iWorks: Pages and Styles

Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right section, but I believe it is, so here goes!

I'm really disappointed at the word processing programs available for Mac. I draw quite a few sketch graphs for some of my subjects using Word - however, Word 2008 can't draw graphs! In Word 2007 (for PC) you could finely align lines - in 2008, every time you move the shape it moves too much so it's not good enough to draw graphs with.

As for Pages, it's great as a replacement to Microsoft Publisher, but for typing up class notes it's really not that user friendly! With Word 2007, I had various styles so my Economics essays would use a certain style, and then French essays would use another.
In Pages, I can create templates (with pre-written text elements already there) but I can't find a way to actually create new styles as you would in Word 2007.

Can anyone help out with a few tips?

Thanks!
 
Joined
Oct 27, 2002
Messages
13,172
Reaction score
348
Points
83
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro | LED Cinema Display | iPhone 4 | iPad 2
Why not use a spreadsheet program like Numbers or Excel to create graphs?

I've bemoaned Pages lack of word processing power for awhile now, I still prefer Word. But in Pages do this:

Click the Blue button on the left:

20080302-f78dyh5yg7439j69p6stwpe22b.png


Then it opens the Style drawer you can use to define styles...
 
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
8,967
Reaction score
287
Points
83
Location
London
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini Core i7 2012 | White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz | 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver
I wonder if you could use keynote to create charts and graphs

I haven't done this myself bur keynotes graphs are pretty slick (well Visually)
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2006
Messages
2,542
Reaction score
79
Points
48
Your Mac's Specs
iMac Core Duo 20", iBook G4, iPhone 8GB :)
The keynote graphics and charts are also available to Pages and numbers.
 
OP
V
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Thanks for the screenie schweb, I've tried the styles drawer but as far as I'm aware it's only to change various style ements - you can't create completely new styles using it.

As for the graphs - they're sketch graphs so it's much easier to draw them rather than use a spreadsheeting program. There's no actual figures on them and often I've got to shade parts etc. so I find using a word processor to do them is a lot easier. I guess I could always do them in a graphics editing program as a last resort.

Cheers for the response so far, I'm starting to like this place! (Lot friendlier than many other Mac/Apple forums I've seen!)
 
OP
V
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Aargh, I've been working with Pages for like 20 minutes to do what would have taken 5 on Word 07. This is really frustrating me now....I might just end up using NeoOffice or OpenOffice...eurgh :S
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2006
Messages
2,542
Reaction score
79
Points
48
Your Mac's Specs
iMac Core Duo 20", iBook G4, iPhone 8GB :)
Hows this for starters?

Picture 6.jpg
 
OP
V
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
Points
6
That's a new paragraph style, I'm beginning to think there is no 'style sets' in iWorks like Word.

Cheers for the help though, I think the best way might just be to create loads of various styles, forget style sets and then just mix and match.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top