Free tech support / small logo


How to save an Apple Pages file in Microsoft Word .doc format?

I have switched from Microsoft Office on my Mac OS X system to Apple's iWorks package, which works great except every so often someone complains that my files are in .pages format, not .doc, which is what they want to see. I can't see how to save a file in Pages as an MS Word doc file, but I know it can be done. Help?


Dave's Answer:

I also migrated on my Mac from MS Office to iWorks and haven't looked back in the eight months or so since. Certainly Keynote is a huge improvement over PowerPoint, and my Keynote presentations look so much better I am kind of embarrassed it took me so long to switch, but Pages is a splendid replacement for Word too, and so far, for me, offers 100% of the functionality and capability I need.

Even better, as I bet you've found out, you can open .doc files created by Microsoft Word in Pages without a problem. Saving Pages docs in Word format, however, isn't quite as obvious as you may imagine, because it's not a "Save As" it's an "Export".

Let me show you...

Open up your Pages document, then choose "Export..." from the File menu:

mac pages file export

Chose that and you'll see that there are a bunch of formats you can create:

mac pages file export pdf

The default is a PDF document. Easy, straightforward. Click on "Word" and you'll see:

mac pages file export microsoft word

No options, just click on "Next..." and you'll be able to type in the doc name you desire:

mac pages file export microsoft word save as

Enter a good name, add ".doc" if you think it'll make it easier for the recipients, and click "Export".

That's it. Done. Now you have a ".doc" file on your computer that's a Microsoft Word friendly version of your document. Not too bad!









Subscribe!
Never miss another Q&A article! Click to subscribe: Add to Google Reader Add to My Yahoo! Subscribe in NewsGator RDF XML
Comments

what version of word does pages export? the pages word export wont open in word 2003.

Posted by: bill holton at May 4, 2010 9:23 PM

I would like to use Apple Pages in a typical MSOffice environment (an Italian law office) and I always experience a huge problem: exporting to word seems to work well but, when my coworkers try to print the doc I created, even after modifying it, the printer acts funny.

The page seems to be created in an horizontal format, with only a few (huge) lines per page. Changing the page format seems to solve the problem, but:
1. I can't ask my coworkers (computer dummies) to do such a "difficult" thing every time.
2. The problem is not visible from inside any word processor I tried, so it's not easy to find what docs are affected.

If you can help me, even with a private mail, I will be really greateful

Posted by: Furio at May 31, 2010 12:26 PM

I've followed the instructions for exporting a PAGES file out as a Word document, exactly as you specified on your site. But, when I look at the file in an "explorer" mode, the PAGE version is 152 KB long, and the Word version is only 19 KB.

What did I do wrong?

Posted by: Barry at August 3, 2010 3:44 PM

Hi Dave,
I have found a document in word that I have saved with a password protection 5 years ago. Now I have forgetten it, and the doc is very important, a story on my best friend, she passed away that year.
Can I open it or must I buy the software that will allow it?
thanks you, micaela from Italy

Posted by: Micaela at March 29, 2011 3:14 PM

Dave...I'm so glad I found you! You made a frustrating problem disappear in a few well explained steps...you even have visuals! Thank you a thousand times!

Posted by: Wendy at July 4, 2011 6:53 AM

Hi Dave

This was very useful.

Thanks!

Posted by: Niti Gupta at August 24, 2011 1:42 AM

Hello.

I have recently just downloaded Pages from the app store. I followed the instructions above about saving in a word format, however when I type in ".doc" after I type in my desired doc name, I'll go into my Finder and my document will only have my doc name not ".doc" after it. Should my friends with word have any trouble opening the document if I were to send it to them?

Posted by: Jess at August 27, 2011 2:05 AM

Jess, if you are saving the file in "Microsoft Word" format, it should automatically have a .doc or .docx filename suffice. If not, try File -> Export (I think that's the menu item name) and specify an MS Word file.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at September 2, 2011 8:33 AM

very good explanation, easy to follow and excellent presentation.

Thank you

Posted by: andrea at January 11, 2012 2:41 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











Remember personal info?


Please note that I will never send you any unsolicited email. Ever.

While I'm at it, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site.









Recent Entries


Search
I Need Help!
Need Help? Ask Dave Taylor!


© 2002 - 2012 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site.

[whiteboard marker tray]
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.