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How do I select random non adjacent cells in Numbers on this IOS

I have always used Shift to select non adjacent cells and it would let me select more than one cell. I have used multiple versions of Numbers, and Office on the MAc. I use Numbers or Excel to do schedules as well as lists and forms. It is so much easier to be able to select all the cells I want to format the same at the same thing than to have to select each cell one at a time. How do I do that on the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd edition and in Numbers or Excel even. I’m shocked if Apple left this out. Please consider add omg this function in future updates. The thing to remember is some people use Excel for more that number calculations. Teachers for instance use spreadsheets for forms, tables, charts and graphs. When changing formatting using the shift select option to change cells by selecting nonadjacent cells is so much faster. Thank you for any advice!

iPad Pro 12.9-inch, 3rd Gen, Wi-Fi

Posted on Aug 9, 2019 6:26 PM

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Posted on Aug 12, 2019 10:36 AM

AppleGirl710 wrote:

When changing formatting using the shift select option to change cells by selecting nonadjacent cells is so much faster.


That's been for selecting adjacent cells for as long as I can remember.


Try command-select to select non-adjacent. Working fine here.


SG


4 replies

Aug 12, 2019 4:13 PM in response to SGIII

SG, did you used Control plus selecting non- adjacent cells with a pen or finger on an iPad Pro or even an iPhone works for you. It works great on a computer, but I have three iPads and 3 iPhones in my house and I can’t get the control button or any other key to let me select multiple nonadjacent cells so I can format them all at once. If you still find that you can do this in the iOS version of Numbers please tell me how and what version you are running. I am running the latest and I’m mainly concerned about this working on my IPad Pro gen 3 12.9 inch. I’ve tried selecting with my finger and with the Apple pen. It has to be available somehow, I can’t imagine that Apple left it out. If by some chance it has been left out where do I go to make suggestions. I think the key is that most programmers don’t understand that Numbers and Excel are used to do other tasks like charts and graphs and non just calculation type work.

Aug 14, 2019 4:07 AM in response to AppleGirl710

Hi AppleGirl,


I can't find Shift or Command keys in iOS.

Are the non-adjacent cells all in one column? If so, you can sort a table to bring like cells together and select blocks of cells by dragging (swiping? I am not sure of the iOS terms). Then apply a format to each block of cells.


Start by inserting a temporary column "Original Order" so that you can re-sort after you finish the formatting.


More information will lead to a solution 🙂.


Regards,

Ian.




How do I select random non adjacent cells in Numbers on this IOS

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