rotate data in a table cell

Hi scballou,

This User Tip shows two methods that use Text Boxes:

Rotate cell contents in Numbers 3: Workaround

1. Manual method

2. Applescript by SGIII

Note that the Text Boxes will not work in formulas. The formulas must refer to the cell beneath a Text Box.

Regards,

Ian.

Ahoy SGIII

I am editing that User Tip (and struggling with the new time-out restriction 😮). Have a look at the latest version and tell me what you think.

As co-author, please feel free to edit, not just comment 🙂.

Regards,

Ian.

Hi Ian,

As co-author, please feel free to edit, not just comment 🙂.

Well, I'll be dadburned if I didn't fail to notice it is possible to co-author user tips!

It's looking good! ... Too bad it isn't just a little easier to find with the new ASC format.😟

SG

Hi Ian -

Do you know if there's a way to anchor the rotated text box to a cell in a header column? Without doing this, the text boxes "slide" off the screen when I scroll through the non-header-columns in the sheet, which basically defeats the purpose of placing the text labels in those cells.

thanks

Rich

When I want text rotated in a cell, this is how I do a workaround:

I type the word I want to rotate in the cell.

Then using the shortcut keys command+shift+4, I get a cross-hair cursor and use it to highlight the word as closely as possible.

When the mouse is released, a "picture" is taken of the work, which is put on the desktop.

Then open the screen shot with Preview and use this program to rotate the image. Then save it.

Then go back to the table where I want the rotated text and drag the image from my desktop to the cell where I want it.

This puts the word in the cell as if it were a picture and therefore, when the table is moved, the rotated word stays with the table.

This works for me, I hope you find it useful.

mswint

Hi Listen Inn,

Thanks for the tip. I had a play and found the Image Fill has a white background. It would be nice if the image matched the cell fill (I prefer Headers to have Colour Window > Crayons > Mercury as the fill to remind me they are headers).

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't think about Freeze Header Columns or Freeze Header Rows sliding the text boxes.

Hi SG,

We need your expertise!

Can we put on our thinking caps and find a way to match the image fill to the cell fill? It would make a nice addition to the User Tip (with acknowledgements to all contributors 🙂).

Regards,

Ian.

Hi Ian,

Can we put on our thinking caps and find a way to match the image fill to the cell fill?

The latest script in your user tip currently places the text box on the header cell and turns the text in the cell to the background color of the cell.

Do you get acceptable results when you take a screenshot of the cell and then paste that in as an image (after moving the text box out of the way)? That screenshot should have the same background color as the cell.

If the results aren't acceptable that way (maybe a little fuzzy?) then removing all background fill in the image should work (I'm not an expert on manipulating images, but understand that is possible).

SG

Hi Yellowbox:

I would suggest setting a cell to the background and font colors and style you want, then type in the word before taking the snapshot.

Hi Listen Inn, Rich and SG,

Listen Inn's method works to retain the background colour.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2xv2qwlag1apm8r/AADgl8vJvVdBDjRuzOT9x49oa?dl=0

Image fill is a bit fuzzy, but we are getting there!

Regards,
Ian.

Ian, to sharpen the image, before you take the "snapshot", enlarge the word(s) several times. Rotate the desktop image then drag it to the cell where you want it. Under the CELL formatting pane, FILL, IMAGE FILL, select SCALE TO FIT. Then set the cell to the size you want it. The image will be sharper if it is smaller than the original.

Hi again, Listen Inn,

Another reply to this topic rotate/ flip text button unavailable! has prompted me to get into action and try your idea about enlarging the Text Boxes before taking screen shots.

I must be doing something wrong. Here is my latest attempt:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2xv2qwlag1apm8r/AADgl8vJvVdBDjRuzOT9x49oa?dl=0

Everything works until the last step (paste the screen shot as an image background in a cell). I did use Scale to Fit

All suggestions welcome.

Regards,

Ian.