How is a Constant Parameter Name assigned to a SINGLE cell in Numbers?

Question

How is a Constant Parameter Name assigned to a SINGLE cell in Numbers?

I am creating a spreadsheet to calculate data based on input from a user. The input will be in one of the first set of cells in the spreadsheet. For instance: Investment Value, Interest Rate, Pension Withdrawal Date

these (and other) values will be used in formulas throughout the spreadsheet. I’ll be copying and pasting formulas in rows to generate the table using the data entered by the user. If one of the user entered cells is manually updated, the table will automatically update the calculations.

ISSUE: when a formula is copied/pasted, the reference cells change in the formulas are automatically updated (good for part of the formula, but not for the fixed (constant) data).

In Excel, Constant Parameters are assigned using the “Define” feature to assign a name to a cell. This allows the Name assigned to the cell to be entered into a function and the value of the Named Cell to be used as a constant value when the function is copied/pasted.

UserInput is a constant parameter entered by the user in cell A1

A1 is the value 5%

A5 is the starting date. B5 is the starting value

A6 is the starting date +1 B6 is B5 + (B5 * (UserInput / 12)

copy & past Row 6

A7 is A6 +1. B7 is B6 + (B6 * UserInput / 12)

A8 is A7 +1. B8 is B7 + (B7 * UserInput / 12)

How is a constant parameter name assigned using NUMBERS?

Using copy/paste, the cells entered as relative addresses (A6) will update and the UserInput (entered in A1) will remain constant (NOT change to whatever is entered in cell A2)

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Oct 19, 2024 1:03 PM

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Answer 1

SGIII

Level 8

36,026 points

Oct 19, 2024 7:55 PM in response to susiefromarlington

If you are coming over from Excel...

Numbers does not have a way to manually define a range name and use that name in formulas.

However, be sure to check out the special features of Header Rows, Header Columns, and Footer Rows in Numbers. (In Numbers you would rarely have a value–as opposed to a label–in A1 the way you might in Excel.)

Values placed in these Headers are automatically assigned as labels the corresponding rows and columns. These labels can be used in formulas.

Here is a simple example:

In C2, the formula reference looks like this:

So you could see the use of the labels I selected 'Use header names as labels' at Numbers > Numbers Preferences > General. Normally I have that turned off. If you turn that preference off you can still input the "names" into the formula editor but the formula will be displayed like this:

And:

If you haven't done so already, be sure to have a look at the templates at File > New in your menu to see how user inputs are handled there.

SG

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Answer 2

6x6

Level 6

14,858 points

Oct 19, 2024 4:55 PM in response to susiefromarlington

Use absolute cell addresses in this particular case. For instance, the absolute cell address $A$1 (instead of the relative address A1) will not change when you copy and paste a cell containing that reference.

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