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qtrim

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 7, 2011
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I'm a long time user of Excel, trying to use Numbers now. In Excel I can highlight a list of numbers and click the 'autosum' button on the toolbar to have the formula added in the next cell. I can't figure out how to do that in Numbers, either on the Mac or the iPad, or the web version. Any help?
 
I'm a long time user of Excel, trying to use Numbers now. In Excel I can highlight a list of numbers and click the 'autosum' button on the toolbar to have the formula added in the next cell. I can't figure out how to do that in Numbers, either on the Mac or the iPad, or the web version. Any help?

In Numbers it's a 2 step process. Though easier usually than typing in the formula. You can either select the cells you want summed, or merely place the cursor in the cell at the bottom of column or end of a row of numbers if they are standing on their own. Then in the toolbar at the top click the Function Browser icon and then Sum.

It's Done...
 
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snberk103, I don't think that this functionality is there any longer. Especially with the web version, there is no menu at the top.
 
snberk103, I don't think that this functionality is there any longer. Especially with the web version, there is no menu at the top.

In the iCloud version, there's no toolbar button for Functions. You type an '=' into the cell where you want to insert the formula, and that opens a sidebar from which you can select the desired function.

In 3.x for Mac, there is a Function button on the toolbar. If you select a group of cells, click the Function button, and select a Function from the menu (Sum, Average, Minimum, Maximum, Count, Product), it will insert the results in the adjacent empty cell, just like AutoSum.

Alternately, you could select the cell where you desire the results, click the Function button, and select the Function from the drop-down list - Numbers will then make an educated guess as to what range of cells you'd like to have summed/averaged, etc., just like Excel.

My guess is that the developers consider this an enhancement of AutoSum, as more functions are available. However, I, too, would like a one-click solution - why not offer dedicated buttons for Sum, Average, Minimum, etc. that can be optionally added to the toolbar? I've made that, and several similar suggestions/requests to Apple (I'd also like to be able to add additional functions to the Functions drop-down, and be able to assign keyboard shortcuts...). Never hurts to add your suggestions to the pile.
 
Select a group of cells (vertical, horizontal or a rectangular selection) then at the bottom of the window you'll see the following:

Sum Average Min Max CountA

Select any one of those and drag it wherever you like to add that formula applied to the selected column of cells.

If you select a cell you'll see an open circle in the upper left and lower right corners of the cell. Click and drag that to extend the selection, that is, to add more cells to the selection.

If you hover over an edge you see a gold dot appear. Click and drag that to duplicate the cell contents in that direction.

For example. If you select a column of cells and add the Sum function to a cell below that, you can click and drag right on the gold dot to create Sum functions for the columns of cells to the right of the first column.

If the cell contains a number then dragging the gold dot repeats the number.

If the cell contains a date then dragging the gold dot adds dates but increments the dates by one day per cell.
 
I'm a long time user of Excel, trying to use Numbers now. In Excel I can highlight a list of numbers and click the 'autosum' button on the toolbar to have the formula added in the next cell. I can't figure out how to do that in Numbers, either on the Mac or the iPad, or the web version. Any help?

In order to autosum at the bottom of a column without constantly readjusting the range, click on the letter at the top of the column (as in A, B, C, D, etc.) so that the column is outlined. Then, in the "insert" that is located right underneath the NAME of your document (not the one in the menu with the apple at the very top), pull down the menu and click "SUM." The sum will update at the very last cell in that row with each new addition to the column.
 
what i do is highlight or select the cell i need auto-sum, right click those cells
i just type "=" then "enter"
for negative numbers, i add a - to the amount which is usual in red
i hope this helped!
 
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