pages
I regularly create documents in Pages, then convert them to a PDF using File → Export. I always save the PDF versions in the same folder as the original document.
This save dialog that opens always seems to remember the latest location that I saved to. However, for me it would be much more useful if it just assumed I want to save to the same directory as the original file.
How can I make Pages do this?
The Mac App Store updates to iWork should not have replaced the original iWork '09 apps. Simply delete the new apps and use the old ones.
The original apps should still be available under /Applications/iWork '09 as well as if you search for them in Spotlight. If you've deleted the older versions, you can use Time Machine or reinstall them from the retail CD.
The state of the file you see might be the result of the use of a new function introduced with version 5.2 of Pages: the view only mode. See the official documentation here:
Share and edit a document with others.
The original file on the Mac of your grandfather is still fully editable. The view-only mode does only restrict modification upon the shared version on iCloud. If your grandfather want to make the shared version fully editable by others (sharing the iCloud version),
then he should modify this setting on the original file and afterward resend a link toward this document.
Try these 2 documented functions on a new empty document to avoid errors.
Best Answer
There is a fantastic app called Default Folder X – but it's not cheap – around US$35. It enables a plethora of features that you can use in the Open/Save dialog of any app.
On the free side, you could try this trick: when you are in the dialog window for Exporting, you can actually drag a file from the Finder into the Export window, and it will automatically change to that same folder. This at least saves you from having to navigate around in the dialog window, since you are likely to have the window for the folder of the original document already open in Finder.
Finally, just in case you didn't already know, the little pop-up at the top of most Open/Save/Export dialog windows lists your 5 most "Recent Places" at the bottom. So if you used "Open..." to open a file, that folder will likely appear in this list.
E.g.: