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What has been lost in Numbers 3.0 upgrade?

Has anyone got a list of features that has been lost in the new version of Numbers?


I am aware (and disappointed) that the useful Categories feature has gone (I have requested this feature back on relevant Apple page). I think I also saw that Print view had disappeared.


What else has gone? I make extensive use of filtering and sorting - if those features have been watered down then I think I may not bother updataing.


Thanks in advance,


Simon.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 7:36 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 7:43 AM

SJ,


Here's my list as of 10:30 EDT:


Function or feature or issue


Reorganize Panel gone


Categories View gone


References now don’t follow sorted rows as they did before. (Now like Excel)


Table Fills not supported


German user can’t use decimal point from numeric keypad.


Split Cells is gone


Sheet View seems to be the only view available during editing. Page view only available in the Print dialog.


Page Headers and Footers are gone


Edit Toolbar (add, delete, rearrange tool icons) is gone.


That's it from here at this time, but I think I have just scratched the surface. Would love to hear from others who are keeping a list.


Jerry

291 replies

Dec 5, 2013 3:59 PM in response to pdhussey

pdhussey,


You can File/Export (in Numbers 3.0) a converted spreadsheet back to Numbers 2.3 format if you want, or continue to use Numbers 2.3 exclusively as Apple kept the program in the Applications directory in a sub-directory. So you have two versions of Numbers available to you.


Personally I am continuing to use Numbers 2.3 as it has required functionality (Apple Scripts) I need for my daily work. However I can use Numbers 3 for learning the new version and will wait till it catches up with 2.3 with my needed functionality.


I think that Apple's primary goof was not telling Numbers users that there was this functionality break between 2.3 and 3.0 versions; everyone could have planned accordingly and lots of irritation been avoided.

Dec 5, 2013 6:12 PM in response to Bondi Locals @ Bondi 88FM

Hi Bondi Locals,


How do you define "pro users"? It's a great sounding term... Presumably it includes you and excludes anybody like me who finds productivity gains in the cross-platform nature and other features of the new Numbers?


I would define real pro users as those who evaluate the tools and know how to pick the best ones for them to do the job, rather than make general derogatory statements that don't help anyone reading these discussions in the Support Communities.


I agree with Larry that Apple could have, and should have, done more to educate users on the transition and remind everyone that, unlike after an update in iOS, the old version remains available and works just as well as ever.


Despite how many times you repeat the claim, though, no one has been left "in the lurch." Numbers 2.3 works just as well as it always has. And there are encouraging signs that Numbers is once again under active development.


SG

Dec 5, 2013 10:02 PM in response to pdhussey

My experience is similar. Opened regularly used documents with headers that didn't show up in numbers 3. Even after I opened in numbers 3, opening in 2.3 showed the document with headers. I didn't modify while in 3, so hope the same works for you. I did trash 3, and I'm back to where is was using 2.3 for my business. It's too bad Apple didn't explain that it was castrating numbers before they put it out, but at least the functionality is still there in the old version. I hate the complication of excel, but if we need a spreadsheet instead of an iPhone app we may be forced to go there.

Dec 13, 2013 7:52 PM in response to G-Music

I agree with this, you cannot even just change the colour of text and cell without going into several crappy charts, compared to the one click colour boxes in top menu before. And they have taken away the most basic and USEFULL of 8x8 cololur chart I use every day to update my working tables. Does anyone at Apple acutally use their stuff??

We do, apple paying customers, worst thing i idid was put new numbers onto my NEW mac mini, need to install '09 somehow.

The numbers iPad app is usefull as only read only to me, way to simple, they were better than this in the 90's!!!

Pisssed off customer.

What happened to copying patterns by making 2 cells highlighting cells and dragging '+' box in bottom corner to copy into new cells???

Dec 13, 2013 8:00 PM in response to sjlawton

What happened to copying patterns by making 2 cells highlighting cells and dragging '+' box in bottom corner to copy into new cells???

I only just learnt this new trick a few weeks before I upgraded, now I cant do it.

I use it for adding a series of dates, copying data across cells, eg, costs in a budget.

When is it coming back with rest of 'Losses'???

When will Apple tell us the users.

the 'clutter' they talk about made it usable. I do not have big screen to have empty space, I can use a 10" screen for that.

extra space means the more information I can see in my large tables. LET ME USE IT PLEASE APPLE.!@!!!

Dec 13, 2013 8:05 PM in response to outdoordreamer

Do you mean the old colour window? View > Show Colors (shift Command c)


User uploaded file


Choose a Palette, then drag a colour to a cell. Fill Down or Right as needed.


Regards,

Ian.


P.S. Numbers '09 (unless you deleted it) is in a folder called iWork '09 inside your Applications folder. 😉. Ian.


P.P.S Your second post by email, make extra space by hiding the Format Panel (click on the paintbrush).

Dec 13, 2013 8:38 PM in response to Yellowbox

Yes I do mean the old colour window, with the different shades of each colour in the handy square box. the chart you show above was in old one a step down. These do not have shades, only straight colours, or I have to make my own pallets viewable in scroll vertical menu like you show above.

Is there any way I can copy the square pallet from '09 into 3.0? I use a lot of these colours all the time. in my budget charts to highlight information and importance.

thanks for your help.

I am looking for a good apple computer man to help me with stuff, I am in melbourne,

i bought a new mac mini, so no '09 on it, I tried copying it from my macbook pro, but no joy, does not open, any tips.

Would be very handy to have 09 and 3.0 on my mini.

as I want to stay current with programs now and not just rely on old one, so I can help my friends and colleagues on using 3.0. I need to know what we can and cannot do with it, so I can say the right thing.

Cheers. Jason B.


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What has been lost in Numbers 3.0 upgrade?

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