Xabiablanca
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Q: Displaying the File Name in a Cell

In version 2 of Numbers you used to be able to display the file name in a cell. If you copied a worksheet and gave it a new file name, that new name would automatically appear in the cell, so at a glance you could see which version of the worksheet you were looking at. As far as I can see that facility has gone in Version 3. Unless I have missed something?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 14, 2013 7:54 AM

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Xabiablanca

Q: Displaying the File Name in a Cell

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  • by Wayne Contello,

    Wayne Contello Wayne Contello Nov 14, 2013 8:16 AM in response to Xabiablanca
    Level 6 (19,416 points)
    iWork
    Nov 14, 2013 8:16 AM in response to Xabiablanca

    This feature was dropped.  Apple did announce it will be adding featurs back in.  You can review the announcment here:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6049

     

    You can also provide your opinion by selecting the menu item "Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback"

  • by Jerrold Green1,

    Jerrold Green1 Jerrold Green1 Nov 14, 2013 8:46 AM in response to Xabiablanca
    Level 7 (30,001 points)
    Nov 14, 2013 8:46 AM in response to Xabiablanca

    You are correct, it's gone. So is Insert Date and Time.

     

    Jerry

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Nov 14, 2013 10:11 AM in response to Xabiablanca
    Level 6 (10,796 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 14, 2013 10:11 AM in response to Xabiablanca

    Hi Xabianblanca,

     

    Not *quite* as convenient but of course there is an easy partial workaround for this.

     

    Step 1. Click the triangle next to the document title:

     

    Screen Shot 2013-11-14 at 1.01.02 PM.png

    Step 2. Command-c. (the document name has already been selected for you).

     

    Step 3. Select the cell where you want to insert the document name and command-v.

     

    As for the Insert Date and Time menu pick there is a workaround that is just as easy to use as the original menu pick, after a quick one-time setup.

     

    See the other workarounds in that thread for some of the other features that weren't included in Numbers 3.0.

     

    SG

  • by Jerrold Green1,

    Jerrold Green1 Jerrold Green1 Nov 14, 2013 10:30 AM in response to SGIII
    Level 7 (30,001 points)
    Nov 14, 2013 10:30 AM in response to SGIII

    SG,

     

    The basic issue would be that the workaround won't update if you move or rename the file.

     

    Jerry

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Nov 14, 2013 11:04 AM in response to Jerrold Green1
    Level 6 (10,796 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 14, 2013 11:04 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

    Hi Jerry,

     

    Agreed. It's an easy "partial workaround." I think there may be full workaround via an Automator Service but haven't had time to think through whether that's possible with just GUI scripting.

     

    Since the current document name is displayed prominently on screen, I would guess this falls into the "nice but not necessary" category for a lot of people.  I can see how it would be useful for printing in some cases, though.

     

    SG

  • by jaxjason,

    jaxjason jaxjason Nov 14, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Xabiablanca
    Level 4 (3,730 points)
    iWork
    Nov 14, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Xabiablanca

    curious how you did this in the old version?

     

    Thanks

    Jason

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Nov 14, 2013 2:13 PM in response to jaxjason
    Level 6 (10,796 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 14, 2013 2:13 PM in response to jaxjason

    Jason,

     

    I checked that out before posting my "partial workaround." In 2.3 you click in a cell and choose Filename from the Insert Menu.

     

    It looks just like text in the cell. But when I tried duplicating the document it would update when I renamed, as Jerry suggested. At least I think it did.  Strangely, I can't get it to update now.

     

    SG

  • by jaxjason,

    jaxjason jaxjason Nov 15, 2013 8:59 AM in response to SGIII
    Level 4 (3,730 points)
    iWork
    Nov 15, 2013 8:59 AM in response to SGIII

    Thanks SG,

    In excel you have to do something like this:

    =MID(CELL("filename"),SEARCH("[",CELL("filename"))+1, SEARCH("]",CELL("filename"))-SEARCH("[",CELL("filename"))-1)

     

    nice to see such a simple process in Numbers (2.3). I am usually on my ipad now so i dont get to the desktop much anymore at home, now i have to go try it.

  • by SGIII,

    SGIII SGIII Nov 15, 2013 9:36 AM in response to jaxjason
    Level 6 (10,796 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 15, 2013 9:36 AM in response to jaxjason

    Hi Jason,

     

    On the iPad this seems a little more complicated. It turns out you can't just tap the document title and copy.

     

    What works here is tap Spreadheets upper left to close the document and go to where your documents are listed, tap the document title there, select it all, copy, tap Done, double-tap the document to open it again, select cell, paste.

     

    Maybe a little easier than that Excel formula of yours.

     

    SG