Hiding rows and/or columns...

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Level 1

0 points

Hiding rows and/or columns...

How do I do hide a column? I'm having a hard time finding out. I've tried it on rows too, and no success. Even in other spreadsheets (including a brand new Numbers Document), and I still can't figure out how to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I found the UNhide all rows/columns button, but I can't find the HIDE row/column.

MBP, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Nov 12, 2008 7:27 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 12, 2008 9:52 AM in response to disensin

Have a look at this ARTICLE. You're looking for hide in the pull down menu for the column or row you've selected. If you've selected multiple rows/columns (select one, then select another one that is 1 or more rows/columns away while holding shift) then the menu from any of the selected ones works.

-John

null

Message was edited by: John Hendy (bad link the first time)

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Answer 2

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Nov 12, 2008 10:18 AM in response to John Hendy

May I add that the given link point to an online copy of what is available on you machine under the clumsy name "Help" 😉

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE mercredi 12 novembre 2008 19:18:38)

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Answer 3

disensin Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 12, 2008 10:19 AM in response to John Hendy

It took me a while, but i think I found it (I guess it doesn't work if there are merged cells).

"Choose Hide Row or Hide Column from a row or column reference tab’s pop-up menu."

The same instruction is written within the Help file for Numbers. The problem was that I didn't know what was meant by the "reference tab's pop-up menu". I wrote that there should be a picture of what is meant, just to help people (like myself) identify the position of this "reference tab's pop-up menu". I guess my next question would be if it's possible to do it if there are merged cells?

The question is handled in the following topic, but no answer has been given yet:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7876554&#7876554

(For those of you who still don't get it, the "reference tab's pop-up menu" is the little downward arrow triangle that appears next to the Column/Row when the mouse hovers over the Row Number/Column Letter. For example, to display the pop-up menu for Column B, place the mouse over the letter, and next to the letter, you will see the small triangle.)

Thank you very much for your help. If you know the answer to the merged cell question, that would also be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 4

Ashka

Level 4

3,891 points

Nov 13, 2008 11:25 AM in response to disensin

Merged column & rows can be a problem when hiding them. To change them back please try the info below so you don't get in the same mess as I did 🙂

Merge & Split
If you have an uneven number merge select the merged cell plus the next one and merge.
Once you have an even number of columns merged.
Select the columns and make them all the same size > Inspector > Table > Column width....... then use the split command in the inspector on the same page. The split command only splits in Half.
Same system for merged rows.
Best.

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Answer 5

Nov 13, 2008 12:41 PM in response to John Hendy

John,

Regarding the Article you linked, I doubt that you are responsible for it, but I wonder if you had noticed as I have that it incorrectly states that Hidden Rows and Columns are not visible when copied to other iWork applications. In my experience at least, the opposite is true - Hidden rows become visible, negating the Hide operation.

Jerry

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Answer 6

Nov 13, 2008 12:45 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

I did not notice that! I was more looking to show the OP how to hide, not necessarily illustrate the functionality so I didn't even read the rest of the article. Whoops!

On the other hand, it's Apple's help file, so it's on them to correct that I suppose. One question I have: what is the behavior in copying from Numbers (with hidden rows) into Pages or Keynote? Not to be a stickler for wording nuances, but they do say 'other iWork applications', not 'from Numbers to Numbers.

-John

Message was edited by: John Hendy

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Answer 7

Nov 13, 2008 12:47 PM in response to John Hendy

Same behavior in all three apps.

Jerry

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Answer 8

Nov 13, 2008 12:48 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

Got me then! Apple's help file is incorrect, then.

-John

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2008 12:53 PM in response to John Hendy

So, I was going to Send Feedback on the article and found that link to be broken. Bad day all around!

Regards,

Jerry

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Answer 10

Jan 7, 2009 11:19 AM in response to disensin

I've got the same issue as above re: merged/split cells. Once a column has been split or two columns merged, the combined column no longer hides, despite earlier posts (e.g., http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6244272) that state otherwise.

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Answer 11

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jan 7, 2009 12:01 PM in response to bruce jacob

The Help is not wrong, it's just incomplete.
It states that there is a tool allowing us to hide columns or rows which is true.
It doesn't states that this is available in every circumstances.
The unavailability is logical:
the program is unable to decide if the selection is ONE column which is the case for the two merged cells but which is wrong for the not-merged ones.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE mercredi 7 janvier 2009 21:00:50)

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Answer 12

Iftekhar

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2009 6:19 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

I understand it makes things a bit more complicated, but I don't think there's a confusion. MS Excel has been hiding merged-cell columns for at least 2 versions now, so I feel like it's quite a critical feature that's not being added because the developers aren't looking beyond the surface for some of these features.

There's really nothing for the program to decide. Just hide them both. That's kind of what the command is. If I select more than one column to hide (which is what merged-cell column selection does) then just hide what I'm telling you to hide, dammit!

But, yeah. 🙂 A known limitation. Aah, well.

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