Numbers problem with autofill

alastair145 wrote:

the difference between header columns and other kinds of columns, also why some columns have a grey background and others a white background.

You'll note that a Header Row in Numbers are similar to Headers in Excel Tables (where you select a range of data and Insert > Table) and a Footer Row is similar to the Totals Row in an Excel table. They're highly useful. You can put a formula in the Footer Row that refers to its own column. For example, if you are doing a sum on column B all you have to do is =SUM(B) in a cell in the Footer Row. Similar, but even easier, than what you would do in an Excel Table.

A Header Column, on the other hand, does not seem to have a direct equivalent in Excel, except perhaps in the sense that you can Freeze Header Columns, which gives as similar effect to Window > Freeze Panes in Excel.

By default one Header Column is included when you click the new table icon in the Toolbar. By default that column is gray but it can be styled to look like any other column in your table. To see that just open the 'Charting Basics' template at File > New in your menu and look at the Fundraiser Results by Salesperson table. It doesn't seem so at first glance but that column A there is a Header Column.

Which brings us to a crucial point about Header Columns. If you are doing a category type chart such as a column chart or bar chart as in the template then you must have a Header Column. That's where a chart gets its labels.

If you are doing a scatter type, on the other hand, then you do not want to have a Header Column.

I have never heard of Header Columns in any way affecting the performance of Numbers or being notoriously slow or anything like that.

As you make the transition from Excel to Numbers I highly recommend spending some time with the templates. They provide excellent examples of how to use the table-centric design of Numbers.

SG

Hi alastair,

If your formula is in a header column you will not be able to fill it to the right.

• You can copy and paste it into the next, non-header cell and then auto fill.

• You can change the header columns to 0 and then auto fill.

quinn

Sorry, for the confusion regarding my post. There was a very active scammer posting here yesterday, with a toll free number that would have led to a criminally operated call center. I posted the warning to, hopefully prevent other viewers from mistakenly calling the number.

Can you enlighten us as to what you are doing so as NOT to see the yellow dot? Are you making sure you hover the cursor on the right border of the cell? The yellow dot on the right won’t appear unless you do that.

SG

Please select the cell you want to fill to the right, then share a screenshot. Seeing what you are seeing can be very helpful in ways that are sometimes not expressible. There are clues and details we cannot think to ask for until we see what you are seeing. If possible, please make sure you show the row and column headers of the table

Hi alastair,

Glad that took care of it for you. There are many members of this forum that have, like you, deep experience with Excel. You may find their insights useful in the transition. My understanding of the major differences is that Numbers is organized around the idea of multiple small tables on a sheet(canvas) vs Excel's sheet wide tables and a lack of Array functions in Numbers. You are bound to have a more nuanced apprication of the differences.

If you want to drive answers to the top of the thread, you can mark them "Solved" or "Helpful" and people with similar questions will see them first.

quinn

Grey is header, white is body. Main advantage of header columns is they can be set to remain on the screen when scrolling large tables. Their content can also be used to assign names to an array (Row or column) which can be used when writing cell references. Main disadvantage is they are notoriously slow, and a nightmare to edit on large sheets - primarily because Numbers has to check everything to make sure nothing breaks whenever you edit a header.

To all seeing this post: Do NOT call the listed number. The number is being posted to numerous threads by scammers.

can you post a screenshot of this behavior please?

Are you crossing the boundary between headers and body? Or encountering merged or hidden cells? Those are the most common reasons for this to happen.