | January 6, 2009 | Released as a part of iWork '09. New features include the ability to edit in full screen view, better compatibility with Microsoft Office, an outline mode, the option to upload documents to the new iWork.com service, and expanded configurability for the "track changes" feature (including the option to turn off change balloons while keeping comment balloons visible). |
| 4.0.1 | March 26, 2009 | Improves reliability when working with EndNote X2 or MathType 6, or deleting Pages files. |
| 4.0.2 | May 28, 2009 | Improves reliability when saving documents. |
| 4.0.3 | September 28, 2009 | Improves reliability with full-screen mode, applying transparency to images, and EndNote EndNote EndNote is a commercial reference management software package, used to manage bibliographies and references when writing essays and articles. It is produced by Thomson Reuters.- Features :... citations. |
| 4.0.4 | August 26, 2010 | Adds support for exporting to the EPUB EPUB EPUB is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum... format (for use with iBooks IBooks iBooks is an e-book application by Apple Inc. It was announced in conjunction with the iPad on January 27, 2010, and was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch in mid-2010, as part of the iOS 4 update. At that time, it was described by Apple as being available only in the United States... ) and fixes problems with tables. |
| 4.0.5 | January 5, 2011 | Improves the readability of exported ePub documents. |
| 4.1 | July 20, 2011 | Adds support for Mac OS X Lion, including: Full-Screen, Resume, Auto Save, Versions, Character picker. Improves Microsoft Office Compatibility. |
External links
- iWork Community
- Pages FAQ Unofficial FAQ based mostly on content from Apple's support forums.
- iWorkTipsnTricks Unofficial iWork Tips and Tricks repository with links to many useful resources.