Electronics

[glb613]

I haven't used Pages very often because I switched to Apple computers after I retired.  I'm now in a position where I need to use the program on a regular basis and have a problem.  When I was using Word, I could create a form and save it.  When I wanted to fill in the form I'd open the document, fill in the information then "save as" and give it a new name.  The original document remained intact and the new document with the changes was also save.  I've tried doing this in Pages and no matter what I've tried, the original document is altered and saving it overwrites it.   I've tried saving the original as a template, use it to fill in the information and when I save it with a new name, the original is changed.  I've Googled my question but I haven't found anything that works.  Help. 

[gardenman]

Interesting. I would try making two copies of the form with similar names like "form1" and "form1a" then shut down and restart the computer. Then try filling in "form1a", save it as say "form1b" and see if your "form1" changes also. If it does, you're stuck. It's possible your computer assumes you want to change both forms if they're both active. By shutting down the computer, only the one obviously open should be open and changed. Just because we tell the computer we're done with a file, it doesn't mean the computer believes us. Computers do a lot of stuff behind our backs and keeping open files the computer thinks we might want to use is one of their tricks. I'm guessing your computer is just assuming you'd make the change to both forms, so it does it for you. By shutting it down and restarting it only the file you want to alter should be open and changed. (In theory anyway, but you never know with computers.)

[glb613]

I must have worded my google search correctly because I finally found the answer.  This is what you do:

"First use Duplicate in the File pull down menu of Pages

Then give the duplicate copy a different name and save it."

People here rave about how easy Apple programs and devices are to use.  Well, not if you learned how to use a Windows based computer and programs first. Saving a document that way would have never occurred to me.  "Save as" should allow you to save a document with a different name and the original remain intact.  Thanks gardenman, I appreciate your help. 

BTW, I'm only a few volunteer hours away from becoming a Master Gardener.  I've been gardening for decades and decided this winter to take the course and make it official.  

[gardenman]

Congratulations on nearly becoming a Master Gardener! Sad to say my broken femur has largely kept me out of my garden this year, and I miss gardening, but hopefully I'll be back at it next year. I was talking with a writer friend about roses a few months ago and now I'm planning to start a new rose garden in the spring. (Leg permitting.) We were discussing the best red rose (my favorite is Mr. Lincoln) and she'd just planted Double Delight, a nice bicolor that I've grown previously. It whet my appetite for hybrid tea roses again, and with my pesticide-phobic neighbor leaving in December to move in with her daughter, spraying should no longer be an issue.

The old "Apple products are so much easier to use" was true when the first Macs came out, but these days Windows and Android are just as easy. You point, click, or swipe, and stuff happens. It's just knowing what to point, click, or swipe. Both Windows and Android seem to give the user a bit more control, but I don't really see a difference in ease of use these days. 

[glb613]

I love roses and have 18 different ones in my flower beds.  Several years ago I made a decision to only buy roses with a strong fragrance.  It's paid off and I have "Double Delight".  In fact, I have one in my living room now!  It has the best freagrance.  Another good one for fragrance is "Sugar Moon".  It smells like your grandmother's cold cream is how it's described and it does.  Good luck getting back in the garden. 

[Lilysmom]

@glb613, I hear you about using pages after working in windows for years. I had to create a few documents and what a PIA!  

 Congratulations to you on the Master Gardener certification upcoming.  I have toyed with the idea and would love to hear what you think.

@gardenman, I didn’t know you broke your leg.  I hope you make a full recovery.  Having suffered a broken foot twice in consecutive years, I feel your pain.  Somehow I managed to survive garden season in spite of it all.  Nice to see you posting.  LM

[gardenman]

Yeah, I broke it back on January 11th and it's just 20% or so healed now on October 6th. It's been a long slog, but the docs are optimistic the healing is speeding up now. When I broke it I figured it would be healed by mid-April to early May, but it wasn't meant to be. I see my ortho doc again in November and we'll see where it is then. Right now the plate and screws are carrying most of the load, but hopefully it'll pull itself together. It will be better by spring. I'm giving my current team until the November visit but if there isn't significant improvement I'll be looking to either Penn Ortho or the Rothman Institute (both groups are affiliated with hemophilia treatment centers) for second and possibly third opinions. I'm not missing another gardening season.

[Lilysmom]

@gardenman, I thought I had it bad.  I wore the boot 12 weeks.  Off came the boot.  A month later, I was in a cast for six weeks.  That’s a cake walk compared to your ordeal.  If I was close, I would come and help you in the garden.  Wishing you a full recovery.  LM

[jewel3]

I recently needed to switch from OS to Windows and found it to be equally hard. In the process, I live chatted and phone chatted with Apple support and found that to be excellent. In the United States, short wait times, great training. 

[glb613]

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@jewel3 wrote:

I recently needed to switch from OS to Windows and found it to be equally hard. In the process, I live chatted and phone chatted with Apple support and found that to be excellent. In the United States, short wait times, great training. 

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I think it's harder to switch from one to the other.  It's too bad some commands couldn't be more standardized.