Naming cell or group of cells

Is there any way to assign a user defined name to a cell or group of adjacent cells? Much like the naming functionality in Excel.
I want to refer to the named cell across sheets and workbooks.

I hope we are in a forum dedicated to helping people, not just to praising Numbers. Apple has a large advertising budget dedicated to uncritical praise of their products -- as well they should. Congratulations to them for sponsoring a forum where criticism is allowed, even encouraged.
Yvan, you're a prolific poster and obviously a skilled and dedicated Numbers user. I personally have found several of your posted insights very helpful. But...
I believe it is reasonable for people to ask "I am familiar with the way Excel does <some job>. How can I accomplish the same result in Numbers?". Helping to answer those questions is a major reason for a board like this to exist.
I personally think that Numbers is Version 1.0 software that needs some work, in stark contrast to the long-established, long-tweaked, include-every-feature-you-can-imagine Excel. Numbers is also clearly aimed at a different market, and tries to do spreadsheets in a different way. I think that's great. But to attract more users, I think Numbers will probably need to gain the ability to more of things that Excel can do. As you rightly point out, direct feedback to Apple is the best way to influence this future development.
But in the meantime - jeez, lighten up, buddy! People are just asking questions; they don't deserve to be brushed aside rudely. Most of them are actively seeking an alternative to Excel. They want to like Numbers. They just need to know if it will work for them. For a lot of them, my guess is, it will not. But either way, we ought ought be sharing our experience, insights, and ideas with as little criticism as possible.
... he said, having just posted a lengthy criticism of another poster. Oh well, I'm open to criticism.

Similar Messages

Ignore blank cells and truly blank cells in named range?

Ok so my named range looks like this:
='Product Group Attributes'!$F$2:$F$1048576
However, I want to ignore the "" cells and the truly blank cells... However, I think all of them will have "" since I have this formula in all of the ones I'm putting in the range:
=IF(ISBLANK(C2),"",CONCATENATE(B2," - ",C2))
How do I go about getting these results into a named range so I can use it on validation since validation only seems to ignore truly blank cells and not the "" ones.

Actually, the "" cells means truly blank cells.
But the "Ignore blanks" in data validation does not mean it will remove blanks from the list. It basically means that a Blank will be allowed as a valid entry in the cell.
If you want to get rid of blank cells in the list, you have to create another list that does not include the blanks.
Use the VBA code below to copy data in column F to column G, meanwhile it will remove the blank cells.
Sub test()
Dim arr, i&
arr = Range("F2:F" & Range("F1048576").End(xlUp).Row)
For i = 1 To UBound(arr)
If arr(i, 1) <> "" Then s = s + 1: arr(s, 1) = arr(i, 1)
Next i
Columns(7).NumberFormatLocal = "@"
Range("G2").Resize(s, 1) = arr
End Sub

Compare Previous Row in Same Group Color Cell?

Is is possible to display multiple row/groups and compare each top and bottom row/cell within the same group and color the bottom row/cell on content mismatch?
[header title]
Row 1a cell 15
Row 1b cell 15 //compare to 1a
Row 2a cell 15
Row 2b cell 15. //compare to 2a

Hi pointeman,
According to your description, when compare the row and the previous row in the same group, you want to color the later cell if the values are mismatch. After testing the issue in my local environment, we can click the detail cell to open the Property Windows,
then use the following expression to control the BackgroundColor property:
=iif(Fields!A.Value=previous(Fields!A.Value) and Fields!B.Value=Previous(Fields!B.Value),"Red","White")
Note that the field A stands for the group field, the field B stands for the field that you want to compare.
If there are any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Katherine Xiong
If you have any feedback on our support, please click
here.
Katherine Xiong
TechNet Community Support

When i highlight a group of cells the sum and average return a 0 yet there are numbers in the cells. Any ideas?

I am using numbers to automatically calculate wages, when I highlight a group of cells containing the numbers 4 4 3 I would expect to get a sum value of 11 but i get nil? any ideas would be greatfully appreciated.

Are the cells formatted as text rather than as numbers?

Gradient over a group of cells

How do I apply a single gradient fill over a large group of cells?
Every time I try to place one contiguous gradient across Row A and B, for example, I end up with a gradient for row A and the same yet separate gradient for Row B. I would prefer one gradient starting at the top of A and ending at the bottom of B.
~r

greyxtawn,
You may apply the gradient fill to a 1-cell table as background for a multi-cell table, setting the multi-cell table fill to None so that the gradient of the background cell will show through. Just drag the 1-cell Background Table over the Working Table and set the size to match, then Arrange > Send to Back.
Regards,
Jerry

How do I insert a cell or range of cells in Numbers?

From what I've read, one has to highlight and move cells to create the space for the new cells. This may be fine for small tables, but I have an inventory that currently has over 2000 lines of data. So if I need to add a line of data at row 2, then I would have to highlight 1998 lines of text, which takes a few minutes (holding down the shift and down arrow keys, which only highlights the cells on the screen, so I have to scroll down until my highlighted area ends at the top of the screen, highlight the current page, scroll down, highlight, etc., until I get all 1998 lines highlighted). Then drag them down one line. Then go back up and enter the data.
Can I just say that that is ridiculously complicated in the year 2012 (almost 2013)? Why not just have the same insert function that Excel has, where you can insert the cell or range of cells with a couple of keystrokes?
Is there some easier way to manage this data on my Macbook? Or did I waste $2000 on this computer? Thanks.

You may have wasted $20 on Numbers? I don't use it - I've been an Excel user since 1985 and it's still what I use today.
If, indeed, there's no shortcut for the procedure that you describe (and we'll have to wait for some Numbers experts to chime in on that) why not just buy MS Office 2011 for Mac? You can get a trial version here -> https://www.microsoft.com/mac/trial.
But, hopefully, a Numbers user will come along with a simple solution...
Clinton

How can I insert a new table whose cells are linked to Cell Styles?

How can I define a Table Style so that cells in new tables are automatically linked to my Cell Styles? (Not sure if "linked" is exactly the appropriate word....I'm going for "connected in such a way that when the Style is changed, the character/paragraph/cell/table/object updates to reflect the change.")
I thought the whole point of using Cell Styles in Table Styles would be so the cells can be automatically linked to the desired Cell Styles when the table is created -- but that isn't happening for me. I don't know if I'm just confused or if this is a bug:
When I insert a new table of a Table Style I have defined, it seems all cells in the new table are simply linked to Cell Style [None], with overrides for each cell that are consistent with the applicable Cell Style as it was defined when the table was inserted. So although the appearance of each cell is consistent with the Cell Style I defined for for that region of the table, the cells don't update if I later make changes to the Cell Styles I defined.
(If, after inserting a new table, I manually select each cell and apply the desired Cell Style, then the cells do (of course) update when I change the Cell Styles.)
Is it possible to have cells be actually linked to Cell Styles when a new table is inserted, instead of cells being simply linked to style [None] with overrides?
(I'm using the up-do-date 2014 release of InDesign CC, in case that's relevant.)

there is a example on Page 1149 of book Graphic Java 2 mastering the JFC
by David M. Geary. ISBN: 0-L3-079667-0, Try to take a look the code. It will help.

Error in Help Cells - Auxiliary cells moved to help cells in load

Hi Guru,
While checking the report to execute, the workbook was getting locked and is giving blank screen as output. So I changed the optimisation property to 9 and run the regeneration. Then after some time regenartion, I am getting an error popping up as
"Formula term 4AV51CL1HRRY04IFEYTQ5L9U4 003 4EMAD2U9D735WQ84F3YFS08DM is not available". Similar kind of 8 errors. When I click on OK, the query is going to debug mode and while running it is giving output as the same error message..
When I opened the query in designer mode, it is showing error in help cells as
"Errors: Invalid help cell 'Reference Cell' 'Auxiliary Cell 2'; move 'Reference Cell' 'Auxiliary Cell 2' to cells".
I didnt use any help cells in development and there is no error I am getting in development environment. This isse is happening in quality environment.
So I will appreciate, if some body can explain what is HelpCells/AUxiliary cells?
When it is getting created?
How can I resolve this issue?
Good Answers will be rewarded with points.
Regards
Mathew
Note:We are in support package 8 Patch 1of BI AddOn 7.x(based on 7.10) revision 581

Hi Mathew,
Go to the Properties section in Query on right hand side, scroll down slowly to see .."HELP CELLS". or next to the TOP menus in Query, you see some icons, make sure in the VIEW MENU, you selected STANDARD TOOL BARS, and below the icons after basic, like open, SAVe, next to those, there are some set of icons, in that 4th icon is FOR CELLS..once you click, it will take you to CELL, CREATION SCREEN, in which each cell you can create SELECTION OR FORMULA OR just select..
below that you can see a NAME called "VIRTUAL" and after that there is an empty WHITE BLANK where you can create "AUXILLARY CELLS" by right clicking, you see options like FORMULA OR SELECTION. THIS can be used on the upper VIRTUAL CELLS ..
i hope this clears your CELLS ANSD AUXILLARY CELLS.

How to remove the "0" from the sum cell when the other cells are empty?

Hello!
When I use the formula to sum the values from a few cells, there is a zero in the sum cell when the other cells are empty.
My question concerns how to remove the 0 from the sum cell when the cells that will be summed are empty.
Thank you!
/Johan Strömbeck

Hi,
Please try the Mr. Laurence's suggestion first. Then, we may try the other workarounds.
1) Go to Excel option> Advanced>Display Option for this worksheet> Uncheck Show a zero in cells that have zero value
2) Go to Conditional Formatting>New Rule>Format only cells that contain> Value equal to 0> Format the color with white
Hope it's helpful.
Regards,
George Zhao
TechNet Community Support

I am trying to average multiple cells including some blank cells. How do I get numbers to assess a blank cell as zero and include that cell in the average?

I am trying to average multiple cells including some blank cells. How do I get numbers to assess a blank cell as zero and include that cell in the average?

Hi rkcfizzle,
Blanks
Blanks = 0
1
1
2
2
0
3
3
2
1.5
AVERAGE ignores blank cells (Column A)
Formula in Footer Cell A6
=AVERAGE(A)
If you want to include blank cells as zero, type this formula in B2 (and Fill Down)
=IF(A2<>0,A2,0)
Numbers 3 will change the formula to
=IF(A2≠0,A2,0)
Yeah, right! but that is Numbers 3.
And the answer (6/4) is 1.5. Correct!
Regards,
Ian.

Is it possible to set the cell height in a cell style?

In the attached screenshot, the cell height is set to exactly 0.125. I put my cursor in the cell, then opened the cell styles panel and created a new cell style based on this cell. But when I apply the cell style to other cells, it does not apply the cell height. There were no overrides or other styles applied to the other cells. I also opened up the cell style definition from the cell styles panel, but don't see anywhere to set the cell height there either. Is there another way to do this that I am missing?

It is possible - and it's fairly simple.
To set the row height as part of the cell style, all you have to do is use the cell inset above and below. As long as you set the style as 'At least' then this works perfectly well for having predefined cell styles.
I have been using this successfully for large financial documents for some time without any hitches. For example I use it to get separation between sections within the tables by having a style with extra space above, and similarly for totals rows at the bottom of the table. It can of course also apply different stroke styles at the same time. Having the style set as 'At Least' also allows for multiple line entries to still have the correct spacing above and below.
So if you spend a bit of time calculating required heights and setting up your styles, then apply a keyboard shortcut to each style, you can then save a whole lot of time when formatting the document.
I've just finished nearly 400 pages of financials using this method over the past couple of days!
This solution may not suit your sitation, but if you have a lot of tables to get through it's got to be worth giving it a try.

Setting a cell renderer for a Cell?

Hi everybody,
I'm sitting here with a problem: I'm trying to set a Cell renderer for a cell.
The problem is in all of the examples that i saw till now this was made only with columns.
Is it possible to set different CellRenderer foor different cells in the same column?

Hi,
if you implement your cellRenderer you return the Object you get for all columns but the one you want to be handled im a special way. As you know the row as well you can return sth different for each row.
Phil

Table cell Render for one cell

Hi all
I am hoping that someone can help me with a cell render for one cell only.
I am needing to make some cells bold.
What i was hoping is that there is a way of passing in a row and column number to make that cells font bold?
Any ideas ??
I am building a List of accounts that I what to look like this.
1-0000 Asset |Asset|Balance
1-1000 Cheque Account |Bank|Balance
1-2000 Credit Cards |Credit|Balance
1-2020 Visa |Credit Card|Balance
1-2030 Master Card |Credit Card|Balance

Create a renderer like you've done in the past:
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=679718&start=2
The renderer knows the row and column you are doing the renderering on so you just need to add a conditional check:
if (aBoldCell)
setFont( getFont().deriveFont(...) );
else
setFont( table.getFont() );

Copying a cell /results/ into another cell

i have a set of totals in different sections and i want to COPY this number result so that it actively updates in the destination cell. the originating cell is a SUM of about ten items above it and when i simply copy and paste this origination cell into the destination cell the destination cell wants to SUM up the ten cells above /it/.
i am using "numeric" for all my cells and i am wondering if i need to change the destination cells to some other format so that it will simply accept the final number but i also want to make sure this destination cell will UPDATE when the origination cell changes.
any advice please and/or search terms for this operation?
i've gotten backed up by weeks getting OCD (and a little carpal tunnel) with my formatting so i am trying to close out the learning curve on this effort ASAP before going back in and studying documentation on numbers 3.0.
THANK YOU for any help with this.

HW,
you are thinking of how data flows backwards. you are thinking that copy takes the result from a cell, when, in fact, it takes the formula OR the value (if it is not a formula). To "get" the value out of a cell you refer to that cell from another cell-- thereby "pulling" the result out of the cell.
The search terms woudl be "cell", "reference"
In the destination cell (the cell where you want a /COPY/ type the equal sign, then click the cell where the sum resides (even if its in another table, or another sheet).
If you you do not want to try the click method, then you can type the reference as follows:
assume the cell where the sum resides is
Sheet 1
Table 1
cell A20
Then in the cell where you want the /COPY/ type:
"=Sheet 1 :: Table 1 :: A20" without the double quotes
All the best.
Wayne

How to reference the cell next to another cell in a formula?

I have a list of dates with transaction totals next to them in a large list. At the bottom I have a cell that shows which cell was the max. Now I am trying to pull the date that is located next to the max cell. How do I do this?

I'm not clear on whether your "cell that shows which cell was the max" contains the max value or contains the address of the cell with the max or contains the row number where the max can be found so I'll give you three answers.
If your list of numbers is in B2 through B10 and B11 is your max =MAX(B2:B10) and column C has the dates then the function would be
=LOOKUP(B11,B2:B10,C2:C10)
If your list of numbers is in B2 through B10 and B11 is the cell address of your max (B7 for example) and column C has the dates then the function would be
=LOOKUP(INDIRECT(B11),B2:B10,C2:C10)
If your list of numbers is in B2 through B10 and B11 is the row number of the max (7 for example) and column C has the dates then the function would be
=INDIRECT("C"&B11)
My first post was geared toward the first of these three answers because that made the most sense.
If you are new to Numbers, I recommend downloading the Numbers Users Guide which can be found in the Help menu. The Formulas and Functions guide can also be found there which will help you with the formulas. Information on functions can also be found on the toolbar if you click on Functions and choose Show Function Browser. That brings up a handy function reference window so you can quickly see how to use each formula.

Naming cell or group of cells

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