Stop formula suggestions

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Level 1

4 points

Stop formula suggestions

Hi

This is probably very basic and easily fixable, but it is driving me mad.

I am double-clicking into cells to edit and then copy their content, but after a short while numbers is now suggesting formulas with a little window that pops up and each subsequent double-click in the cell just adds that cell reference number to the formula prompt, rather than letting me edit and copy the text in the cell. I don't know what the feature is called.

How can I turn this off?

Thanks

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 12.4

Posted on Jul 14, 2022 06:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SGIII

Level 8

37,202 points

Jul 14, 2022 08:54 AM in response to ringeflange

It looks as if columns L and M are formatted as Currency and that you already have a formula in column N that sums columns G through M.

That is expected behavior. When you double-click a cell that already contains a formula then the formula editor pops up to let you edit it.

If you want to copy the range of cells, just select them (without double-clicking), then command-c, click where you want to paste them and command-v to paste. (Or, if you don't want the formula to paste, Edit > Paste Formula Results).

SG

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Answer 2

SGIII

Level 8

37,202 points

Jul 14, 2022 07:57 AM in response to ringeflange

The formula editor is activated when you click a cell and type = . Perhaps you did that by mistake?

If you are working with just text in a cell you can disable that behavior by selecting the cell or range and setting the Data Format to Text instead of Automatic.

SG

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Answer 3

SGIII

Level 8

37,202 points

Jul 14, 2022 09:14 AM in response to ringeflange

ringeflange wrote:

I can't see what the content of a cell is (actual value vs. result of a formula) like you can in Excel with that bar at the top of the worksheet.

In this case don't look up at the top. Look lower left:

MacMost has good videos. Many others on YouTube are for a very old version of Numbers. Also look in your menu at Help > Numbers Help and the templates at File > New.

SG

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Answer 4

ringeflange Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2022 08:43 AM in response to SGIII

Hi

I'm not pressing equals, i'm only clicking with the trackpad.

The Data Format is currently set to Currency - but I have tried to change to Text and it still doesn't work.

I have screen recorded the issue and uploaded to Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF-woxc_lpM

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Answer 5

ringeflange Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2022 09:06 AM in response to SGIII

Thanks, clearly I have some training to do on this program.

I can't see what the content of a cell is (actual value vs. result of a formula) like you can in Excel with that bar at the top of the worksheet. I will spend some time on Youtube to familiarise myself a bit more.

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