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Extending a graph series by one column.

I keep track of my assets in Numbers. I used to use Excel, but switched to Numbers over a year ago and for the most part I am very satisfied.


However, every month or so when I enter a new column of data, I want to update my graphs.


I go to a graph, click on the series being plotted, then I want to add one more column to the series.

For example. Asset Worksheet::Table 1::$FC$48:$FW$48 and I want to increase it by one column to $FX.


I can double-click on the field and have the cursor show up at the end of the series description. (I can't possibly describe the steps required to get to the point where I can do this double click)


To be specific: In my example: $FC$48:$FW$48 the cursor shows up behind the 8.

I have tried clicking behind the W and using the cursor keys. I can backspace over the 8, the 4, the $ and the W and then type in "X$48". But that is not acceptable.


No matter what I try, I cannot put the cursor behind the W, backspace one character and then type in an X. Nope, I have to have the spreadsheet opened to a location that has the right row but isn't even close to the correct column; scroll and scroll and scroll --- and SCROLL -- across the spreadsheet to find the "dot" that defines the last cell in the series; click on it and drag it one more column over.


Well I have a dozen graphs. Each time this takes me about 5 minutes so I've wasted an hour on something that in Excel would have taken 5 minutes total.


How do I just change that one character by typing it in? I can't tell you the number of times trying to drag that selection dot just one cell has lead to all kinds of screw-ups in my graphs.


There hasn't been -ANYTHING- added to Numbers in the last 3 years that I care about.

I've asked this question before and never received an answer.


Is there something I'm just missing?

Posted on Sep 28, 2020 4:53 PM

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Posted on Sep 28, 2020 8:17 PM

John Zwiebel wrote:

I appreciate the thought, but we're talking accounting stuff here (money management). It may be me, but I don't think I could make sense of things reading the sums in a column. Yeah, theoretically it should be the same information.


Well, that just happens to be my field of expertise.😀 My recommendation still stands. Try putting the data in the most efficient format for inputting to produce a chart. Adding a row is easier than adding a column. The chart will still look the same. And if you need a wide "report" table to show to people (or to yourself) that's easily done, based on your "tall" data table. Suggest at least giving that approach a try. It may save you a lot of work.


SG

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7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 28, 2020 8:17 PM in response to John Zwiebel

John Zwiebel wrote:

I appreciate the thought, but we're talking accounting stuff here (money management). It may be me, but I don't think I could make sense of things reading the sums in a column. Yeah, theoretically it should be the same information.


Well, that just happens to be my field of expertise.😀 My recommendation still stands. Try putting the data in the most efficient format for inputting to produce a chart. Adding a row is easier than adding a column. The chart will still look the same. And if you need a wide "report" table to show to people (or to yourself) that's easily done, based on your "tall" data table. Suggest at least giving that approach a try. It may save you a lot of work.


SG

Sep 28, 2020 8:00 PM in response to SGIII

I appreciate the thought, but we're talking accounting stuff here (money management). It may be me, but I don't think I could make sense of things reading the sums in a column. Yeah, theoretically it should be the same information.


In any case, the only thing that is "broken" is extending the series by one column. I'll have the same problem extending the series by one row. I cannot place the cursor in this oval. In this case I want to change the W to an X. Sure if it was a column (let's assume Column C) the cursor is positioned to change the to a 5.


But the point is, the application is still broken. I should be able to type in here anything I want.


Sep 28, 2020 6:32 PM in response to John Zwiebel

Best I can tell you are not missing anything. It does seem like an oversight to not be able to use the arrow keys to move the cursor. I think they really want you to extend the range by dragging the box in the table.


One thing I notice if I double click on the colored oval with the range in it is that, after a short pause, it scrolls the table to the beginning of the range. That should reduce your scrolling by quite a lot I would think if your ranges are short (column FC to FW, for instance).

Sep 28, 2020 6:46 PM in response to Badunit

The fact that it scrolls to the beginning of the range is definitely part of the problem. I want to add a cell at the end of the range. The example I provided was an arbitrary one. Some of my ranges go from A#:FX# So you can see i don't exaggerate when I say "scroll, scroll, scroll and scroll some more".


Thanks for confirming that I'm not overlooking anything.


Note that it is even worse if one is interested in using column headers to label an axis because now you have two series you have to drag.


Did you notice that if you double click on the oval the selected series on the spreadsheet will change color and if you keep clicking, it changes again and again and again. It seems to cycle through colors. Now, imagine you have a graph with multiple series you are plotting on the same graph.

Sep 28, 2020 7:47 PM in response to John Zwiebel

What does your data look like? In general Numbers works better with tables that are "tall" rather than "wide." In general extending a range to include a new row of data is more convenient than struggling with adding a new column.


So if you explore transposing your data (Table > Transpose Rows and Columns) you may find that gives you a more efficient setup.


Existing charts often automatically adjust when you make the switch. But there is also a control (after you click a chart) at lower left where you can chose 'Plot Rows as Series' or 'Plot Columns as Series.'


SG

Extending a graph series by one column.

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