Excel's Iteration Feature Available On Numbers?

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Level 1

32 points

Excel's Iteration Feature Available On Numbers?

Three years ago, Badunit answered a question that is still bugging me. That discussion is archived so I'm starting a new one.

I have a lot of Excel spreadsheets that have formulae in cells that require iteration to determine their values since those cells contains references to themselves. Iteration is a must for my work. Excel handles iteration beautifully.

I tried Numbers three years ago because I prefer Numbers' attractive layout. It couldn't handle iteration at that time. Badunit offered a script as a sort of simulated iteration substitute feature. I'm not good at scripts and wouldn't know what I was doing, so I've stayed with Excel because those spreadsheets are part of my bread and butter.

My question is: Has Apple included iteration in an updated version of Numbers? I couldn't find any reference to iteration on the Apple Store web site.

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.3, MacPro early 2008, OSX 10.8.4

Posted on Jun 5, 2013 6:07 PM

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Answer 1

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Wayne Contello

Level 7

26,529 points

Jun 5, 2013 7:04 PM in response to JoBo

Apple has not added an iteration feature. I have found that you can iterate by placing the changing variable down one column OR using a slider to adjust the changing parameter.

For instance....

Here I have a column where a voltage varies with temperature because there is a resistive element that changes with temperature. I "iterate" on i a row-wise fashion at the top of the table and use a slider to allow me to adjust the x-value (temperature) using a slider. This doesn't iterate exactly in the way you mean (I don't think) but could be used to adjust an input to produce an error which is used to adjust the next input.

Two questions for you:

1) Did you attempt to use BadUnits script? If not probablt worth trying. You can post and ask questions

2) Did you post feedback to Apple regarding this feature using the menu item "Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback"?

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Answer 2

JoBo Author

Level 1

32 points

Jun 5, 2013 8:17 PM in response to Wayne Contello

Your usage and mine are not even similar, but I appreciate very much your suggestions. In my usage, the formula in the cell remains constant and Excel provides the iteration values as it works toward a solution. The spreadsheet is very complex involving over 6,000 cells. Not all of them are populated of course. I just don't see a simple script handling the whole thing. Due to proprietary issues, I can't describe it in more detail, but I'm sure that, if Apple doesn't provide the iteration feature, I can't transfer these spreadsheets to Numbers. I will post feedback. if I can find a way to do so. I don't have numbers currently. I abandoned the version I had for lack of use and its age, but I've always hoped that I could take advantage of the artistic layout provided by Apple.

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Answer 3

Jun 6, 2013 4:44 AM in response to JoBo

http://www.apple.com/contact/feedback.html

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