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Numbers app not compatible with Catalina??
- Thread starter techno-Zen
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The App Store always only keeps the latest version of apps. When they get updates, perhaps with higher system requirements, it stores that newer version. You need to store your own archives of older versions if you want to be sure to have them
Well problem is. The file was opened on 11.2 on a Big Sur machine and is now unusable on Catalina. Crazy.
I don't have a way to test this because I only have a Mac running Monterey, but could you use the File > Revert To option to see if the Catalina version is still available?
Restore an earlier version of a spreadsheet in Numbers on Mac
In Numbers on Mac, view versions of a spreadsheet, copy from an earlier version or restore an earlier version.
support.apple.com
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Good idea. Thanks.
For the record, this is for my boss who is patiently waiting on a 27" iMac release.. but in the meantime apple has killed his ability to work on a document he's had for 10 years because he's on a 2 year old OS..
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That's not completely true at least not always..
When Searching I had the same issue, but if on my purchased Items I was able to download a compatible version for Catalina.
Hm. Did you do something special? Usually you can't revert to prior versions with The App Store
Doesn't do much when the document lives in iCloud and you've already opened it on a Big Sur device. It locks compatibility.
Catalina isn't that old, i'm quite honestly shocked apple killed support of Numbers docs from Catalina.
OP:
Try this (hope I've presented this properly):
First, take the Numbers doc that won't open to the newer Mac that it WILL open on.
Open the document.
Now, look up to the menu bar.
Do you have this choice available?
File --> Export to --> Numbers '09
If so, choose that.
Give the exported file an easily identifiable name that identifies it as being the "older-format" file.
Now, take this exported file to the older Mac/earlier OS.
Open Numbers and see if it can open the file now.
Does this work for you?
(please report back here if it does)
The core of your problem is that once you update the OS (and Numbers) with a newer version, older versions of Numbers cannot read the [now updated] file...
Try this (hope I've presented this properly):
First, take the Numbers doc that won't open to the newer Mac that it WILL open on.
Open the document.
Now, look up to the menu bar.
Do you have this choice available?
File --> Export to --> Numbers '09
If so, choose that.
Give the exported file an easily identifiable name that identifies it as being the "older-format" file.
Now, take this exported file to the older Mac/earlier OS.
Open Numbers and see if it can open the file now.
Does this work for you?
(please report back here if it does)
The core of your problem is that once you update the OS (and Numbers) with a newer version, older versions of Numbers cannot read the [now updated] file...
Tying their desktop software to OS upgrades is what makes me reluctant to rely on any of apple's offerings. Whether it's the iWork suite or the Notes app. This is a shame, because Numbers and Pages are pretty good.
Obviously they do it to force upgrades, which is great for them, but its not so great for the user. I now find myself exporting a copy of everything in a Microsoft friendly format as a backup.
Obviously they do it to force upgrades, which is great for them, but its not so great for the user. I now find myself exporting a copy of everything in a Microsoft friendly format as a backup.