Numbers is not retaining the values of my sorted SUMs in a column.

Question

I just switched to Numbers 3.0.1
I have a two tables: Table 1 has a large set of data. Table 2 has various sums of the data from Table 1 (added by using the SUM function). Pretty simple stuff.
My problem is when I go to sort the data (SUMs from Table 1) in Table 2 using the ascending/descending option all of the data in the column changes and makes no sense.
Older version of Numbers just sorted the data in the column numerically (ascending or descending).
Does anyone have a fix for this?

Answer 1

I find the new way Numbers handles cell references during a sort to be a little odd.  First let's talk your problem then I'll mention another.
I think for your problem, you need to use "preserve row" on all your cell references.  Otherwise the references become "relative".  For example, if you have =SUM(Table 1::A2:A3) in cell B4 of Table 1 before the sort and it moves to cell B5 after the sort, the formula will become =SUM(Table 1::A3:A4). The formula moved down one row so the cell references also moved down one row.  Seems like a strange result but you can prevent it by using =SUM(Table 1::A$2:A$3)
For the other problem, let's say you leave Table 2 (the sums) alone and sort Table 1 instead. This also changes all the sums. It makes sense what it is doing but I haven't yet figured out a way to make it do what it used to do.
If you look at your SUM formulas, they will stay exactly the same after the sort.  If it was =SUM(Table 1::A1:A10) before the sort it will still be exactly that after the sort.  But now you have different numbers in those cells in Table 1 so your sum is different.  In Numbers '09, it would have turned into something like =SUM(A5,A9,A2:A3,A19,.....) as it readjusted to sum up the exact same cells as before. I can''t figure out how to make a SUM or an addition or any other calculation follow a cell around during a sort.