rscottd

Q: Can I make data in a cell in Numbers link to a file in finder?

Numbers will let me create a link to email or a weblink but apparently not to files in the Finder. Does anyone have a suggestion to make that happen?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 14, 2016 1:37 PM

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Q: Can I make data in a cell in Numbers link to a file in finder?

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  • by SGIII,Apple recommended

    SGIII SGIII Aug 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to rscottd
    Level 6 (10,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to rscottd

    AFAIK you cannot link to a local file, except via script, which is awkward.  You can place a file in Dropbox and copy/paste the public link to that file into a Numbers link. By default, clicking the cell in Numbers will download the Dropbox file, which may or may not be what you want.

     

    SG 

  • by Barry,Apple recommended

    Barry Barry Aug 14, 2016 2:03 PM in response to rscottd
    Level 7 (32,271 points)
    Aug 14, 2016 2:03 PM in response to rscottd

    Hi Scott,

     

    Numbers can use hyperlinks to open a web page, or to open a new email document, addressed with the link.

    Those are the only two purposes for which links are supported.

     

    Regards,

    Barry

  • by SGIII,Apple recommended

    SGIII SGIII Aug 14, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Barry
    Level 6 (10,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Barry

    Or, as described above, a third: download a file stored in a service such as Dropbox, as described above (just tested).

     

    SG

  • by rscottd,

    rscottd rscottd Aug 14, 2016 4:02 PM in response to SGIII
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 4:02 PM in response to SGIII

    Thanks for the suggestion! I found you can do the same thing with photos shared in iCloud. However, my need is to access local files not cloud-based.

  • by rscottd,

    rscottd rscottd Aug 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Barry
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Barry

    Thanks for the quick response!

  • by rscottd,

    rscottd rscottd Aug 14, 2016 4:06 PM in response to SGIII
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 4:06 PM in response to SGIII

    Thanks for the suggestion! I found you can also do this with Photos shared in iCloud. My current need is to access non Cloud-based files. Preferably with relying on scripting.

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Aug 14, 2016 4:30 PM in response to rscottd
    Level 6 (10,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 4:30 PM in response to rscottd

    rscottd wrote:

     

    My current need is to access non Cloud-based files. Preferably with relying on scripting.

     

    When you say "access" what exactly do you have in mind (since in general files are usually quite easily found and opened via Spotlight)? 

     

    SG

  • by rscottd,

    rscottd rscottd Aug 15, 2016 6:29 PM in response to SGIII
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 15, 2016 6:29 PM in response to SGIII

    by "access" I want a file to open just as a web page would in a hyper link.. Let's say you have and spreadsheet for items in the home tracked for insurance...It would be nice to be able to click a link to call up the image file instead of placing an minuscule thumbnail in a cell or having to make the cells so large that it you have to scroll forever. My previous statement was supposed to say access Without using scripting. Thanks for asking!

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Aug 15, 2016 6:33 PM in response to rscottd
    Level 6 (10,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 15, 2016 6:33 PM in response to rscottd

    I think this is a feature request. You make a suggestion to Apple via Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback in your menu.

     

    SG