Handling errors and warnings – Apple Numbers '08 User Manual
Page 93
Chapter 5
Using Formulas and Functions in Tables
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If the table is large and you want to move the formula to a cell that’s out of view, select
the cell, choose Edit > Mark for Move, select the other cell, and then choose Edit >
Move. For example, if the formula =A1 is in cell D1 and you want to move the same
formula to cell X1, select D1, choose Edit > Mark for Move, select X1, and then choose
Edit > Move. The formula =A1 appears in cell X1.
m
To move a cell that a formula refers to, move the cell by dragging it or use Edit > Mark
for Move followed by Edit > Move.
For example, if the formula =A1 appears in cell D1 and you want to move cell A1 to cell
D95, select A1, choose Edit > Mark for Move, select D95, and then choose Edit > Move.
The formula in D1 becomes =D95.
m
To paste a copy of a formula in a different cell and use the same cell references in both
formulas, place a dollar sign ($) in front of column and row identifiers (=$A$1). This
technique creates what’s called an absolute cell reference.
For example, if the formula =A1 appears in cell D1 and you want to paste a copy of the
formula in cell E1, change the formula to =$A$1, select D1, copy it, and paste the copy
into E1. The formula $A$1 is copied into cell E1. If you didn’t change the formula to use
an absolute cell reference the formula in E1 would be =B1.
Applying a Formula Once to Cells in a Column or Row
When a table has header cells, you can use them to quickly apply a formula to all the
cells in a row or column. The values in the cells are recomputed using the formula. This
formula is called a header formula.
To apply a header formula to cells in a column or row:
1
Select the header cell for the column or row.
2
Open the Formula Editor. For example, type the equal sign (=).
3
Type the formula you want to apply to each cell in the column or row.
For example, to assign values to the cells of column C that are five times greater than
the corresponding cell in column B, you’d use the formula B*5 or B:B*5.
The formula is duplicated in all the cells in the column or row. In this example, cell C4
would contain the value computed by using the formula B4*5.
4
Click the Accept button or press Return or Enter to save the formula.
Handling Errors and Warnings
When a formula in a table cell is incomplete, contains invalid cell references, or is
otherwise incorrect, or when an import operation creates an error condition in a cell,
Numbers displays an icon in the cell. A blue triangle in the upper left of a cell indicates
one or more warnings. A red triangle in the middle of a cell means that a formula error
occurred.