Work-around for missing Text function in iOS Numbers

Seems there is still no TEXT function in Numbers in iOS.

There are of course the two excellent work-arounds suggested by Barry (March 2020: format hidden cell, and concatenation).

I have also found that I can format the cell in Microsoft Excel, then copy that cell into Numbers which will display the formatting chosen in Excel - not sure if that works for all formatting but it seems to do the trick for dates :)

iPad Pro

Posted on Jan 4, 2025 9:41 PM

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Posted on Jan 5, 2025 2:20 AM

In Numbers one typically formats how a number displays by selecting it and going to the Data Format dropdown menu in the Cell tab of the inspector pane on the right. A Custom Format can be created there if needed.


Unlike the TEXT function in Excel the number remains a number instead of being converted to text. That means it can still be used for calculations.


SG



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Jan 5, 2025 2:20 AM in response to SyAnTh

In Numbers one typically formats how a number displays by selecting it and going to the Data Format dropdown menu in the Cell tab of the inspector pane on the right. A Custom Format can be created there if needed.


Unlike the TEXT function in Excel the number remains a number instead of being converted to text. That means it can still be used for calculations.


SG



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Jan 6, 2025 1:45 AM in response to SyAnTh

The Numbers for Mac and iWork for iOS/iPadOS used to be separate. But now this is the forum for questions on Numbers for both platforms.


It is good to know Numbers on the iPad respects formats set in Excel.


I haven't tried it for a while but I believe it will also respect a Custom Format set on the Mac.


SG

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Jan 6, 2025 1:34 AM in response to SGIII

Sorry, I should have specified: this work-around is for iPad and iPhone users - iOS does not (yet) have that kind of flexibility.


Question: Did I post in the wrong section? (e.g. Mac section instead of iPad/iPhone section)

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Work-around for missing Text function in iOS Numbers

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