For the longest time the biggest gripe about Apple computers is that they were unable to easily interact with Windows users and those using Microsoft Office. This is no longer the case. In fact it’s been several years now since there have been significant compatibility issues. While some differences still exist, they are few and far between.
Microsoft Office quickly became the standard for countless individuals and businesses, and for many users was the best option for word processing and other document creation needs. Other programs came and went as they tried to try mimic the functionality of Microsoft Office. Unfortunately very few came close to matching the power and functionality of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
That all change in 2005 when Apple developed and released their very own office applications: Pages, Numbers and Keynote. In the decade since the first release of Apple’s productivity software it’s come a long way and has developed into a go-to piece of productivity software on the Mac.
Pages is the Apple answer to the almighty Microsoft Word. It has the form and functionality of Word with a few nice features built right in. Pages comes pre-loaded on devices running Yosemite, and is available for the iPad and iPhone as well. It’s designed around sharing so a project can be started on your iPhone and edited with your iPad, Macbook or iMac. Pages is a fully functional word processing program. You can add charts, graphs or equations. You can add media files with just the click of a button. Drop in a photo and the text will automatically wrap. Your pages files can be shared in many, many ways. In addition to sharing among your own devices you can collaborate with anyone. You can share with Gmail or Dropbox. Pages is fully cross-compatible with Microsoft Word! You can begin a document in Pages and export it to a Word user and converting it to Word is incredibly simple:
Open the Pages document, go to the **File** menu and select **export to** and select **word.** In the **export your document** screen click the triangle next to **advanced Options.** Select **docx**
Give your document a name, select a destination then click **Export** and your done!
Numbers, like Pages, is Apple’s answer to Microsoft’s Excel. More than a spreadsheet, Numbers is a stylistic way to present data like never before. Choose from many canvases and get away from the gridlock. Present your information like an artist. Take advantage of ready-made templates for common tasks. Utilize the beautiful charts and graphs to truly understand your data and get the big picture across to your clients, co-workers and professors. Numbers also comes pre-loaded on Macs running Yosemite and also available for iOS devices. Sharing to other Apple devices is a snap and also easy to share with Gmail or DropBox. Numbers supports over 200 functions and like Pages easily converts to Excel for easy sharing.
Keynote is Apple’s version of Microsoft’s PowerPoint. Your presentations will dazzle and even make Van Gogh a tad jealous! Like Pages and Numbers it’s pre-loaded and easy to share and collaborate with others. Keynote features easy to use tools and an intuitive toolbar. Plug in photos or videos with ease. Add charts or graphs like a pro. If you get stuck, helpful pop ups are there for you when you need them. (Say goodbye to that obnoxious little paper clip!)
Take a visit to the “**App store**”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/App_Store to grab a copy of Pages, Numbers or Keynote if it’s not already loaded on your machine and for more detailed information on exporting your iWork files to a Microsoft Office application “**click here**”:https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203997
