Why do I need a new version of numbers to open an old spreadsheet

Why do I need a new version of Numbers to open an existing spreadsheet?

There may have been an update to the existing Numbers, if so one would think
the prompt to update the same version to a later step would have appeared, or
if available would perhaps appear as a free update to the version, if a patch, etc.
The Software Update application may show it, or generally go to Mac App Store.
Would 'repair disk permissions' help, especially if the Numbers application is not in
need of update to open an older project or document? Hard to determine a cause.
In any event, it sounds a bit odd to me.
Good luck & happy computing!

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You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet.

I currentlyhave Numbers '09. When I try and open any older numbers file I get this message. "You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet." My updates are current. Any ideas on what to do?

It's quite easy to open up Numbers, ask it "about Numbers" up in the bar, and it's quite clearly running 3.0.1.
I'm not a n00b computer user by any stretch. What's happening here makes no sense. Two days ago myself (and apparently a lot of people) could open up our files just fine in Numbers 3, which apparenlty was updated on my computer in mid-October. Then for no reason whatsoever, those same files won't open.
For no reason I can discern either, some of my files will open, and some won't. Two files, for example, I open nearly every day. One of them opens today, the other doesn't. They are clones of each other, so the structure & formulas are the same, but the data differs. Why will one open and the other not? It makes no rational sense.
Also, I only tested using Numbers 2.3 to see if other (older) files would open. Obviously, a document converted to a newer version of Numbers, isn't backwards compatible. So I'm not attempting to open my regular files using an old version of Numbers, since that's clearly not going to work.
I can open old files, and they pop right up in Numbers 3. It asks me to upgrade the files in order to save them.
Again, the problem is that for some inexplicable reason, files that opened two days ago in Numbers 3, will no longer open in Numbers 3.
I have opened up Numbers 3 directly and tried to open these files. Nope.
I have right clicked on the file in the Finder and told it to open it with Numbers 3. Nope.
I have double checked the last day I used the file (in this case, December 30) to make sure I'm not looking at the wrong file. Opens? Nope.
I opened the other file (the clone) and it opens. Then I try to open the file in question using either "open" or "open recent", and...Nope.
I have reinstalled Numbers 3. Opens? Nope.
I have tried to open many files, and some open and some don't.
I have made sure my file names don't have any weird extension on the end, like ".dorkedupfile" or something.
I have renamed the file and removed ".numbers" on the end of the file. Nope.
I put it back. Nope.
Sigh.

When I try to open a spreadsheet on my Mac that I worked on with my iPhone, I get "You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet." When I go to the App store, it says I already have it. I have v. 2.3 and can't seem to download newer version

When I try to open a spreadsheet on my Mac that I worked on with my iPhone, I get "You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet." When I go to the App store, it says I already have it. I have v. 2.3 and can't seem to download newer version.

If you are running Mavericks, and the Mac App store says you are up to date, then you have Numbers 3.2 as well as Numbers 2.3. You are getting the "Need a newer version message because your Mac is trying to open the document using Numbers 2.3.
Launch Numbers 3, then open the document from within that app, or right click/control-click the document and choose Open with Numbers 3.x.
Regards,
Barry

I cannot re-open files that have been saved in Numbers version09 - it states "You need a newer version of numbers to open this document". This is the latest version

I cannot re-open files that have been saved in Numbers version09 - it states "You need a newer version of numbers to open this document". This is the latest version & also the one I have created/saved???

Jules,
You may delete Numbers 08 if you wish, but some folks like keeping it around. Close all your Numbers docs and Quit the Numbers app, and the other Numbers app if necessary.Then click the Numbers icon on your doc. Then select Numbers > About Numbers, and in the window that pops up, see which version it is. If the Dock icon started Numbers 08, you can cure that by dragging that icon off the Dock and letting it go in a puff of virtual smoke.
Now, to put the Numbers 09 icon on the Dock, double-click one of those known Numbers 09 documents so that Numbers 09 starts up. Verify by checkig Numbers > about Numbers.
Now click and hold the Numbers Dock icon and select the Option for Keep in Dock.
Jerry
Message was edited by: Jerrold Green1 -- I inadvertently posted about Pages rather than Numbers. Just corrected it.

When I click on a saved document or spreadsheet, I get this message You need a newer version of Numbers to open this document. When I go Software update, there is no update for pages or numbers. can't purchase or update?

when I click on a saved document or spreadsheet, I get this message 'You need a newer version of Numbers to open this document'. When I go Software update, there is no update for pages or numbers. can't purchase or update?
Trying re-purchasing. won't let me. says to check for updates?
any suggestions

It sounds to me as though you are attempting to open a Pages 09 document with the Pages 08 application. If you do have Pages 09 on your computer, it may be that for some reason an existing Pages 08 application is invoked accidentally.
Jerry

I've a very important document which I can't open anymore: You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet.

I've a very important document which I can't open anymore: You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet.

I figured out that it doesn't matter, actually it is Qsync, but other prgrams such Sugar Sync create teh same problem
The sync program adds a suffix to the files insite the numbers container
When looking at the files inside the Numbers file/folder, I saw this (note: Alphonse is the name of my computer):
drwxr-xr-x@ 9 thibaut staff   306B Mar 14 09:21 .
drwxr-xr-x 8 thibaut staff   272B Mar 14 09:30 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 thibaut staff    26B Mar 4 14:31 .LSOverride
drwxr-xr-x 2 thibaut staff    68B Mar 14 09:21 Data
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   262K Jan 3 13:21 Index (from Alphonse).zip
drwxr-xr-x 5 thibaut staff   170B Mar 14 09:21 Metadata
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   101K Jan 3 13:21 preview (from Alphonse).jpg
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   1.4K Jan 3 13:21 preview-micro (from Alphonse).jpg
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff    11K Jan 3 13:21 preview-web (from Alphonse).jpg
I renamed the files to remove the suffix, like this:
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff    11K Jan 3 13:21 preview-web.jpg
drwxr-xr-x@ 9 thibaut staff   306B Mar 14 09:32 .
drwxr-xr-x 8 thibaut staff   272B Mar 14 09:30 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 thibaut staff    26B Mar 4 14:31 .LSOverride
drwxr-xr-x 2 thibaut staff    68B Mar 14 09:21 Data
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   262K Jan 3 13:21 Index.zip
drwxr-xr-x 5 thibaut staff   170B Mar 14 09:21 Metadata
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   1.4K Jan 3 13:21 preview-micro.jpg
-rw-r--r--@ 1 thibaut staff   101K Jan 3 13:21 preview.jpg
That fixed the problem and the file now opens correctly in Numbers 3.
You can take the numbers file into a windows machin, the file is shown as a folder and then remive teh suffix.
and like magic the file can then be opend in Numbers V3.1

I've updated to the latest version of Numbers but there's one file I can't open. I get an error message "You need a newer versions of Numbers to open this file." Help!

I've got an important file I need to access. I had no trouble on 9/20 and today I am told I need to download the latest version of Numbers, which I'd already done. I'm not having trouble with any other files. Help

Please see this user tip:
Need newer version of Numbers to open file

Why do i need a newer version of number to open a file created on the present version?

I have numbers 09 version2.3 (554). It keeps telling me I need to buy an update to open a file i created weeks ago. Why is this? I have no updates pending. Help?

Check to see if you have a Numbers in your main Applications folder and another in a subfolder named iWork '09 within Applications. If so the Numbers in the main Applications folder is the latest version 3, while the version in the subfolder is Numbers 2. Try opening the document with the version of Numbers you find in the main Applications folder.
SG

I upgraded to the new Numbers, but when I try to open an edited spreadsheet, I get this: "You need a newer version of Numbers to open this spreadsheet. You can download the latest version of Numbers from the Mac App Store." Help!

When I check for upgrades, my computer "No updates available" and says "OS X Update Version 10.9.2 installed Mar 9, 2014."
When I go to the app store to get the new Numbers, it says "installed".
I shut down and rebooted my computer, but I still get the message that says I need new Numbers to open the spreadsheet that I want to open. I can open other spreadsheets, those all work. I just can't open the one I want. Please help. I need the data on that spreadsheet TODAY!!!

Hello CLynas,
The following article provides steps that can help get your documents to open with the correct version of Numbers.
Upgrade notification message when opening an iWork document
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1060
Cheers,
Allen

"need a newer version of Numbers" error message?

I am getting an error message that i "need a newer version of Numbers to open this document" message when i try to open a file i created with the newest version of Numbers that i downloaded a few months back. anyone know a fix?

App icons are seldom changed as an application goes through various versions. The assumptionis that you will have only on version installed at any given time. If you do need to keep and run two versions, place the icon attached to the most often one on the Dock, and start the other from the Finder when you need it.
Regards,
Barry

I can open some older numbers files but not others. I get a message that says I need a newer version of numbers.

I can open some older numbers files but not other. I get a message saying I need a new version of numbers. Why would some files open and not others?

SK,
Here's the deal. If you ever open a Numbers file with Version 3, the file is converted to Version 3 and can't be opened again by Version 2. Version 2 and Version 3 are undoubtedly both on your machine and they look so similar that you may not realize which you are using. So, there are two steps to getting into trouble.
1. Open a Numbers 2 file with Numbers 3, edit it and Close it.
2. Try to open that file with Version 2. You ill get the error.
To always get it right, find the file you want to open in Finder, Right-Click it and choose Open With... and pick Version 3 from the drop down list.
If you have a file that you prefer to use only in Version 2, always use Open with... Numbers 2.3.
Jerry

I am trying to open a recent document in Pages. It says I need a newer version of Pages to open it. When I try to install newer versionit says I already have pages and this computer (Mac) and says to go to software update. There is no update being shown.

I am trying to open a recent document in Pages. It says I need a newer version of pages to open document. When I go to install pages it says I already have on this computer and to check software updates. There are no updates showing. Now what?? I can't open any of my documents.

you need a newer version of pages to open this document

Tried to open a file I created in Numbers a while ago which I modified on 11/4/13 and got a message that I needed a newer version of Numbers. When I went to the Mac App Store it shows that the new version is already installed. Any suggestions?

Tried to open a file I created in Numbers a while ago, which I modified on 11/4/13, and got a message that I needed a newer version of Numbers. When I went to the Mac App Store it shows that the new version is already installed and there doesn't seem to be a way to reinstall it. When I checked "About Numbers" on my MacBook it shows "Numbers '09 version 2.3". Any suggestions as to how I can get the new version installed?

Are you launching Pages from an icon in your Dock? Installing the update does not change the Dock icons & it does not remove the older versions. Go to your Applications folder & launch the new Pages from there.

I have Keynote'09. I started a new Keynote document, closed it, came back to continue on it. I tried to open it and received the drop-down window "need a newer version of Keynote to open this document." ???

I have Keynote '09 and have used it many times. Today I started another Keynote document, stopped for a while, came back to continue, and received, "You need a newer version of Keynote to open this document." ?? Stumped.

IOS Pages 2.0 and 2.1 implement an entirely incompatible document format with Pages ’09 v4.3. It cannot open them, and you are then prompted to update to Pages v5+ which is compatible with your IOS Pages.
Unfortunately, updating to Pages v5+ is a bad thing, as it is a brand new application that has omitted over 90+ features from Pages ’09 v4.3. When you update to Pages v5+, it will move your old still functional version of the earlier Pages into /Applications/iWork. Aside from all the missing functionality, Pages v5+ will likely damage older documents that depend on specific Pages ’09 v4.3 features (including AppleScript and custom Templates).
Oh, by the way, the older and new Pages documents have the same filename extension (.pages) making document organization difficult without applying different tag colors to old and new documents.
We are recommending that users remain on their earlier Pages version. You may have to export documents from IOS Pages as Word .docx to avoid the OS X Pages update notice.

Some files in "DOCUMENTS" icon in dock won't open. Get msg saying You need a newer version of Pages to open this document." Have Pages 4.1 installed. Same files will open ok from Finder, Pages App. Recently sync'd with ipad2 (Pages) after iOS5 installed.

Some files in "DOCUMENTS" icon in dock won't open. Get msg saying "You need a newer version of Pages to open this document." Already have Pages 4.1 installed. Same files will open ok from Finder/Pages App./selected file. Prob not noted until recently after sync'd with ipad2 (Pages) when I installed iOS5. Anyone-- please?!

You have 2 versions of Pages on your Mac.
Pages 5.2 is in your Applications folder.
Pages '09/'08 is in your Applications/iWork folder.
You are alternately opening the wrong versions.
Pages '09/'08 can not open Pages 5 files and you will get the warning that you need a newer version.
Pages 5.2 can open Pages '09 files but may damage/alter them. It can not open Pages '08 files at all.
Older versions of Pages 5 can not open files from later versions of Pages 5.
Once opened and saved in Pages 5 the Pages '09 files can not be opened in Pages '09.
Anything that is saved to iCloud and opened in a newer version of Pages is also converted to Pages 5 files.
All Pages files no matter what version and incompatibility have the same extension .pages.
Pages 5 files are now only compatible with themselves on a very restricted set of hardware, software and Operating Systems and will not transfer correctly on any other server software than iCloud.
Apple has removed almost 100 features from Pages 5 and added many bugs:
http://www.freeforum101.com/iworktipsntrick/viewforum.php?f=22&sid=3527487677f0c 6fa05b6297cd00f8eb9&mforum=iworktipsntrick
Rate/review Pages 5.2 in the App Store.
Peter

Why do I need a new version of numbers to open an old spreadsheet

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