Turn off fraction simplification in iWork '08 Numbers

Simplify the fractions is the normal behavior.
You may enter ="60/60" which stores a string
You may set the cell format to text before entering the value.
You may also replace the slash character by the Unicode DIVISION SLASH ($2215) which is code(8725).

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 27 juin 2009 13:56:01)

Two caveats to it being formatted as text: 1) Strings don't always act like numbers and 2) any math you do will result in a either a decimal formatted number or a reduced fraction, depending on the cell format you choose.

B2= 51/60 (a string)
B3= 51/60 (a string)
B4= B2+B3 = 1.7 or 1 7/10 (not 102/60 or 1 42/60)
B5=SUM(B2:B3)= 0 (oops)

Badunit wrote:

B2= 51/60 (a string)
B3= 51/60 (a string)

B4= value(B2)+value(B3) --> 0.85
B5= SUM(value(B2),value(B3)) --> 1.7

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 27 juin 2009 15:47:14)

KOENIG Yvan wrote:

B4= value(B2)+value(B3) --> 0.85

What happened there? It worked out to 1.7 for me.

B5= SUM(value(B2),value(B3)) --> 1.7

I was attempting to demonstrate that a range/array reference wouldn't work.
B5=SUM(1 B2,1B3) also works but I don't know how to do an array reference.

My recommendation is to have a second column (which can be hidden) that converts the strings to numbers and to use that column for all calculations. If the results of calculations need to be fractions with a specified denominator, they'll have to be converted to strings via functions such as MOD

C2=51/60 (a string)
D2=VALUE(C2)
E2=IF(D2<0,"-","")&IF(ABS(D2)>=1,ROUNDDOWN(D2,0)&" ","")&IF(ROUND(MOD(ABS(D2) 60,60),0)>0,ROUND(MOD(ABS(D2)60,60),0) &"/60","")

Perhaps that formula is more complex than it needs to be. This was my first shot at ensuring it worked for positive and negative (though zero creates a blank).

Badunit wrote:

KOENIG Yvan wrote:

B4= value(B2)+value(B3) --> 0.85

What happened there? It worked out to 1.7 for me.

Oops, I reported the result of the formula:
B4= value(B2)

B5= SUM(value(B2),value(B3)) --> 1.7

I was attempting to demonstrate that a range/array reference wouldn't work.
B5=SUM(1 B2,1B3) also works but I don't know how to do an array reference.

OK, I didn't understood it this way … for the simple reason that _there is no defined array structure_ in Numbers.
1*(B2:B5) means nothing in Numbers' world
value(B2:B5) means nothing too.

Here, B2:B5 is not an array, it's a range and there is no defined arithmetic operation applying to suc a range.

My recommendation is to have a second column (which can be hidden) that converts the strings to numbers and to use that column for all calculations.

Sure, it's the best soluce.
My first idea was to enter numbers and use an aux column to display fractions but it requires that both columns are visible.
Entering strings then converting them give the ability to hide the converted values (with the advantage that we have no need to treat the special case of empty strings converted as 0)

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 27 juin 2009 16:55:38)

We already responded !
when defined as a string, you can't use the value in calculations. This is why you must add an auxiliary column (which may be hidden) converting the string in numerical value with the function =VALUE()

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE dimanche 28 juin 2009 11:01:09)

Oops

When I respond shortly I get: too short.

When I give details, I get: too long.

Not easy to guess what you are wishing to get.

I always assume that askers are able to read more than twenty words 😉

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE mercredi 8 juillet 2009 09:39:12)

When we respond on the forum, we can't guess what the asker really need.
We don't know what is already its knowledge about the problem.
Often we don't kow if the way we understand the question is what the asker was really trying to ask.

More, if your time is precious, our is precious too.
So, we may hope that you are able to understand (sometimes I'm not sure of that) that we tried to do our best to respond given our skills in Numbers (and in English).
If you can't accept that, you may ask the help of appointed consultants !

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE jeudi 16 juillet 2009 17:18:28)

I notice that this forum is no different from others I've attended over the decades ...people get a bit antsy at times. I've used PCs for decades, helping people with spreadsheets of another kind which won't be named here, and am now just beginning with Mac, so if I'm off track, forgive me.

For fractions to look textbook format I usually spent some time combining several cells. For example. For a mixed fraction, I'd have the whole number in a merged cell from two, one above the other and the proportional part in the two cells to the right, one above the other, each justified left/right appropriately. The top cell would have a lower border as the fraction dividing line which has a proper name that eludes me at the moment. That way, numerical calculations can be performed readily well, with a little effort at times to produce required results. If I can get the file to transfer from Window to Mac, as some have with no problem, I could upload one for example ... if it is possible to upload here ... I'm still learning. Such endeavour might take a little time, but it's the end result that matters in the long run.

Message was edited by: AlbertEinstein

What if you format the cell as text?

I guess we get a bit side tracked at times as we discuss the merits of different ways to solve a problem. Were you able to figure it out in the end or would you still like a summary?