Auto-numbering in Tables - any new suggestions?

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Level 1

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Auto-numbering in Tables - any new suggestions?

I have a table in Pages and I need each row to have a stand-alone number in the first column — simple numbering 1, 2, 3.

If I use the numbered list feature, all the rows are #1.

I have read as many other threads about numbering tables as I could find and tried the =ROW() formula, but it numbers the header row so my first row of data is 1.2. Also it doesn’t auto-number new rows -- you have to paste in the formula in every new row, and that still doesn't solve the issue of numbering the header row.

I tried the auto-fill drag feature (selecting the cells and dragging the corner), but once the cells are numbered, they do not update when the row order changes, and new rows have no numbering. The table is very long and having to update the numbering using the drag feature has become frustrating and cumbersome.

I need my first row of data to be 1 and my second row to be 2 and so on — sounds simple right?

Any suggestions other than the ones above?

Thanks in advance,

Katz

p.s., Numbers has the exact same issues and also doesn’t auto number when rows are moved or added, so it doesn't help to work in Numbers and copy ithe spreadsheet over as a table.

Posted on Jun 15, 2013 12:50 PM

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Answer 1

Jeff Shenk

Level 4

3,005 points

Jun 17, 2013 10:48 AM in response to katzanddog

In Numbers, or Pages:

If your first row of data is row 2 and you want it to be numbered "1" then you use the formula "=ROW() - 1" (without the quotes) in the first column and fill it down in all the cells of the column.

If all the rows in the table except header and footer rows have that formula in them, Numbers will include the formula when you add new rows. If you rearrange the rows by cutting and pasting, or by dragging a row to somewhere else, of course, it takes the formula with it leaving a blank cell behind. (So don't do that; just move the part of the row from column "B" on.).

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Answer 2

katzanddog Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 17, 2013 9:04 PM in response to Jeff Shenk

Thanks, that works -- more or less. If I add a new row in the middle of the table, it doesn't put a number in the new row, but it does renumber the other rows. So all I need to do is add the formula to the new row. This has really helped. Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Jun 26, 2016 6:31 AM in response to katzanddog

"If you rearrange the rows by cutting and pasting, or by dragging a row to somewhere else, of course, it takes the formula with it leaving a blank cell behind."

"If I add a new row in the middle of the table, it doesn't put a number in the new row, but it does renumber the other rows."

I think this must have been fixed in an update. When I move rows around, everything automatically re-numbers. If I add a row in the middle of the table, all the numbers automatically update. 😀

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