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Can I alphabetize list in Pages on my iMac?

I have Sonoma 14.6.1 — Is there still no way to alphabetize a list in Pages? Thank you.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 21, 2024 3:03 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 22, 2024 7:45 AM

Apple has yet to enhance Pages with body text list sorting. It is possible with the installation of the free WordService app from the Mac App Store. WordService will automatically add several Quick Actions upon its installation from the Mac App Store and two of these are intended to solve the first sentence:


  • Sort Lines Ascending
  • Sort Lines Descending


WordService does not activate these when they are installed, and on Ventura or later, one must visit:


System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Services > Text and scroll downwards to and enable:


  • WordService: Sort Lines Ascending
  • WordService: Sort Lines Descending


Exit System Settings.


Back in Pages, you select your list of unsorted words, right-click to open a secondary menu, and choose:


WordService: Sort Lines Ascending


Your list is sorted in place faster than you can blink. WordService also installs an application into your /Applications folder named WordService whose only role is to open Apple's Preview with a PDF displaying the list of services and their functionality installed by WordService.

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I also have an Apple Shortcuts Quick Action (List Processing) that works on selected text in Pages to do the following:


  • Reverse List
  • Sort Ascending
  • Sort Descending


This is independent of WordService though it works in the same manner. Its Services menu item is called List Processing. At this point, it matches WordService in speed, though neither eliminates duplicates in the selected list.



5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 22, 2024 7:45 AM in response to colorogall

Apple has yet to enhance Pages with body text list sorting. It is possible with the installation of the free WordService app from the Mac App Store. WordService will automatically add several Quick Actions upon its installation from the Mac App Store and two of these are intended to solve the first sentence:


  • Sort Lines Ascending
  • Sort Lines Descending


WordService does not activate these when they are installed, and on Ventura or later, one must visit:


System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Services > Text and scroll downwards to and enable:


  • WordService: Sort Lines Ascending
  • WordService: Sort Lines Descending


Exit System Settings.


Back in Pages, you select your list of unsorted words, right-click to open a secondary menu, and choose:


WordService: Sort Lines Ascending


Your list is sorted in place faster than you can blink. WordService also installs an application into your /Applications folder named WordService whose only role is to open Apple's Preview with a PDF displaying the list of services and their functionality installed by WordService.

---


I also have an Apple Shortcuts Quick Action (List Processing) that works on selected text in Pages to do the following:


  • Reverse List
  • Sort Ascending
  • Sort Descending


This is independent of WordService though it works in the same manner. Its Services menu item is called List Processing. At this point, it matches WordService in speed, though neither eliminates duplicates in the selected list.



Oct 22, 2024 11:10 AM in response to colorogall

I have used WordService with Pages since only Pages '09 existed and continue to use it occasionally with Sequoia. The List Processing Shortcut was simply a mental exercise to see if I could do it and it sorts selected list items as quickly as WordService.


One only has to configure the WordService Service actions once in System settings. There may be some operating system dialogs presented when one first runs my List Processing Shortcut, but these too are one-offs.


Neither WordService nor my List Processing Shortcut are restricted to Pages as either just wants a selected text list.

Can I alphabetize list in Pages on my iMac?

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