Numbers 4.3 new Currency formats/functions
This User Tip is based on positive feedback from Wayne Contello, SGIII, Barry, stfflspl (Paul), LMHMD, Ian Leckie, __Chris, and others I may have missed.
The update to Numbers 4.3 has caused some documents to "misbehave". The 'new' Currency cell format sometimes will only allow a "Data Format" of "Automatic" that will reflect only the currency of the source cells and can not be converted to another currency.
Many replies have encouraged Feedback to Apple. That is the right thing to do. However, please be aware that the Apple employees who read your feedback are people. Apple employees will read your feedback, but who can blame them if they place a rant on the bottom of their inbox? Be polite, explain the problem and explain how an improvement will benefit you and other users of Numbers 4.3.
Please help your fellow users in the Numbers for Mac forum to help you. Give full details of your problem. Screen shots and formulas will help.
Some suggestions (workarounds) so far in the Numbers for Mac forum include:
- Use Number values instead of a Currency format. The header row can act as a Currency label without 'controlling' the body cells;
- Use Custom Formats to give the appearance of a Currency value whilst acting as plain numbers;
- Use the VALUE function to strip a Currency format and reduce it to a Number format;
- Thanks to __Chris for this suggestion with the ROUND function:
I have found that just putting ROUND(<currency column>,2) in my formula does allow the derived column to avoid the autoformat to currency. The column will then allow the format to be switched to number; - Explore the functions in Numbers 4.3
Type = in a spare cell to bring up the Function Browser. Click on Financial and explore the various functions. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Please feel free to comment on this User Tip. Positive replies are welcome. Examples are welcome.
Regards,
Ian.
This user tip was generated from the following discussion: Numbers 4.3 new Currency formats/functions
