User profile for user: R Cook
R Cook Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Create a list from another sheet

Using Numbers version 13.2. I am attempting to create a recipe nutrition calculator but cannot resolve the list creation step.


I have one worksheet, "Food Database", which lists the food item, size of a serving, and the nutrition information.



On the second sheet I would have a pull down list generated from all of the food options in the food database. (I can't find a way to make a list other than pop-up menu, which does not update.) I would then be able to list the servings used in the recipe and output the total nutrition information for the recipe. (I assume this will be a VLOOKUP solution as that is what I used in Excel.)



I created this in Excel but when I tried to import to Numbers it gives me this error:


The list on the second sheet needs to be able to update when items are added to the "Food Database" as well as be a drop-down or pop-up menu.


Thank you in advance.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Oct 29, 2023 10:12 AM

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User profile for user: SGIII
SGIII
User level: Level 8
37,562 points

Posted on Oct 29, 2023 5:55 PM

Alas, Numbers does not support Pop-Up Menus that repopulate based on the values in a range of cells.


You can update them manually by selecting a range and formatting as Pop-Up Menu. Each cell will then contain a Pop-Up Menu with all the values in the range. You can copy-paste that wherever you want.


Yellowbox (Ian) has a workaround that he may offer when he stops by. Or others may have another approach. But the basic functionality is not there. You might consider leaving feedback with Apple at Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback if you are running Numbers on the Mac, or circled three dots > Help > Send Feedback if you are on the iPad.


SG

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User profile for user: SGIII
SGIII
User level: Level 8
37,562 points

Oct 29, 2023 5:55 PM in response to R Cook

Alas, Numbers does not support Pop-Up Menus that repopulate based on the values in a range of cells.


You can update them manually by selecting a range and formatting as Pop-Up Menu. Each cell will then contain a Pop-Up Menu with all the values in the range. You can copy-paste that wherever you want.


Yellowbox (Ian) has a workaround that he may offer when he stops by. Or others may have another approach. But the basic functionality is not there. You might consider leaving feedback with Apple at Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback if you are running Numbers on the Mac, or circled three dots > Help > Send Feedback if you are on the iPad.


SG

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User profile for user: Yellowbox
Yellowbox
User level: Level 7
21,945 points

Oct 29, 2023 7:57 PM in response to R Cook

Hi R Cook,


As SGIII said, Numbers does not (yet) support "dynamic" Pop-Up Menus. Your feedback to Apple may speed the introduction of this useful feature to Numbers. You may not get a reply, but Apple does read feedback. Give reasons why such a feature enhancement will benefit you and other users. Apple app developers do not participate in these forums, so give a link to this discussion to help them understand.


What we can do is create "nested" or "cascading" Pop-Up Menus.

Nested (or Cascading) Pop-Up Menus in Num… - Apple Community

I confess that User Tip is a bit clunky. If you think that User Tip starts you on the road that will lead you to a solution, please let me know. I am working on a simpler method to create "nested" Pop-Up Menus. Positive replies will energise me!


Regards,

Ian.

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Create a list from another sheet

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