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How to convert hyperlinks to url

I have a column of data that includes embedded hyperlinks. I would like to simply transform the embedded hyperlinks into URLs. How can I do this?


So the following 2 cells...

User uploaded file

...must be:


leted http://www.xxxxxx1 and http://www.xxxxxx3.

leted http://www.xxxxxx2 and http://www.xxxxxx4.


where http://www.xxxxxx# are the urls Numbers points to when you click on this unpleasant blue text.




I hoped to find a killALLhyperlinks() function...

Posted on Nov 26, 2012 1:14 PM

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Posted on Nov 26, 2012 2:49 PM

I am not aware of a way to drop the link text and extract the URL from the hyperlink. The only thinkg I could come up with is to view the page source in a web browser and copy the URLs. In Safari you can type the key combination:

<COMMAND> + <OPTION> + u to view the html source

19 replies

Nov 28, 2012 10:07 AM in response to anon app

to clarify, this is what I want to accomplish http://howtouseexcel.net/how-to-extract-a-url-from-a-hyperlink-on-excel


If Numbers indeed has no way to manipulate hyperlinks...makes me wonder how small this product's userbase is...


As far as I can make out, I have three options. 1 - use excel 2 - use terminal or applescript as a pre-processing tool 3 - use an app that will do this before I input into Numbers.


seems like I will just use excel and wonder if I will ever use Numbers again for anything more than quick pretty lists....zzz

Nov 28, 2012 10:19 AM in response to anon app

You can post feedback to Apple from the Numbers Application by selecting the menu item:

"Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback"


I think the feature you want is not a commonly needed function as this is the first time I have seem a question regarding this. Numbers is a good program for most needs but is certainly not a end-all-be-all application

Nov 28, 2012 10:50 AM in response to Wayne Contello

Feedback Sent. I wonder if someone will act on it.


It may be your first time seeing such a question on this forum, but whether you are aware or not (really now..?), it is common practice on the www to show long URLs as hyperlinks with custom short-names, thus when you paste an html table unless you are feeding it through a 3rd party app or a script beforehand TA-DA you can't access the URLs in your spreadsheet unless u copy every link manually....might as well use pen and paper for that matter, who needs a computer?


Goodbye Numbers, hello again Excel...and to think I was over you... 😢

Nov 28, 2012 11:05 AM in response to anon app

I understand you are frustrated and disappointed with Numbers. Not only is the first time I have seen this request on these forums I personally have never once (really) wanted to do what you are doing. That does not mean that the function is not relevant or important. Apple targets the 80% solution and the software costs $20-- so it has limitations.



I do not sure you can expect Numbers to do everything. It is very common in my experience that I have to do some tasks outside of Numbers. LibreOffice is a good office clone and there are others (NeoOffice, etc).


finally... don't forget no one in these forums has any influence on the features of iWork applications... we are users like you.


Best regards,

Wayne

Nov 28, 2012 11:38 AM in response to Wayne Contello

Wayne Contello wrote:


I understand you are frustrated and disappointed with Numbers. Not only is the first time I have seen this request on these forums I personally have never once (really) wanted to do what you are doing. That does not mean that the function is not relevant or important. Apple targets the 80% solution and the software costs $20-- so it has limitations.



I do not sure you can expect Numbers to do everything. It is very common in my experience that I have to do some tasks outside of Numbers. LibreOffice is a good office clone and there are others (NeoOffice, etc).


finally... don't forget no one in these forums has any influence on the features of iWork applications... we are users like you.


Best regards,

Wayne

rightfully so, however I would probably call it a 30% solution considering the iWork suite (apart from Keynote) is worthless in the professional world, which, in case you didn't realize, is a very large and very much non-pirating portion of the pie, and thus also the higher education sector (which correct me if I'm wrong - is Apple's 'traditional' and probably largest target market).


Although, I don't know why anyone, being aware of the free alternatives and better not-free alternatives would dish out $20 to buy Keynote, Pages (housewife making soccer fliers?) and some bloatware...unless it's to provide tech support or compatibility for some sadistic proffessionals/educators clutching onto Numbers.

Nov 28, 2012 6:28 PM in response to anon app

If you do choose to do this in Excel, it does not appear that the script (custom function) you linked to will do what you need. It appears to return a single hyperlink from a cell not the multiple hyperlinks you need. I believe you will have to modify it, maybe with a third parameter to specify which hyperlink to return.


I think it is laughable you call Wayne a "fanboy" when he is telling you an Apple product can't do what you need it to do. The term "fanboy" is usually applied to those who say Apple's products are more capable and easier to use than anyone else's.

Nov 28, 2012 10:38 PM in response to Badunit

I find it laughable that you are clutching at straws to defend a followup post which begins with "I understand you are frustrated" insert rhetorical customer service text here, and ends with "Best Regards, Firstname" (Texas is Europe now or are we trying to be subtly condescending? hmm).


Thank you for pointer. I will be sure not to turn my brain completely off when I notice that the macro in my link doesn't fit my need 100% to the dot. But hey it's 200% more than what Numbers could ever hope to do, so the future looks promising.


My mistake. I will not post in this monkey forum again if I need an on-topic, objective, informed ("80%" nice one...), and thoughtful solution to a Mac related software problem. Without a doubt there are other more fruitful communities to use.


Wayne Contello:


That does not mean that the function is not relevant or important. Apple targets the 80% solution and the software costs $20-- so it has limitations.


oh ok 80=30. I care about $20 because I'm a mac user. I can find CS6 master and final cut pro anytime but when it comes to $20 I am sold - no need to tell me if it has any features.



finally... don't forget no one in these forums has any influence on the features of iWork applications... we are users like you.


Best regards,

Wayne


where can I get a copy of your business card? Users Like You Inc. subsidiary of Apple Customer Services?

Nov 29, 2012 3:22 AM in response to anon app

You have to post here a while before the report button will show up.


I am interested to hear what answer you thought was not 100% on-topic, objective, and informed. I'll be happy to report it for you. As far as I can tell all the answers were on-topic (i.e., pertained to your question), objective (even going so far as to recommend non-Apple software as a solution), and informed (i.e., the responder was knowledgeable and the answer was correct).

Dec 5, 2012 1:50 PM in response to anon app

If Numbers indeed has no way to manipulate hyperlinks...makes me wonder how small this product's userbase is.....
....

I notice that the macro in my link doesn't fit my need 100% to the dot. But hey it's 200% more than what Numbers could ever hope to do


How is Applescript any different than using VBA to solve your problem? Both are adding funtionality to an application to accomplish something that you see as "missing".


How is the VBA solution 200% of the solution offered by Applescript?


Regards,

Jason

Dec 5, 2012 5:41 PM in response to jaxjason

I couldn't find a way to get an embedded URL from a cell using Applescript. It appears you cannnot access the URL from the cell, at least not using the Numbers suite. Maybe there is a way to get it from the clipboard if you copy a cell to the clipboard (as part of an Applescript script) but I didn't figure out how to do it. So right now it is 0% for Numbers.

How to convert hyperlinks to url

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