I can't figure out if it's possible to clear all check marks from one column. I don't want to remove the check boxes but just un-check all boxes. Can anyone help? I'm using Numbers 3.2.
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
Ike,
Copy an Unchecked box, Select the entire column and Paste.
The entire column's body cells (everything but the Header and Footer rows) can be Selected by Double-Clicking the Column letter Tab at the top of the columm.
Jerry
Services are useful! Here are the steps again.
In Automator choose Service as your document type and save it with the name you want (something like 'Uncheck Checkboxes').
Drag a 'Run AppleScript' action into the right pane:
Copy and paste the script into the action, replacing all the default text there, so after hitting the "hammer" compile button it looks like this:
Change 'Service receives' to 'no input' and 'in' to 'Numbers.app' (you have to choose 'Other...' and navigate to the app in the main Applications folder, not the iWork '09 subfolder) so you get something that looks like this:
Save and close. In Automator File > Open Recent and choose the service you just saved. You should see this:
Click 'Install' and if necessary 'Open Anyway' in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, giving you this:
The service should now appear in your Numbers > Services menu. Done.
Then, if you do this so often it would be useful to assign a keyboard shortcut, go here in System Preferences > Keyboard:
Click 'add shortcut' and type the shortcut you want (that does not conflict with existing shortcuts).
These steps are easier than this description makes them appear. If you have trouble, post and I'll set up the service so you can just download the .workflow package and double-click to install.
SG
SGIII,
I learned to use Automator, through your excellent postings, for loading up data on a Numbers spreadsheet. Just recently I added other quote properties, and am getting two different ready to paste boxes. They both work fine, so more curious than concerned.
Any thoughts on why this is happening.
TCat14
Thank you Jerry. The doube-click tip is most useful here, I think I would have been doing it the hard way. It seems I'm most uninventive in spreadsheet matters. Maybe this thread will save some others alike from asking, I hope.
And if you are doing this often, instead of copying and pasting, you can just click once on the Column letter tab and then click once to run the script below. (Copy into AppleScript Editor and click the green 'run' button. Or, even more convenient, put it in an Automator Service and assign a keyboard shortcut.)
SG
--clears check marks in cells formatted as Checkbox
tell application "Numbers"
set t to front document's active sheet's first table whose selection range's class is range
tell t's selection range to repeat with aCell in cells
if aCell's format is checkbox then set aCell's value to false
end repeat
end tell
--end script
Thanks, this script does the trick. I just don't succeed in making it into a working service.
I created a service in Automator that runs the script. In "Service receives selected" I selected "text" and checked "Output replaces selected text". (Firstly I feel suspicious about this because the checkboxes aren't text, are they? I don't see any better choice however.) The service appears on the services list.
But in Numbers I'm not able to use any services. In the context menu, there is no Services for the cells or columns, and the Numbers main menu Services list is empty.
I don't know if the trouble is with the service itself or with Numbers, or both. I'm a rookie in Automator use although a keen service user and I've managed to create one previously all by myself...
Thank you for the steps! I followed as far as I could. The problem is, I don't get the Service Installer dialogue after opening the service from recents. It just opens in Automator and I'm not offered installing. Still, the service is in services and basically available, just not in Numbers. I wonder why I don't the get install option?
If all else fails try downloading this workflow package. and doubleclicking it, then if necessary clicking 'Open anyway' in System Preferences > Security & Privacy. (You may want move the service you already have out of Library > Services before you do that).
SG
Ah, now it does appear in Numbers! So the installation part was not necessary. Great. Thank you very much for the instructions. Now I can actually use several services in Numbers which wasn't the case earlier.
Hi SGIII,
All was successful in getting the script into Nmber Services through Automator, thanks.
However, when I went to hammer or run the script in the editor, I got an error
"Numbers got an error: Can’t get selection range. Invalid index." number -1719 from selection range (All I did was copy and paste originally)
Not sure what this means, and I'm sure you can tell by now, I'm the novice of novices, but I will hang in.
Hi TCat14,
This seems to be related to a script/Automator Service in another thread. Perhaps you could post there with specifics, or start a new thread with specifics. It looks as if you are displaying both a Dialog Box and a Notification. You probably only want one.
SG
Does it show up in Numbers > Services after you quit Numbers and relaunch it?
SG
Glad to hear you got not just this one working, but others too! Thanks for the gold stars.
SG
Hi tabbycat14,
I think your post is more related to the other thread. Can you post there, specifying which of the several scripts you are using?
SG
How to clear check marks all at once?
