A friend has a spreadsheet (with single worksheet) in Apple Numbers, which he wishes to send me to use in LO Calc.
What is the best format for him to send it to me in?
I have LO 3.5.7.2 under Windows XP; he has Mac OS X 10.5.8, Numbers '09 version 2.0.5 as part of iWork '09 package version 9.0.3.
Good question!
I assume that both pieces of software support the basic binary .xls Excel format, as well as simple CSV (comma or tab-delimited). I don’t think Numbers supports ODF, and I don’t see any indication that Apple is interested in adding that support.
Depending upon the type of data, one of those formats might be better for you than the other.
I don’t know much about Numbers, but here’s a page about interoperability:
https://www.apple.com/iwork/compatibility/
Good luck!
It would be so nice if iWork eventually supported ODF! But it’s probably wishful thinking. However, a very hardcore and effective solution to the problem of iWork/ODF compatibility would be to develop an XSLT import/export filter for OpenOffice/LibreOffice.
@CyanCG - An import filter for the Pages format would be helpful, but a part of me feels like an export filter to the Pages format would just be encouraging file format proliferation…
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3907980?start=0&tstart=0
“Apple documented the file format for all the iWork apps when they were first released…on developer.apple.com. However, this documentation is no longer available as the file format has changed considerably.” facepalm
You’re right, an import filter without a corresponding export filter would probably be better so as not to encourage working in iWork if it can be avoided! 
By the way, I used to use Pages a lot, but its inconsistencies and subpar layout made me switch to LibO — won’t go back!
It’s funny, because Pages is supposed to be typographically superior to e.g. Word, but though it supports all OpenType features, it isn’t much good for professionnal typography (the hyphenation is especially bad). In the dark ages, I relied on it, but what with LibO available on OS X, never again!
above 2 comments on Mac SW helps me to convert a Mac user to LibO. I’ll give it a try.
Glad to know it can give you an argument in trying to convince someone to make the switch! You can insist on the fact that LibO actually has better typography and layout (Pages has full OpenType support, but it’s buggy, and if someone really needs small caps etc. in LibO they can use Libertine G).
Having upgraded to LO 3.6.4 him sending a .xls file gives me a file I can open and use … although it opens as an ‘Untitled file’
I just stumbled upon this question again while searching for something else. I have to add a small correction: in fact, on OS X, Libertine G does not give access to advanced typographic features such as small caps, because LibreOffice does not support Graphite on OS X. Instead, one could use the separate small caps font of Libertine O. When I last attempted to use it on OS X, there were issues with ligatures, but perhaps they have been corrected in 4.0. Should test it.