Using the Keyboard and Mouse to Create and Edit Formulas
You can type cell references into a formula, or you can insert cell references using
mouse or keyboard shortcuts.
Here are ways to insert cell references:
To use a keyboard shortcut to enter a cell reference, place the insertion point in the
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Formula Editor or formula bar and do one of the following:
To refer to a single cell, press Option and then use the arrow keys to select the cell.
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To refer to a range of cells, press and hold Shift-Option after selecting the first cell in
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the range until the last cell in the range is selected.
To refer to cells in another table on the same or a different sheet, select the table
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by pressing Option-Command–Page Down to move downward through tables or
Option-Command–Page Up to move upward through tables. Then use one of the
two techniques above to select one or more cells in the table.
To specify absolute and relative attributes of a cell reference after inserting one,
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click the inserted reference and press Command-K to cycle through the options.
See “Distinguishing Absolute and Relative Cell References” on page 129 for more
information.
To use the mouse to enter a cell reference, place the insertion point in the Formula
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Editor or formula bar and do one of the following in the same table as the formula cell
or in a different table on the same or a different sheet:
To refer to a single cell, click the cell.
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To refer to all the cells in a column or a row, click the reference tab for the column
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or row.
To refer to a range of cells, click a cell in the range and drag up, down, left, or right
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to select or resize the cell range.
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Chapter 6
Using Formulas in Tables
Chapter 6
Using Formulas in Tables
129
To specify absolute and relative attributes of a cell reference after inserting one,
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click the inserted reference, click its disclosure triangle, and choose an option from
the pop-up menu. See “Distinguishing Absolute and Relative Cell References” on
page 129 for more information.
The cell reference inserted uses names instead of reference tab notations if “Use header
cell names as references” is selected in the General pane of Numbers preferences.
To type a cell reference, place the insertion point in the Formula Editor or formula bar,
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and enter the cell reference using one of the formats listed in “Referring to Cells in
Formulas” on page 126.
When you type a cell reference that includes the name of a header cell, table, or sheet,
after typing three characters a list of suggestions pops up if the characters you typed
match one or more names in your spreadsheet. You can select from the list or continue
typing. To disable name suggestions, choose Numbers > Preferences and deselect “Use
header cell names as references” in the General pane.