iMac Hang with Numbers

Numbers seems to be designed for smaller datasets. several thousand rows and Numbers will slow down.

I recommend trying the following to locate the problem:

1) save and close all files you have open in Numbers.

2) create a new document and see if it is as slow as you are presently experiencing

3) if it is, then restart your computer and repeat test (2)

4) open one of the documents where you experience the long wait times, add /or change data to see if the problem is there

5) if not, then open a second one (assuming you had more than one open when you made this report)

6) if you open a document where Numbers slows down, then note the name of the doc.

7) close all documents, then quit Numbers

8) open the problem document from step (6). Note whether it is slow now. IF it is, then export the file as iWork '09 (maybe to the desktop), then close the file. Now open the exported file (the one you exported to the desktop)

report back on anything you find

"Is numbers just a "pseudoexcel" copy for very small jobs? I have never experienced this problem with excel."

"… might switch to windows and leave apple altogether if this isn't fixed."

Numbers is not, and has never pretended to be a copy of MS Excel, 'pseudo' or otherwise. It is a spreadsheet application, and as you've observed, is better for handling small data sets than it is for large ones. That's been true since version 1 (Numbers '08).

As SG has mentioned, Excel for Mac is available as part of MS Office Mac, and the current version of Excel works well in the current version of macOS. If you are exchanging documents with Excel users, or if you are working with large datasets, then it makes sense to use Excel, if only to avoid the translation of documents from .xlsx to .numbers (with a loss of or change to any Excel functions/features not supported by Numbers) to work on the document, then a second translation from .numbers format to .xlsx (with a loss of or change to any Numbers functions/features not supported in Excel).

"…if this isn't fixed."

Wrong audience for that request. This is a user-to-user support community. Apple supplies the space, but nether Apple nor its employees/representatives regularly read or participate in these communities. Fellow users can help with using the software as it currently exists, but they can't change software. Requests for a change in the software, whether to enhance features or to fix the bugs, need to be directed directly to Apple via the Feedback channel. In most current Apple Applications (including Numbers), you'll find a "Provide xxx Feedback" item in the Application menu (the one immediately to the right of the Apple menu, identified with the name of the active application).

Click that item, then make your request.

Brian wrote:

"…Must be fixed."

"…The app has an issue"

Hi Brian,

See the last two paragraphs above.

Regards,

Barry

Completely understand what you are saying. My document was created in numbers 5.0 and 5.1. Worked very well. I updated to the latest version of numbers and my once 14.4mb file ballooned to 24.4mb with zero changes to the file other than opening it. Now the file (that once worked and functioned very well and responsively is now extremely sluggish and crashes numbers constantly. The app has an issue

brianfromabington wrote:

My document was created in numbers 5.0 and 5.1. Worked very well. I updated to the latest version of numbers and my once 14.4mb file ballooned to 24.4mb with zero changes to the file other than opening it.

Maybe you're not saving it in same file type as before? File > Advanced > Change File Type.

Also maybe you're not running the latest OS?

Or maybe problem with preference files, that you could try trashing and letting Numbers rebuild. You could test this by signing in as a different user and seeing if there is still a problem.

I've had no problems running Numbers 5.2 under MacOS 10.14.

SG

I have had the exact same problem. File would work perfectly fine prior to the 5.2 update. Now nearly unusable. Heavy CPU and Energy usage just trying to open and save documents. Documents taking over a minute to open. Must be fixed.

Excel is designed to handle large datasets. Excel runs well on the Mac. So you can just use the best tool for your purposes. You don't have to "leave Apple altogether."

Note that sluggish behavior might also result from use of so-called "volatile" formulas that refresh every time you make a change to your document. Among others, these include OFFSET(), INDIRECT(), NOW(), RAND(), and TODAY(). Use of a lot of Conditional Highlighting can also contribute to sluggish behavior.

SG