Apple Numbers '09 - Manual (Page 122)

To learn how to Go to
Use the Formula Editor to work with a formula “Adding and Editing Formulas Using the Formula
Editor” on page 122
Use the resizable formula bar to work with a
formula “Adding and Editing Formulas Using the Formula
Bar” on page 123
Use the Function Browser to quickly add
functions to formulas when using the Formula
Editor or the formula bar “Adding Functions to Formulas” on page 124
Detect an erroneous formula “Handling Errors and Warnings in Formulas” on
page 126
Adding and Editing Formulas Using the Formula Editor
The Formula Editor has a text field that holds your formula. As you add cell references,
operators, functions, or constants to a formula, they look like this in the Formula Editor.
All formulas must begin
with the equal sign.
The Sum function.
References to cells
using their names. A reference to a
range of three cells.
The Subtraction
operator.
Here are ways to work with the Formula Editor:
To open the Formula Editor, do one of the following:
m
Select a table cell and then type the equal sign (=). Â
Double-click a table cell that contains a formula. Â
Select a table cell, click Function in the toolbar, and then choose Formula Editor Â
from the pop-up menu.
Select a table cell and then choose Insert > Function > Formula Editor.
Â
Select a cell that contains a formula, and then press Option-Return. Â
The Formula Editor opens over the selected cell, but you can move it.
To move the Formula Editor, hold the pointer over the left side of the Formula Editor
m
until it changes into a hand, and then drag.
To build your formula, do the following:
m
To add an operator or a constant to the text field, place the insertion point and Â
type. You can use the arrow keys to move the insertion point around in the text
field. See “Using Operators in Formulas” on page 130 to learn about operators you
can use. When your formula requires an operator and you haven’t added one, the
+ operator is inserted automatically. Select the + operator and type a different
operator if needed.
122 Chapter 6 Using Formulas in Tables