filling in dates in Numbers

To know the pattern you must give two entries.

So, for instance:

A4=1/1/2013

A5=1/8/2013

select A1 and A2, now fill down to get a 7 day pattern... like this:

Wayne, this doesn't work in v 3.0.1.

I have simple numbers: 1, 2, 3, etc. entered into cells down a column. I used to be able to fill all the way down numerically after selecting those three cells and dragging down from the lower-right corner. Now that corner seems to be a simple cell selection drag handle and, as you've pointed out above, the center handle "should" perform functions. Though I get non-sensical figures.

The only thing different I can see is that I'm on a spreadsheet where much of it is "hidden." This wasn't an issue for Numbers '09. Yet, even taking that into consideration for Numbers 3.0.1, I will see numbers and blank fields appear that make no sense.

Thoughts? Thank you!

Here are Before and After pictures, when trying to simply select 5 cells and dragging down:

DS,

Take a closer look at Wayne's graphic.

Jerry

Looking at your row numbers and all the hidden rows, it is hard to tell what you have selected for the fill operation. Maybe Numbers '09 and Numbers 3 treat hidden rows differently when selecting ranges and filling. Try it wihout all the hidden rows.

I can verify that Number '09 and 3 act differently in how they select and/or fill across hidden rows. Column B was done in '09. I selected 1-5 and dragged down. Column C was done in Numbers 3, also selecting the 1-5 and dragging down. In Numbers 3, the selection of 1-5 was actually selecting "1, three blank rows, 2, five blank rows, 3, 4, two blank rows , 5". If I unhide the hidden rows, that is exactly what it filled into the lower rows.

If you want some real strangeness, Column E is what Excel does.

I meant to mention, if it was not obvious, that the selection made in Numbers 3 is not a series, it is a pattern. The pattern is what filled down.

But when rows are not hidden, it seems both Numbers 3.0 and Excel give the same, expected results.

It's only when rows are hidden, the way D. Scott has them, that I get strange results.

Otherwise I get a pattern, as Wayne suggests.

SG

When rows are not hidden, Number '09, Numbers 3, and Excel all give the same results. With hidden rows, they all give different results. Excel appears to have created a trendline.

Thank you, Badunit. At least I'm not imagining things.

I didn't have any trouble with this in Numbers '09 when working on docs with hidden rows.

All I'm trying to do is have a sub-count so I know how many rows I have in this version of the spreadsheet. I add a few rows every couple days - not at the bottom - inserted throughout. And, typically, the default row numbers are off by 1 (or however many header rows there are) since they count the header row.

I can't believe I'm going to have to hand write every single cell number. It really seems like someone would've come up with an easy numbering scheme. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has come up with this issue.

I have noticed some results of different tests.

If you put a number in a cell then fill down with that single cell, it only fills into the visible rows.

If you put a letter into a cell and fill down, it fills down a series into the visible rows only. Same thing with dates.

If you have a column of data with some rows hidden and you select the column and Delete, it only deletes the visible data.

If you have a column full of data, select it (click on the colun letter), then look at the automatically generated COUNTA at the bottom of the window, it only counts the visible rows. Same thing for the other functions. This might be the answer to your problem, just ensure all visible rows have data in that column. You can drag the result up to your table if you need it to be part of your table.

That'd be a great idea. Unfornately, the header and footer rows are included. But I can select the first "valid" cell and then drag all the way down to the last one and get an accurate count. That would be messy the longer the sheet gets. Or I could just add another column with, say, an asterisk, and ensure there's no header or footer cell with data in that column. Then your trick would work.

That really needs to be fixed, though. It's the most basic way to fill cells.

Thank you for your efforts!

Tried but didn't work for me. I typed numbers 1-5 downward in the first 5 rows. I selected those 5 and copied and pasted in place. Upon pasting, the selection of the 5 cells remains, yet the handle disappears. So I selected those five cells again and dragged. Same results as before.

What am I missing?

(remember that I have hidden rows, as detailed above)

Message was edited by: D. Scott (last line about hidden rows added for clarity)

Sorry - still not working. I created a new column to the left of the original. I then retyped and copied from the original and pasted into the new. Same results, as shown after dragging.