New features for Numbers: Add yours

Question

Let's create one thread that lists the requests / needs / demands of Numbers users, to help Apple figure out this app, because apparently they need the help. They came up with a somewhat new paradigm, so major props there--but some of the omissions or curious programming/organization are startling. I promise to keep in mind that this is a $26 app, so it is not going to out-Excel Excel, no matter what. Also some things Microsoft has patent protection on, so Apple can't copy even if it wanted to. But Apple has to realize that it's average user profile is pretty intellectual in my experience, and they have basic computer needs that Apple should satisfy--it ain't just Grandma wanting to do email, figure out her gas mileage, and send a nice photo newsletter to her friends.
The fact that Mac users send a billion dollars to Microsoft on a regular basis out to tell Steve that they have a need for something with some capability, just minus the crap and bloat.
So far, I would like:
• Faster performance--it's pretty sluggish (Did I mention that it's really s-l--o-w, one page imported Excel sheet--three minutes to process for printing!
• Print Selection capability
• Bigger type on the menu bar--it's ridiculously small
• Attention Apple User Interface Group--dark gray on a light gray background is NOT conducive to legibility
• Rows and Columns narrower than 0.11" to help in formatting
• "Fit to Page" button, as slider is not very accurate in this version--one page Excel sheet prints in Excel at 62% and fits on one page--in Numbers it fits at 54%, with same page margins
• More date format options
• Standard deviations on graphs--easy to do since Cricket Graph in the late 80's, but apparently beyond Apple software writers.
• Inspector to auto move when a window is dragged to resize--why not attach it to the right or left side of the window frame
• Text Tool on Inspector--why can't you select font and size there, and NO separate Fonts window--Text and Fonts belong together!
• Text Tool--Put the Text Box button on the Text Tool--duh
• Text Tool--add Regular/Bold/Italic
• Text Tool--superscript/subscript
• Split windows--come on, this is basic
In the "Dream On" category:
• Filemaker Pro "Lite"-we'll even take Appleworks lite--database
• Mix portrait and landscape in one document
Message was edited by: farmboyMN: Sorry, a couple of typo's and an apostrophe abuse. (I'm fast but not accurate :])

Answer 1

OK Here goes my wannahaves...
1) create new table or sheet from a file instead of having to open the file and copy/paste into current document. ie "Insert Sheet from file", "Insert Table from File"
2) show linked data from a data source other than the address book - eg an ODBC data source or Filemaker database
3) Ability to paste a filtered table into a new table with just the found rows.
4) Ability to freeze rows and columns to allow for very wide or deep tables
5) When typing data into a cell, automatically adjust its width as you type. Depending on your enter key config, hitting enter puts a new line in the cell and adjusts the row height to fit.
6) Printer page formats default to regional standard: eg in Australia, UK - A4
7) Popup list or menu contents based on a data range: eg a list of categories
8) Media to be selected from anywhere on the system, not just in iTunes/iPhoto (eg most of my video is on an external hard drive)
9) "Autofilter" based on contents of the column.
10) Vlookup and other reference functions: need to be able to select a table (by name) as your range, a column/row (by name) to look up from and a column/row (by name) to retrieve. All functions should work this way, not just the basic ones.
11) When inserting a table you should be asked how many rows and columns.
12 "Format painter" - copy styles and other formatting from cell to cell and table to table.
13) Outlining based upon repeated cell values