Creating useful spreadsheets is usually a matter of combining several techniques. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a table to hold a small database of information. Then, you'll create a second table to count the number of records that have certain criteria. Finally, you'll use the second table to create a pie chart. Each element updates automatically as new records are added or changed.
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Comments: 6 Responses to “MacMost Now 887: Counting Rows and Pie Charts”
Joel Anderson
11 years ago
Useful. One thing I would've done differently is, in the formula that uses COUNTIF, have a reference to the adjoining cell that contains the description, rather than the hard-coded description itself.
Daniel M. Clark
11 years ago
This is driving me bananas... if I add a new row to a table, the chart doesn't update with the data that I enter into that new row. When I created the chart, I told it to show "Column A" (Y) and "Column B" (X), and it was as a 60-row table. If I add a 61st row, the chart still only displays up to row 60. Do I have to manually reset the chart's attributes or something?
Not sure what you mean. If you add a 61st row, aren't you looking at that row when you add it?
Daniel M. Clark
11 years ago
Here's a simplified example. Say I have 60 rows, and the cells in the data column alternate 1 and 0. Row one is a "1" and row two is a "0" and row three is a "1", etc. I create a simple vertical bar chart. The bars alternate tall/short/tall/short/etc. That's good for 60 rows. Row 60 is a "0". The chart shows it with a 'short' bar. If I go to the table and add a Row 61 and put a number "1" in the proper column, the chart does not update with a 'tall' bar. (Thanks for the quick reply! Wow!)
I see what you mean. The chart is for rows 1 to 60. Adding a row 61 doesn't automatically add it to the chart. If you select the chart, you will see the area it covers shown in the table. You'll see that it only covers 1 to 60 and not 61. But there is a handle on that selection and you can drag it to cover row 61 too. Then the chart updates.
Daniel M. Clark
11 years ago
Ahhhhh gotcha. Okay, I can see that, that works. Add a row, select chart, drag handle... kind of a bummer that I'll have to manually update that chart every day in that fashion, but it's not a very complicated table/chart, so it's not the end of the world.
Want to know more about how to use Numbers on your Mac?
Useful. One thing I would've done differently is, in the formula that uses COUNTIF, have a reference to the adjoining cell that contains the description, rather than the hard-coded description itself.
This is driving me bananas... if I add a new row to a table, the chart doesn't update with the data that I enter into that new row. When I created the chart, I told it to show "Column A" (Y) and "Column B" (X), and it was as a 60-row table. If I add a 61st row, the chart still only displays up to row 60. Do I have to manually reset the chart's attributes or something?
Not sure what you mean. If you add a 61st row, aren't you looking at that row when you add it?
Here's a simplified example. Say I have 60 rows, and the cells in the data column alternate 1 and 0. Row one is a "1" and row two is a "0" and row three is a "1", etc. I create a simple vertical bar chart. The bars alternate tall/short/tall/short/etc. That's good for 60 rows. Row 60 is a "0". The chart shows it with a 'short' bar. If I go to the table and add a Row 61 and put a number "1" in the proper column, the chart does not update with a 'tall' bar. (Thanks for the quick reply! Wow!)
I see what you mean. The chart is for rows 1 to 60. Adding a row 61 doesn't automatically add it to the chart. If you select the chart, you will see the area it covers shown in the table. You'll see that it only covers 1 to 60 and not 61. But there is a handle on that selection and you can drag it to cover row 61 too. Then the chart updates.
Ahhhhh gotcha. Okay, I can see that, that works. Add a row, select chart, drag handle... kind of a bummer that I'll have to manually update that chart every day in that fashion, but it's not a very complicated table/chart, so it's not the end of the world.
Thanks!