Convert an existing rage of cells into a Table

Hi TexanInParis,

TexanInParis wrote:

I did figure out how to name a table, but when I do that, it gives that name to the entire sheet that it recognized as a "table" from the conversion from Excel. In Excel, I could give a name to a specific set of cells (subsets of rows and columns) and reference that.

In Numbers, there are sheets that are blank "canvases" to hold objects such as tables. I suspect that what you are importing from Excel is a huge "sea" of cells with small "islands" of data (Excel tables). Perhaps you can delete the unwanted "islands" to leave only the subset that you want to deal with.

TexanInParis wrote:

Another thing I am able to do in Excel is select a cell, then grab the little + in the lower right corner and drag it to replicate the formula within the cell to adjacent cells, adjusting cell references (that aren't absolute references using a $) along the way. I've found I can select a cell in Numbers and copy and paste it to get the same effect, but I can't drag the corner to copy and adjust to multiple adjacent cells. Is there a shortcut for multiple pasting with cell reference adjustment?

In Numbers, don't drag the corner of a cell to fill to other cells. (all that does is extend the area selected). Hover the cursor over a cell border to see a yellow dot (the "fill handle") in the middle of that border. Drag down to fill a column.

You can fill down, up, right, left by hovering over any cell border of a selected cell until the yellow dot appears.

Regards,

Ian.

TexanInParis wrote:

Now I need to figure out how to rename that table - or can I?

Renaming a table is easy. Make sure Title is checked under Table Options.

Then click on the table name, in this example Clients, and edit in place.

You mention you "type" a cell reference. You should rarely have to type one. Click a cell, type = to call up the formula editor, enter a function, then click a placer placeholder token within the function and simply navigate to and select the column or cells you want. The formula editor will enter the reference for you, including table name.

SG

SG

Not entirely clear on what you have. If you already have three columns with headings in Numbers then you already have a table! Unlike in Excel, ALL grids of cells in Numbers are in tables and behave much like Excel tables (and, I find, are easier to use than Excel tables). The Numbers design allows you to easily put multiple tables on one sheet. So you will find it efficient to have several tables on the same sheet, acting a lot like named ranges in Excel (though, I find, easier to use).

If you haven't already done so, be sure to have a look at the templates at File > New in your menu to see how to take advantage of the design philosophy of Numbers.

To copy a table in Numbers, click in it it and then click the concentric circles at its upper left to select it as an object. Command-c to copy, go to where you want to paste it and command-v to paste.

SG