Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!

Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem Apps
Earlier today, I got caught up in an email exchange with Christian Kirsch, the author of this German blog post about using absolute references in the new Numbers '08. The blog post shows that attempting to refer to full range in absolute terms (=SUM($A$1:$A$10), for instance) fails in Numbers. When the blog author tried to enter the formula, Numbers converted it to =SUM('$A$1:$A$'10'), and that formula definitely doesn't work.

When I tried it on my system, however, it worked exactly as expected. After some back and forth emails with Christian, we figured out a solution: using the International System Preferences panel, set the number format to US instead of German. As soon as Christian made this change, Numbers worked as expected. We're not certain if this issue affects more than just Germany, but if you're having trouble with absolute ranges in Numbers, it might be worth checking your number format.

I hope this will be addressed in an upcoming update from Apple.
    •    
  • Currently 1.00 / 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  (1 vote cast)
 
[7,504 views]  

Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem | 5 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem
Authored by: juanfal on Aug 13, '07 05:53:07AM

It does happen also in the Spanish version. The problem arise bad-formatting the content of the absolute range and adding an spurious :A4 or so at the end of the range. Of course it doesn't work.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem
Authored by: patpro on Aug 13, '07 11:38:36PM

lets face it, Numbers has been coded for US users by US programmers. They have no concern whatsoever for people around the world. I'm french, and the french numerical format uses a comma to separate decimals (ie. we write 1,5 when US people write 1.5). Now take a look at a function in Numbers: the argument separator is a comma. Thus, it's absolutely impossible to use a function in Numbers! They always return an error. I've bought iWork'08, and I feel like I've been robbed.

At least, Excel uses ";" as argument separator in functions, and thats perfectly usable in any numerical format I know.

---
http://www.patpro.net/



[ Reply to This | # ]
Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem
Authored by: juanfal on Aug 14, '07 04:37:22AM

No. I thing your are wrong, if you import any Excel.xls with complex multiargument functions in Numbers you will see the ';' as arg sep. The problem with Absolute references seems to be in the system Preference panel format for numbers, and it seems to be a bug. I hope soon a 1.0.1 version of Numbers!

You must think that Numbers has appeared in between an high level of spreadsheet evolution an complexity and is natural it had bugs. In my opinion it has very few bugs for to be a very first version.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem
Authored by: patpro on Aug 14, '07 06:43:45AM

Well, I don't think I'm wrong ;)
I don't use Numbers to enjoy importing Excel files. I don't have Excel files. I just want to use Numbers.

Check by yourself:
- Quit Numbers
- Change your 'international preference panel' from whatever you use to French
- Launch Numbers, open a blank document. Type 1,5 in B2, type = in C2, then bring the function list and choose ROUND for example. It displays "=ROUND(number, digits)". Remplace "number" with B2 and "digits" by 1. Enjoy the "wrong number of arguments" error.

---
http://www.patpro.net/



[ Reply to This | # ]
Fix a Numbers '08 absolute reference problem
Authored by: wastemytime on Aug 14, '07 09:46:16PM

Did you remember to also set your Region (in the Formats pane of the International section of System Prefs) to the one appropriate for your current location?



[ Reply to This | # ]