Collapse tables in Numbers

Not a built in feature of Numbers but you can use a filter. A downside is you may need to turn off the filter to add new rows to the table. With a filter active, formulas will not automatically copy into new rows and will be replaced with data from the row above.

Here is an example of how a filter might work.

1. Row 1 is a header row.
2. Format cell A1 as a checkbox
3. Add a column to the right side of your table. Let's say it is column G
4. In all rows of G put the formula =$A$1. The header and footer rows do not need the formula
5. Create a filter for the table of "show rows where column G is TRUE"
6. Hide column G

When the checkbox is checked the table will show. When unchecked only the headers and footers will show.

I don't think there is.

Here is another idea that uses categorization instead of the filter and the tables will move up but I am wary of recommending it if changes will to be made to the table while categorized, versus just viewing it.

1. Add a column to the right side of your table. Let's again say it is column G.
2. Put the formula ="" into every body cell of column G. It has to be all of them so you have only one category.
3. Categorize by column G. (You can hide column G after this)
4. Use the disclosure triangle to expand/collapse the table.

I recommend turning off categorization before making changes. For sure do not make changes when categorized if there are any INDIRECT or OFFSET functions in your table. There is a bug that prevents them from updating in a categorized table. I hate bugs and it concerns me there may be other issues. Anyway...

Before categorization (with Table 1-1 shown below it):

After Categorizing on column G:

After clicking the disclosure triangle:

Lars T wrote:

I see that collapsable tables have been requested since like 2009.

Doesn't Apple read any of these community posts?

It seems Apple does monitor these forums. But they are primarily user-to-user. You can give feedback to Apple via Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback in your menu.

SG

Keep in mind that if you have many tables on the canvas of a sheet, some perhaps out of sight, you can quickly navigate to any one of the tables on that sheet by clicking the sheet name (tab) at the top and choosing the table name from the dropdown that appears.

Charts and Pivot Tables are also listed in that drop-down.

SG

Also, make sure you make a backup of your document before doing all this. Or do this on a duplicate version and keep the original safe.