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Level 1

29 points

slow spreadsheet using numbers

I only have four spreadsheets but one is uncomplicated but long; it has about 2400 lines. Some weeks it became very, very slow; if I click, the machine is slow to respond; if I type, the data appears 15 seconds or so later. I have read that this has been a problem with Apple for a number of years, but have they come up with any solutions? I have a Mac OS X 10.6.8, processor is 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, memory is 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I have used the disk utility first aid and the problem does not seem to be there. Thanks

IMAC, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Oct 3, 2011 7:33 PM

29 replies

Svettles

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2011 4:27 AM in response to doug Davies

I have the same problem, it is awfully slow. My formula is long, but nothing that would be an issue in Excel. I wanted to make sure I use my Mac to the utmost possible, but I am very dissapointed. I am switching back to Excel for my tables and formulas work. Very dissapointing...

doug Davies Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 5, 2011 7:12 PM in response to Svettles

A solution for me may be to divide my spread sheet into two spread sheets. Good luck. Doug

Ivan_ua

Level 2

234 points

Mar 15, 2012 6:23 AM in response to doug Davies

I know it is a bit late but maybe it will help you. I have experienced slow down of Numbers even on a very basic spreadsheet. I have found an interesting idea in other thread which actually resolved my problem. It might sound strange but it was just a matter of changing the font from Helvetica Neue to regular Helvetica. For me it is already interesting for a sake of experiment. Can you try to make this table 2300 rows again and change the font and share if it made any diffeernce for you?

By the way, here is the thread I was talking about:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3224552

Svettles

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2012 1:42 PM in response to Ivan_ua

Hi Ivan, I tried changing the font and it did have a slight improvement but still very slow... Thank you anyways for the tip 🙂 Now I wait only 5 seconds to add a '+' to my formula as opposed to the 10 seconds I waited before 🙂 That's a great start, one more tip and I'll be down to a second 🙂

doug Davies Author

Level 1

29 points

Mar 23, 2012 12:39 AM in response to Ivan_ua

I just put the two tables together using Helvetica. So far I have had not had any pauses or delays in adding information. This does not make sense to me logically, but then a lot of things do not. I will update later on. D Davies

Ivan_ua

Level 2

234 points

Mar 23, 2012 5:20 AM in response to doug Davies

Hey Doug!

Glad it was helpfull. Looking forward to hear more about your experience with Numbers. For me also it does not make any sense but that is how it works sometimes.

Ivan

doug Davies Author

Level 1

29 points

Mar 28, 2012 2:19 PM in response to Ivan_ua

I now have more than 2700 entries and definitions without encountering any computer delays. I still don't get it. If anyone has an explanation as to how simply changing the font can make such a huge difference I would certainly like to hear it.

doug Davies Author

Level 1

29 points

Apr 28, 2012 3:19 PM in response to doug Davies

A month later I now have 2800 entires and no delays. I still don't get it, but everything works. DRD

Ivan_ua

Level 2

234 points

Apr 29, 2012 1:41 PM in response to doug Davies

Hey Doug!

Same for me, my table not as big but all troubles are gone...

Ivan

Apr 29, 2012 2:27 PM in response to doug Davies

It could be that you have more than one copy of helvitica neue and the system is dithering over which to choose.

It's not unusual for font conflicts (or just bad fonts) to interfere with the running of applications, or worse, the entire system.

Check out Kurt Lang's Font Management in OS X.

doug Davies Author

Level 1

29 points

Sep 11, 2012 12:32 AM in response to noondaywitch

I now have 3000 entries and am going strong. And the computer says I am on Helvetica. Perhaps I have more than one copy of Helvitica. I just took a quick glance at "Font Management in OS X" and frankly, since it is working well, I don't need to know any more. There are lots of mysteries in the computer world.I am content.