Undocumented proprietary file format in Pages

The new Pages 5 file package format contains binary .iwa files that, as far as I can tell, are unreadable by other applications. This makes it very difficult or even impossible to recover file content if you are on a computer without Pages 5 or if Apple one day abandons the program. This is a big shift from the previous XML based file structure, which at least could be read by text editors, and which in theory could be recovered.
To me, already before Pages 5, the main reason not to use Pages was the proprietary file format. I do not have a single Pages file on my hard disk without a backup in more widely used formats, like doc, docx, rtf, txt, PDF or whatever makes most sense for the file.
Pages 5 in general has been a step forward to me with some useful new functions, even though some other people disagree.
However, the new file format makes it doubly important not to use Pages to create files for long term storage. To anyone interested in my opinion:
Never, ever, repeat, absolutely never, create a Pages file without a backup in another file format.

I can understand what you are saying, but I think it is a little bit of an over-raection.
Pages can open the proprietary format; if you can save a copy of the document, you can also save a backup of the application. Twenty five year old software can still be run (in emulation) on at least Mountain Lion, so I don't expect to outlive my ability to run Pages if I have to. And Pages is a personal format; if you are producing documents for others in Pages, you would normally produce output in pdf or print.
Many of the documents I produce in Pages are temporary items that I only want to have around long enough to produce a pdf or printout; I don't even want to save them to disk. And very few of the documents I create are anything that I would want to open three or four years down the road.
If you are producing documents that you want to be accessible to posterity, your advice is on target. In that case, though, I think the proprietary aspect is irrelevant. That sort of information should always be preserved in multiple formats, on multiple kinds of media, and in multiple locations.

Similar Messages

What file format does Pages use?

Allow me to explain:
I have recently downloaded Scrivener and it tells me that I cannot use the Pages documents which I have started because it doesn't accept the file format and that Pages is peculiar to Apple. I would like to use Scrivener to work on my documents as a research tool and somewhere to organise my stuff. I then want to take the end result to Pages for further reading and editing.
At the moment I have downloaded Scrivener onto a Macbook Air and Pro. Both are running Pages and Mavericks.

You have to use the export menu in Pages to create a format that Scrivener can read, like .doc. Pages can then also read .doc format you export from Scrivener. But translating between formats often results in unwanted changes, so your proposed work flow could turn out to be messy and impractical. If you have to work in .doc, probably best to just use Word or OpenOffice.

Still need .mix File Format Support from Microsoft PictureIt

My many files in the .MIX format will die unless Adobe can reverse engineer a conversion. I have a ton I would like to batch convert to .jpg or .dng. Can you help, I am using a Mac and want to jetison my Windows machine. Lots of folks grouse on the net forums who are stranded the same way.

Advice for the future: If you intend on archiving images, do not choose a closed format that only one application can read.
Even with the resources Adobe has, they do not have the legal ability to reverse engineer another's proprietary file format. If this was even remotely possible, I'd suggest that you visit Adobe's feature request web page.
If you want to be forever done with "anti-virus nonsense" then you may not want Mac either. Apple recommends anti-virus software in this document and even includes some very limited antivirus capabilities in Snow Leopard.

File format? Translators? Not supported by MacLinkPlus?

I have mixed feelings about Pages but find that I'm using it more and more, (mostly because AppleWorks' font rendering on screen is so ugly). But I'm very nervous about committing much of my personal work to a nonstandard file format. Yes, I understand that Pages itself can export to other file formats, but that's not quite the same thing, particularly since there seems to be no batch support. I've been using personal-computer software for a long time and have been bitten by problems in the past. I don't like relying on any single piece of software as a way to access and/or translate files.
MacLinkPlus does not seem to support the .pages format, and that worries me.
1) Has Apple published specifications for the .pages file format?
2) Does anyone know whether MacLinkPlus is going to support Pages? I'm surprised that it doesn't given that Pages has been out for over a year...
3) Does anyone know of translators for Pages other than MacLinkPlus?

I have mixed feelings about Pages but find that I'm using it more and more, (mostly because AppleWorks' font rendering on screen is so ugly). But I'm very nervous about committing much of my personal work to a nonstandard file format.
Other than OpenOffice and Pages, every word processor uses a proprietary file format. If you don't like Pages then you're only left with OpenOffice (and that's not the best experience on the Mac).
1) Has Apple published specifications for the .pages file format?
Yes. Mostly complete XML specs for both Pages and Keynote are available on Apple's Developer web page for Apple Applications. Third party software developers are already doing import/export of Keynote documents. (Pages and Keynote are similar in that their file formats use the open XML standard.)
2) Does anyone know whether MacLinkPlus is going to support Pages?
Only DataViz can answer that. There's no reason they can't offer translation in MacLinkPlus for Pages. But I doubt they will when a user can currently export to Word, RTF, PDF, etc from Pages. What would be the incentive for DataViz to offer this feature, and why would someone spend the exorbitant amount they charge for MacLinkPlus. And I doubt that offering a batch translation feature for Pages documents would be a big enough feature for many people to buy MacLinkPlus.
3) Does anyone know of translators for Pages other than MacLinkPlus?
MacLinkPlus doesn't translate Pages (see above). OmniGroup already import/export Keynote 1 & 2 documents in OmniOutliner. They could also add Pages import/export as it's similar to Keynote, but I'd guess there's not yet sufficient customer demand for Pages. Not that importing into OmniOutliner would be any help.
Before deciding what to do, consider waiting till after the Macworld Expo keynote this coming Tuesday. It's very possible that Pages 2.0 will be available with a bunch of improvements and features. Maybe improved import/expoert will be one of the improvements.
Cheers.

How do i change .pages to a .doc without microsoft? I've tried going to file format .doc but all of the selctions are grey as in i can't even click on them?

How do i change a .pages to a .doc format when i don;t have microsoft. I've tried file>format>.doc, though all selections are grey as in a cant't select them? Please help.
I can't afford microsoft yet and this is a new macso im very new to this and have had so much trouble with this sort of stuff. ive googled it but nothing seems to work!!
Thanks in advance

Export the document...there are several formatting options.
Barry

HT4796 I have made a file using the Pages app.I mailed it to a friend.When she tried opening the same file on her pc at home , It did not open.Please help me as to how to open the file in the Microsoft word format on her pc.

I have made a file using the Pages app.I mailed it to a friend.When she tried opening the same file on her pc at home , It did not open.Please help me as to how to open the file in the Microsoft word format on her pc.

Send it as a PDF.

Hello. May I ask: I am using Acrobat 6.0.2, and having trouble formatting a PDF created from multiple (jpeg) files. Each page is formatted to A4 size, portrait. But when I create the PDF, each sheet appears as tiny, in the middle of a huge white page.

Hello. May I ask: I am using Acrobat 6.0.2, and having trouble formatting a PDF created from multiple (jpeg) files. Each page is formatted to A4 size, portrait. But when I create the PDF, each sheet appears as tiny, in the middle of a huge white page. I cannot seem to find any controls to adjust this. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks CtDave, for the further info. Unfortunately, those suggestions are not working, which is strange.
....Until last week, I used to make multi-page PDFs straight from Photoshop: File > Automate > Make PDF. One simply choses the files, orders them, and creates a PDF. (Resolution doesn't matter; 300 DPI is no problem.) However, my new Photoshop CS5 does not have the option in Automate.
What I've done, seeing as Acrobat is letting me down, is use Bridge (new to me) to create the PDF. It worked without a problem, but seems like more work than the old PS method. I will download a newer version of Acrobat to see if that makes any difference.
.....Also, thanks Test Screen Name: I agree with you that jpeg is irrelevant, and that one can make a PDF from Photoshop (Print > Save As - pdf). But that only works for SINGLE PAGE pdf, not multiple pages as far as I can tell.
Kind regards,
Prince Nuada

I updated my pages app on my ipad and when I tried to open a document it says the file format is invalid. None of my documents are opening pleaser help!

I updated my pages app on my ipad and when I tried to open a document it says the file format is invalid. None of my documents are opening pleaser help!!!!

Try this. It worked for me.
I discovered the same problem. I had an older version of Pages on my iPad. After updating it to the latest version all my previous documents created in pages for the iPad were rendered unreadable and a message stated that they were an invalid format. Why for the life of me would a program that was created by Apple and sense updated not be able to read previous versions...well that's a whole other sad story. Any way I discovered how to fix it but it would require that you had backup your iPad on a computer and not emptied your trash. If this sounds good than here is how you fix it... And it worked for me.
These steps will enable you to reinstall a previous version of the Pages app so you can be able to read and edit older documents.
FIRST: if you did backup your iPad using your computer and did not empty your trash, GOTO the trash and look for PAGES 1.4 (or other number) ipa ( that's the file extension) ie PAGES 1.4 ipa.
SECOND: move that file out of the trash and onto your desktop. Once you do this, double click on it and a box will come up stating a newer version has been found and do you want to revert back to older version. ANSWER YES. It will than automatically place and overwrite the older version back into the file on iTunes that contains the rest of your backed up apps.
THIRD: and this is where it is important that your backup would have to have been on your computer. I'm not sure if backup on the cloud will work. iCloud backup at your own risk And here's why. Before you restore you will need to remove the latest version of Pages off your iPad by doing the usual : holding down the home button until the apps wiggle and remove by pressing on X on app. Removing off your iPad will also delete all your documents but if you have a previous backup on your computer those documents will be stored safely on itunes and will return.
FORTH: plug your iPad into your computer and allow it to sync so iTunes will recognize it. Once iTunes is up and you can see that it recognizes your iPad, GOTO "FILE/DEVICES/RESTORE FROM BACKUP." ******* DO NOT CLICK ON BACKUP***** click on RESTORE FROM BACKUP. This will reinstall all previous settings and documents that were their when you backuped PLUS the older version of Pages that you placed back from the above steps. Let it run through all the setups ( this could take up to 20 minutes...depending on amount of data and photos and apps).
FIFTH: Once everything is reinstalled a message will popup on your computer stating "to leave iPad plugged in until iTunes recognizes it again" ( it's basically rebooting itself). Once done (leave iPad plugged in still) GOTO iPad and follow the steps. IMPORTANT: iPad will ask you if you want to SET IT UP AS A NEW IPAD, BACK UP FROM THE CLOUD or BACK UP FROM ITUNES.....press SET UP AS NEW IPAD. Follow all of the steps required. Once complete GOTO iTunes on computer, look for "IPAD" plus a little arrow ( should be on upper right corner of iTunes window, click on it ( this will safely disconnect your iPad from iTunes) . Now unplug iPad from computer and go to your iPad and look for the older version of Pages. It should be there along with all your old documents ( readable and editable too).
Hope this helps. Good luck.

IWork export to Office error "The file format is invalid" in pages, keynote and numbers.

I am running iWork 09 (latest versions in all cases)*. When I try to export files from all three of the applications Pages, Keynote and Numbers into the relevant Office formats, I get the error "The file format is invalid." It works fine with PDF or RTF export.
I am able to open the same files in the iPad versions of thess iWork apps, and then export them. While this workaround will do for now, I'd like to be able to just export correctly.
Anyone have any suggestions on what might be wrong?
Thanks,
Iarla
* on a MacBook Pro '07, running Lion 10.7.1.

Yes, this worked a treat, thanks very much! *
Iarla
* Note that I needed to manually remove iWorks as the For_iWork:iWork '09:iWork9Update5.dmg.zip file wouldn't work on the latest version of iWorks. This involved deleting the iWork folders in the Applications and Library directories.

Is there a way to sort a PDF file with multiple pages by a specific field within the PDF? All pages have the same invoice format and i would like to sort by a field within and then print the documents. (Vendor, PO

Is there a way to sort a PDF file with multiple pages by a specific field within the PDF? All pages have the same invoice format and i would like to sort by a field within and then print the documents. (Vendor, PO#, Date, ect.)

When you say field, do you mean specifically a form field, such as a text field? Or is the information regular text on the page?

Content type of .pages file format

Dear team ,
please tell me the "contenttype" of the .pages file format....
example: .doc....is having the content type as "application/ms-word"
similarly can u tell me content type of .pages
Regards,
spradeepkumar

For Numbers it is:
kind = "Document Numbers" (localization dependent )
type identifier = "com.apple.iwork.numbers.sffnumbers"
For Pages it is:
kind = "Publication Pages" (localization dependent )
type identifier = "com.apple.iwork.pages.sffpages"
For Keynote it is:
kind = "Keynote Document" ( not sure of localization behavior)
type identifier:"com.apple.keynote.key"
grab it with this script after changing the pathname
set pathName to (choose file) as text
tell application "System Events"
get properties of item pathName
end tell
Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE lundi 12 janvier 2009 16:31:07)

RELAX NG or Schematron schemas for Pages XML file format?

Hey, I have been following with interest for over a year - more like two years - the whole "where are the XML schemas" for Keynote 1, and then Pages and Keynote 2.
Apparently there is some difficulty obtaining them and I would guess that means defining them. Because if Apple had their hands on them, they would be out - and up to date - by now.
XML Schema (.xsd) files are pretty painful to generate. There is a much simpler and and yet even more powerful schema format called "Relax NG". Assuming someone knows what the grammar is that Pages will willingly/successfully slurp up - they could probably create a .rnc file from scratch pretty quickly. The learning curve is pretty short for basic stuff and the amount of typing required is at least 40% less than when you create a .xsd file.
Some things do not lend themselves to grammar based schemas like XSD, RNG, or RNC.
Instead, a rule based schema language works better. Schematron is very good for this. The suffix for this file type is ".sch". The web site is easy to get to - just type schematron in your web browser's address field and press enter. Specs are all there.
There is a program called Examplotron that creates a Schematron schema for you, given an XML file that is a sample. Of course, making rules from one example is not the same as knowing all the rules. The more different kinds of stuff you have in the file though, the better your chances are of getting a decent start going. Examplotron lives on the web at examplotron.org in case you are curious.
OxygenXML is a very, very good XML editor and schema development environment. I have used it and a bunch of others. It is my favorite, by far.
Someone at Apple should get on this. If it is too hard to create an XML Schema file - then please, please - try to create an RNG, RNC, or SCH file.
If Apple cannot do it, then perhaps the user community could take a crack at it. However, it is a little bit like trying to document the laws of a country by watching what the government people do, what people do who do not get arrested, and what people do who do get arrested.
You are not certain to see an example of every law being broken - for starters, so you will miss some. (One hopes you will not see every law that exists broken!)
You are also not going to be able to tell what laws have influenced behavior that is lawful.
So, for both reasons, you might unwittingly "break the laws" of this hypothetical land. In that case, you might be executed, fined, imprisoned, or as is the case still in some countries - have your hand chopped off!
In the case of feeding a file based on mistaken assuptions to Pages, it certainly will not do what you want it do do. In theory, it might even crash, lose some data, pop up an error - or worse maybe not pop up an error, or corrupt its internal structures and become unstable. Or seem to work but fail to write the whole file out again. Or write out something that it cannot read in again - or does not reconstitute into the document that you used to have.
Granted, there is a brute force technique that can be employed. You can write an AppleScript that gets pages to create a document that exercises every possible style and feature and logical ordering and nesting of things.
Then you can study the XML that generates, or even feed to to Examplotron or a DTD generator.
Doing so would probably be a way to get a good start going.
Without any schema, there is no way to know if a complex program-generated Pages document will work right with pages.
Granted, such program-generated documents can be generated with Applescripts. But if one already has some XML that one wants to blend in, for example - then it would be better to do it with XSLT. Or Java. Or whatever.
Unfortunately, you really have to know what XML is legal in pages - and you have to know the grammar or rules for what Pages expects.
So, any XSD coming from Apple in the near future - or any interest at Apple in completing a .rnc or .rng schema if it gets mostly done by customer(s) and then handed off to Apple to finish?

XML converter (an add on to Inbound Refinery) could be used to display the contents with your XSLT choices but analyzing the file to prevent checkin would take data validation that would be custom. The CS does not care the file format or file type for checkin. Others have looked for analysis of file extension to stop checkin of certain extensions. This has been custom. I think there may be enhancement requests from customers for this kind of validation for the CS but it does not exist in the core yet.

What file format are the transparent images on "Get Started with Pages"?

I can not figure out the file format used for "Masked"/"Clipped"/"Transparent"/"Outlined" images on "iPad Page"s such as the "Butterfly"or "Giraffe". I have tried using Transparent PNG files but they do not work. I was thinking of using Transparent Tiff or PSD files but I thought I would see if anyone knew the answer first.
Thanks,
Ryan.

Glad to hear it worked for you.
I think the issue is that before iPad, the iPhone OS did fine saving everything as a JPG. And I'm sure most users of Pages for iPad will never have need of dealing with a transparent PNG. It's those that are using these apps to push the bounds that see the possibilities and get somewhat frustrated with the workarounds.
Your feedback to Apple would be helpful in future changes.

How to open new Pages file format

Sorry if this is already answered, but I upgraded to OS 10.9 on a new Mac and it upgraded Pages in iWork suite, and now I can't read the files on my older Mac running OS 10.7 and Pages (iWork '09). I purchased iWork '09 so is there a workaround to see files made in Pages 5.0 in OS 10.9. Older Macs won't run OS 10.9 (of course). thanks

All explained in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6049, which discusses the new iWorks stuff (dumbed down to mimic it's iOS counterparts) and the previously full-featured iWork '09 apps.

Display data from CSV file in iWeb page

Hi,
I like to display data from a CSV file in iWeb page if a date value from CSV file matches todays value from the system. Here is an example.
CSV data values
01/20/2011,Sunny,87
01/21/2011,Cloudy,100
01/22/2011,Rainy,60
If today's date value is 01/21/2011 the page should display 01/21/2011 Cloudy 100 in a tabular format.
Appreciate your help in providing HTML code for this issue.
Thanks

I suspect there is a soft return in the excel database somewhere that can't be seen. Take the csv/txt file into notepad and look for a line that starts oddly compared to the others.
I haven't had luck removing soft returns from excel files so I do this a rather odd way. I take the excel file into InDesign as a table, and then use find/change to replace any soft returns with nothing, then convert the text to table and then export the text out again by going export, and selecting text from the dropdown menu.
For my money, I always save tab delimited text files from excel so that if a field does contain commas, it doesn't "trick" indesign into thinking a new field is beginning or not... instead the field delimiters are tabs and they are unlikely to have been used in the excel database.
If you do choose to use this indesign import method of mine to clean up the database, i also noticed two things in your screengrab: first was that some fields have spaces at the start of the text... easy enough to fix with a GREP that looks for ^\s (start of a sentence followed by a space) and replace with nothing. The second thing is the T&C field that all entries (at least in the screengrab) all start the same – if all entries in the database start the same, couldn't that line be in the indesign file? Its only a small detail I know.

Undocumented proprietary file format in Pages

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