numbers categories and filters showing empty categories

I understand using Categories and I understand using Filters. However, when combining these two features how do you tell Numbers to now show an empty summary line for each of the rows that are hidden by the filter?


Thanks,


-louie

Posted on Mar 3, 2025 6:27 AM

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Posted on Mar 6, 2025 2:23 PM

It appears to be either a design choice or an oversight in the design. I don't see a way around it. The more annoying part of it is that, in addition to showing categories filtered-out rows, the summaries (count,sum,etc) include filtered-out rows. You can let Apple know by providing them feedback. A simple "Exclude Filtered/Hidden Rows" checkbox in the Categories tab would allow the user to select which way they want it to work.


Numbers app->Numbers menu->Provide Numbers Feedback

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Mar 6, 2025 2:23 PM in response to Louie Sherwin

It appears to be either a design choice or an oversight in the design. I don't see a way around it. The more annoying part of it is that, in addition to showing categories filtered-out rows, the summaries (count,sum,etc) include filtered-out rows. You can let Apple know by providing them feedback. A simple "Exclude Filtered/Hidden Rows" checkbox in the Categories tab would allow the user to select which way they want it to work.


Numbers app->Numbers menu->Provide Numbers Feedback

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Mar 7, 2025 3:29 PM in response to Louie Sherwin

Hi Louie,


Choir member replying here!

The SUBTOTAL function has that option. See here:

SUBTOTAL – Apple Support (AU)


Notes

  • You can skip hidden rows by adding 10 if function-num is a single digit and 1 if function-num is two-digits. For example, use 101 for AVERAGE.
  • Hidden columns never affect the value of SUBTOTAL.
  • If range or range… includes other SUBTOTAL formulas, they are ignored.


Call back if you need more clarification.


Regards,

Ian.

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Mar 7, 2025 6:21 AM in response to Badunit

Thanks for the reply. I submitted feedback as you suggested.


It is just mind boggling that this is how Numbers works. I mean this is just such a simple programming concept. When you apply a filter to any data, all that you want to see is that data.


Ok preaching to the choir...

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Mar 8, 2025 6:17 AM in response to Yellowbox

Thanks Ian,


Interesting idea but the subtotal function won't solve the problem.


The problem being that when I activate Categories on a sheet that also has a Filter, Categories creates summary rows every category in the sheet even if all the rows are hidden by the Filter.


-louie

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numbers categories and filters showing empty categories

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