- Get Started Using Pages, Numbers, and Keynote
- The New Menus and Screen Layouts Featured Within the iWork Apps
- What You Should Know About Syncing iWork Files Using iCloud
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The New Menus and Screen Layouts Featured Within the iWork Apps
To begin editing or reviewing a document in Pages, for example, tap on its thumbnail when viewing the Library screen. When you do this, the main Pages screen (shown in Figure 3) is revealed, in conjunction with the document or file. The latest version of the iWork apps offers a new interface and menu structure.
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Figure 3 The newly designed Pages screen features a new collection of command icons and submenus.
Displayed in the upper-left corner of the main Pages screen is the Documents icon. Tap it to return to the Library screen (and automatically save the document you’re working with). Tap the Undo icon to take a step back and undo the last action or command you completed.
The three command icons displayed near the upper-right corner of the Pages screen are all new. The Formatting icon (which looks like a paintbrush) gives you access to a series of submenus used for formatting the text or graphics within a document. At the top of the pop-up menu window that appears are three command tabs, labeled Style, List, and Layout. Based on the type of content you’re working with, the menu commands offered will vary.
When working with text, for example, tap the Style command tab to adjust the font, font size, typestyle (bold, italics, underlined, etc.), and font color. Tap the List command tab to format bulleted or numbered lists within your document. The Layout command tab allows you to control line spacing and the number of columns.
By tapping on the Media icon (which is shaped like a square that contains a plus sign), you can import media into your document or file (see Figure 4). The pop-up window that appears displays four command tabs, labeled Media, Tables, Charts, and Shapes. Tap the Media tab to import a photo that’s stored on your iOS device into the document or file you’re working with. Tap the Tables tab to create and customize a table within the document or file. As you’re looking at the menu options within this window, stroll from right to left to review all of your options.
Tap on the Charts command tab to create or edit a colorful 2D or 3D chart (see Figure 4). First, tap on either the 2D or 3D command tab that’s displayed, then scroll down, up, left, or right within the window to view all of your options. Once a chart is placed within your document or file, you can fully customize it by tapping on it. When working with 3D charts, you can also rotate, as well as resize, the charts so they appear to jump off the screen. Tap on the chart itself to edit the chart data, as well as the headings and titles.
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Figure 4 The ability to create colorful 3D charts and graphs within the iWork apps is one of the latest features added.
Tapping on the Shapes command tab allows you to import a wide range of colorful shapes into your document. You can then adjust the size and positioning of the shapes, superimpose text or other graphics over them, or tap the Formatting icon (the paintbrush icon) to change the shape’s color, border, opacity, or effect.
The Tools icon that’s displayed near the upper-right corner of the screen (and that’s shaped like a wrench) offers a handful of commands for sharing and printing the document of file from within the Pages, Numbers or Keynote app. You can also access the Find feature to seek out specific information within the document or file.
Use the Document Setup command to quickly adjust the margins and formatting of the document, or use the Settings command to turn on or off the spell check, word count, as well as the center, edge, and spacing guides (which are useful tools when formatting graphics or photos on the screen within a document or file).
Whenever text or data entry is required when using the iWork apps, the virtual keyboard is displayed. However, if you’re using the new iPad (or iPhone 4S), you can take full advantage of the Dictation feature by tapping on the microphone icon and then speaking what you want entered into the app (shown in Figure 5). Tap the microphone icon a second time to stop recording and have the iPad (or iPhone) translate your speech into text, which is inserted into the document or file.
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Figure 5 When using the iWork apps with the new iPad, you can use the Dictation feature as an alternative to typing.
Within Pages, displayed along the top-center of the screen, is a toolbar and ruler. The toolbar gives you constant on-screen access to popular text formatting commands. However, to save on-screen real estate, tap on the “X” icon that’s displayed to the extreme right of the toolbar to make it disappear.
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are all designed for use on the iPhone or iPad while it’s being held in landscape or portrait mode. When creating content, landscape mode allows the virtual keyboard to appear larger; however, less screen space is available to display your document or file. As you’re reviewing or reading a document or file, you’ll see more of it by holding the iOS device in portrait mode (without the virtual keyboard or toolbar being displayed).
The main screen of Numbers also showcases the same command icons along the top of the screen (shown in Figure 6). The submenu commands that are displayed are also context-sensitive, and will vary based on what type of data is selected or highlighted in the main area of the app. For example, if you’re working within a spreadsheet and tap on a specific cell, the formatting commands will be related to that cell. However, the command selection will be different if a chart or table is first selected.
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Figure 6 One of the great things about the iWork apps is that they all use basically the same menu structure and user interface.
When you’re working with Keynote, the main screen displays thumbnails for your individual slides along the left margin of the screen. The command icons are displayed along the top of the screen, and the main area of the display is used for creating or editing slides.
Located near the top-right corner of the app is a forth command icon, which is shaped like a right-pointing arrow. This is used to play your slideshow presentations. To exit of full-screen play mode, perform a pinch motion with your thumb and index finger.
By tapping on the Tools icon within Keynote, you’ll see additional menu options not found in Pages or Numbers, including the Transitions and Builds command options, access to the Presenter Notes feature, and the Advanced submenu.
Regardless of which iWork app you’re using, if you tap on any word or object within the main area of the app’s screen, special functionality will become available to you. The Select, Select All, Cut, Copy, Replace, and Paste commands all work within the three apps. Within the apps, you’ll also see a Define option appear when you double-tap your finger on a word.