A note to beginners.

I work in Pages is a blog for confident iWork users. In my posts I usually skip the obvious steps you find in manuals, guides and on some web-sites. 

You don't need to be reminded to 'open a Pages document, to open go to File..' or 'select the Object, then move it...' before you start the actual task. I think it only irritates people who want to get straight to the point and see the main clue to accomplishing the task. Usually there is just one crucial tip.

If, however, you find that something is missing or you can't understand how to get where you want to, do get in touch. The content of this blog is created by one man, me, the publisher and author. I'll never send you back to read the manual or scoff at anyone's inexperience or incomprehension. No RTFMs here.

And of course I learn from readers' questions myself – no one can know everything.

The content is not checked or endorsed by Apple or any other computer company or specialists. It is entirely based on my own experience. Take it on 'as is' basis and let me know if there is an error or if you've found a simpler way of doing the same task.

Five Years of Working in Pages.

It is five years since I've started blogging about iWork/Pages.

It seems like a long time. I only began it to organize my numerous scribbles on solutions I found while working in Pages, but slowly it grew into a popular source of information, a point of reference for hundreds of iWork/Pages users throughout the world. The blog is now visited by over a thousand people a day.

It seems like a long time, but what amazes me is that I still have that uplifting feeling of excitement and discovery every time I try something new in Pages.

A big thank you to the readers of I Work in Pages for support, encouragement, comments and suggestions.

Letters above are 'written' with the Draw Tool (in the Shapes menu) and then edited (Format>Shape>Smooth Path). The candle consists of edited shapes – two ovals with gradient colour fill and a rectangle. Both ovals have coloured shadows flowing in opposite directions (add shadow in Graphics Inspector and rotate the shadow angle wheel). This gives the halo effect to the flame.

No RTFM, We're All Users

I am as willing to ask questions about what I don't know as to answer questions from fellow macusers about what I do know. Nobody knows everything, anyone can stumble upon a problem.

I made it a principle here never to send people off to the manual or tell them off for not reading and researching themselves what's already available.

RTFM, for those who don't know, stands for 'Read the F-- Manual'. If you go on a help forum, you may well find that there would be a group of regulars who find pleasure in telling newcomers, with varying degrees of sarcasm, to read what's already been discussed there. My advice: avoid places like that, look for where people simply give you a short and up-to-the-point answer.

There is a good article about RTFM on Wikipedia. This is what it says:

In fact, when it comes to software for general-population users, the evolving standard in usability is that software be engineered (often at great pains) to be usable without a manual at all, since users don't often actually read them, and in many contexts, perhaps should not even be expected to.

By the way there are more than 1,000 daily visitors here now.

Photo: Apple Jungle ©A.Anichkin

Note to German and Latvian readers

Just a thank you note to my readers in Germany and Latvia.

Someone put links to this blog on German and Latvian Macintosh forums which brought the number of pageviews here to well above 7,000.

Liels paldies! 

Tausend Dank!

5000 Pageviews

This is a quick thank you to readers who support this blog - it has just broken through 5,000 monthly pageviews and has been consistently visited by over a hundred Pages users every day.

Readers find here tips on design and layout, troubleshooting and workarounds. For many the most interesting aspect is the high-end use of iWork/Pages, i.e. preparing professional press-quality material utilising the power of this programme.

Photo: a huge apple crop, ©A.Anichkin

I Work in Pages - an informal Users Group?

A reader of this blog has suggested developing I Work in Pages as an informal iWork/Pages user group.

Please post you comments below:
what do you think about this idea or how to do it. I have changed the blog format - now you can write your comments straight under each post without opening a comments form. Word verification and moderating are still on to avoid spam.

There is a new tick-box type comment feature called 'Reactions' - just tick a box to show what you think.

You can also subscribe to posts and comments and join in as a follower of this blog.

Thank you.

Read comments about this blog here

A point of reference for iWork/Pages users

I started this blog to keep track of all my numerous scribbles with tips, tricks and solutions I found while working in iWork/Pages. They were mostly meant as reminders to myself.

However, over the past two years I Work in Pages has become a popular point of reference and exchange of information on iWork/Pages with thousands of visitors from all over the world, from Beverly Hills, California, to Moscow, Russia, and from Trondheim in Norway to Dunedin in New Zealand.

Top viewed articles on the blog deal with high-quality professional printing and producing PDFs which is obvious, because this aspect of using Pages is not sufficiently covered, neither in the user's manual nor anywhere else. But some of the 'bestsellers' on this blog came as a complete surprise to me. For example, a small item on where in Pages is word (character) count suddenly shot to the top of the list of most viewed articles even though it's rather easy to find.

I am delighted by the response and welcome all questions and suggestions. Here are some of the comments sent to I Work in Pages:

E. from Norway said (re. Three steps from Pages to PDF):

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Saved my life...

exegete77 said:
Thanks for all your helpful hints. I just discovered your blog today and will continue reading through your archives.

Sister Julie said:
I just got my first Mac and chose to go with iWork. I was happy to stumble upon your blog which is helping me make the transition from Word to Pages. Excellent job. Thanks for the work you do.
Sister Julie, Chicago

Al Coffman said (re. Three steps from Pages to PDF):
Just a note of thanks. Your post solved a problem for us in a quick and clear manner! Merci beaucoup.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Preparing colour separated PDFs using ColorSync":
Thank you! My printer needed a CMYK pdf and I couldn't find a solution until I read this.
Not everything you suggested worked out for me though - I couldn't set the resolution because the I couldn't locate the commands you suggested. I'm working in Pages '08 - maybe they have created a higher dpi as a default? Best wishes, Karyn

Uri has left a new comment on your post "Quick JPEGs straight from Pages":
REALLY USEFULL!! I created a flyer, but I needed it in JPG...
Thanks 4 the trick, man!

Anonymous said (re. Quick word count in Pages):
Thanks! I am writing a paper and was wondering where that darn word count was!

Corey Koch said:
Well Done.
I am a graphic designer, living in Normandy and have seen your magazine from the start. Having used Quark Xpress for the last seventeen! years, I am amazed you managed to get it looking this good.
I can pick holes but, hey, there must be a future without Quark holding us to ransom. Well done!
We enjoy reading it.
Corey Koch