how to split a cell

From Numbers Help (emphasis added)

:

Merging table cells combines adjacent cells into a single cell. Unmerging cells that were previously merged retains all the data in the new top-left cell.

Here are some restrictions:

You can’t merge nonadjacent cells or cells from different areas of the table, for example, cells from the body and the header.

You can’t merge columns or rows.

You can’t split a cell. If a cell has never been merged with another cell, it can’t be unmerged.

To merge cells, select two adjacent cells. Go (menu) Table > Merge cells.

To unmerge cells, select a merged cell. Go (menu) Table > Unmerge cells.

Regards,

Barry

you cannot split cells beyond the basic rows and columns in the table. to get the same effect, select a pair of cells and merge them:

select cells B1 and C1, then merge

select row 1, copy

now select the remaining rows (rows 3 thru the last row), paste

Yes I read the text in your screenshot . That appears to be for an ancient version of Numbers, nearly a decade old now, “orphanware”. For several years now the text in your snapshot has not applied to current versions of Numbers. Given the ease in achieving the same visual effect in other ways I’m personally happy the option is not included, cluttering the interface and causing mysterious problems for the unwary who are using Numbers for its primary purpose: crunching numbers.

For editing and displaying a lot of text I would lean toward using Pages and other apps designed for that purpose anyway, instead of Numbers.

But if you feel strongly about the old “split” feature described in your screenshot then you can may find it convenient to make your case to Apple via Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback in your menu.

SG

"My original software was numbers 09."

When you upgraded (or downgraded, depending who you talked to) from Numbers 2 (Numbers '09), the iWork '09 applications (Numbers '09, Pages '09 and Keynote '09) were not removed from your computer. Unless you have deliberately deleted them, you'll find them in a folder named iWork 09, inside your Applications folder.

You can still split cells in a Numbers '09 document. I doubt (but haven't tested) that the split will be retained if the document is saved, then opened in Numbers 3.

Regards,

Barry

I have used Numbers since the very beginning. I have never split cells beyond the native cells. I have split cells that were merged but not once all unmarking back to the native rows and columns.

Not nearly as time-consuming as trying to figure out the reason for some mysterious behavior.🙂

Inserting columns before and after, and unchecking the Wrap Text in Cell checkbox in the Text tab at the right are convenient and quick to do.

SG

Best not to split or merge cells. That can cause strange results from some formulas. You can almost always easily achieve the same visual effect in other ways.

SG

You might consider adding one or more text boxes to your sheet(s) for even more text flexibility.

Paul.

Hi Puppy,

(Which is the typo—user name or signature?)

Note the icon on the Numbers Help article:

The icon (a 3d bar graph with three vertical bars) and the Help article are for Numbers '09 (Numbers version 2), in which the option of splitting cells is a supported feature.

That feature was not included in the 'new and improved' Numbers 3, a completely rewritten application sharing a name with an earlier, different application.

General recommendations for all versions have been to avoid using split or merged cells in Numbers.

Regards,

Barry