formulas from spreadsheet1 to spreadsheet2

Does Numbers have a protocol for moving formulas from spreadsheet1 to spreadsheet2? I am using a Mac. Tks


iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Oct 4, 2021 11:44 AM

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4 replies

Oct 4, 2021 12:13 PM in response to blufftobeach

Copy or move formulas and their computed values

You can copy or move cells that contain formulas, or cells that are referenced by formulas, from one location to another.

  • When you copy and paste or drag a cell referenced by a formula to a new location, the cell reference in the formula is automatically updated. For example, if a reference to A1 appears in a formula and you move A1 to D5, the cell reference in the formula becomes D5.
  • When you copy or move a cell containing a formula, you may need to change absolute and relative cell references.

Copy and move cells containing a formula

  • To move cell values within a table, to another table, or to a page or canvas, select a cell or several adjacent cells, and then drag the selection until any destination cells are selected.
    • Values in the destination cells are replaced.
    • Values in the original location are removed.
  • To copy cells within a table to another table, or to the page or canvas, hold down the Option key while you drag selected cells.
    • Values in the destination cells are replaced.
    • Values in the original location are retained.

For specific instructions on how to accomplish tasks in the app you're using, see the help that accompanies the app. In the macOS apps, look under the Help menu. In the iOS apps, tap the More menu (three dots in the top-right corner), then tap Numbers Help. (If you don’t see Numbers Help, swipe up from the bottom of the controls). In the iCloud apps, click the Question Mark button in the top-right corner.

Oct 4, 2021 1:38 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for your reply. I previously read your reply on the Apple Help pages re: numbers formula. The instructions do not accomplish what I am trying to do.


Let me explain: I want to move a cell with a formula from a table in spreadsheet 1 to another table which is in spreadsheet 2. When I copy a cell with a formula from spreadsheet 1 and attempt to past it in a cell in spreadsheet 2 here is what happens: I click on the destination cell in Spreadsheet 2. I paste the copied cell. I see the number, not the formula; if I leave the pasted cell it becomes a 000.00; when I double click the destination cell the Formula Menu box appears; I then copy the information to the formula box I then must click on the fx arrow to change the formula to text in order for the data to remain. However, the formula is not there and the data and formula remain in Spreadsheet 1. When successful, I want spreadsheet 2's data to change when I change the data in spreadsheet 1. One additional point, when I click and drag while holding the option key, the copied cell data will not post to the destination table cell; rather it reverts back to the original cell location.


I have successfully copied and pasted the data from spreadsheet 1 to spreadsheet 2 but that process would have been just as time consuming as typing the data into the destination table.


Thanks again for your assistance. Blufftobeach.

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formulas from spreadsheet1 to spreadsheet2

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