Convert the document type

Pages templates are designed specifically for creating either page layout documents or word-processing documents. In page layout documents, every page is a blank canvas. To add text, you add text boxes and type your content in them. You can then layer text boxes with objects, which isn’t possible in word-processing documents.

After you choose a template and begin creating your document, you can’t change to a different template. You can, however, convert a document from word processing to page layout, and vice versa.

Important: When you convert a word-processing document to a page layout document, any existing body text (text that’s not in a text box) is deleted. If you want to save the body text, copy it before you convert the document, then paste it into a text box or into another Pages document. Also, all objects that are set to move inline with text are deleted. Objects set to stay on the page and not move with text are retained in the conversion.

Convert to a page layout document

You can covert a document at any time. Do one of the following:

Choose File > Convert to Page Layout (from the File menu at the top of your computer screen).
Click Document in the toolbar, click the Document tab, then deselect the Document Body checkbox.

Convert to a word-processing document

You can convert a document at any time. Any existing objects, including text boxes, remain in the document. If text boxes are layered with objects, you’ll need to adjust the layering and text wrap in the converted document.

Do one of the following:

Choose File > Convert to Word Processing (from the File menu at the top of your computer screen).
Click Document in the toolbar, click the Document tab, then select the Document Body checkbox.