Dorchester — Aug 11th 2026

David Parnell showed us how to set up a template in Pages for a document where the layout is needed on a regular basis. He used the regular minutes for an art society. He recommended just writing up the minutes of an actual meeting using many of the editing features in Pages. Start with a blank Basic Document which is word processing - do not choose Basic Layout which is for a very different type of document. Also make sure you are not breaking copyright regulations: If you get AI to create the logo or any picture or chart for you, that guarantees that you are not. David recommended using a table for the detail minutes, demonstrating one with three columns with headings Topic, Discussion and Action, making sure to select the row option to expand with content. Tabs should be set for individual paragraphs. Having completed the document, save it in the usual way then re-open and remove content only relevant to that dated document, including the date but leave all the headings and formatting of the document. Finally save as a Template with an appropriate title which will be stored under My Templates on the list displayed when you call up a new document.

Euan showed us how to group a selected number of photos into a single PDF document, which can be displayed as a slideshow in a reduced overall file size. Starting with the list view of full-size JPEGs (you will need to export from the Photos app), he selected a number and then right-clicking to get an action menu. He chose Quick Action, Create PDF. The resulting PDF was the selected group using the title of the first elected one, of course, with the suffix PDF in lieu of JPEG. Finally, Euan opened the document in Preview and then exported it to PDF and used the Quartz Filter option to Reduce File Size.

David M explained that WhatsApp keeps a full-size copy of any photo or video received. In the app, select “You” or the setting gear wheel, scroll down to the lost, and WhatsApp can opt to have all received photos and videos automatically saved to the Photos app. On the app’s same list, just below Chats, you can select Storage and data and then Manage storage. This list shows chat contacts. Select a contact to see all the photos and videos stored on WhatsApp. Select, with the option to Select All, and delete as required.

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