linking multiple tables in numbers, how can I sort one table and this follow through on subsequent tables in the document?

David,

Sounds as though you've been doing fine up to this point. The problem you are having now is that a reference to a cell will follow that cell if the cell is moved. Normally this is a good thing. If you want to avoid this "feature", a feature of all spreadsheet programs by the way, you need to use one of the alternate addressing schemes.

You could use INDEX, OFFSET, INDIFECT or one one of the three lookup functions, or MATCH, or RANK, to pull the data from a position in the table based on the row and column (or rank) but not by the cell address token such as A1.

If you give us more information about your layout, we may be able to make some specific sugggestions.

Jerry

David,

Not really enough info to know, for instance, why you are making the A$3 reference absolute in the row part. Here's an addressing form that will get you that address every time, regardless how you may have sorted after writing the reference::

=INDIRECT("SUMMARY::Table 1 :: A3")

This works because the argument is a string that won't be changed by sorting or dragging the target.

Jerry

David,

Every cell in the row needs its own bulletproof reference to the source. There are ways to simplify writing these references, usually involving the ROW and COUMN functions.

You can post a screen shot with a brief description of your needs. Difficult to help you otherwise.

Jerry

Hi Dave,

A couple of thoughts.

1. Summary Table appears to have 2 Header Rows, the following Table appears to have 1 Header Row. If you can, make the Tables all have the same layout. Then the Row numbers will match.

2. Cells are merged in the Header Row of the second Table. Generally, it is best to avoid merging cells. A bit more work typing the column labels, but again it keeps all Tables with the same layout.

3. (third thought of this couple) when you sort a Table, Numbers keeps each Row intact. It is a bit like a database.

Regards,

Ian.

davidmilce wrote:

...

I want all of the tick boxes in each row to move with the pupil name when they are reorganised (ie the unique data in each row stays with the pupi no matter where they go when sorted.

Thanks again

Dave

Dave,

I might use Match, Offset and Column in my expressions. There are many approaches to this

Match will tell you which row your person's data is in, and OFFSET will then take you to the row indicated by Match and the column indicated by COLUMN().

Let's say you want to access the data for Pupil A. Further assume that the string "Pupil A" is the content of Column A, essentially the title of the record.

MATCH(A, AF1 :: Table 1 :: A) will return the number of the Row in the source table where Pupil A is found.

INDEX(Main, MATCH($A, Main :: $A), COLUMN()) will get the content, in your case the checkbox status.

You are done if you are happy with displaying "TRUE" or "FALSE"

But if you want, you can substitute graphics, like this:

=IF(INDEX(Main, MATCH($A, Main :: $A), COLUMN()), "☑", "☐")

Regards,

Jerry