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Edit Auto Complete in Numbers

How do you EDIT (change or delete) incorrect Autofill or Autocomplete entries in cells in Numbers ?

iMac 27", macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 24, 2020 11:27 AM

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Posted on Jan 24, 2020 6:57 PM

As stated above I tried editing them out cell by cell but they kept appearing but then I Saved , Quit Numbers and rebooted my Imac and now those erroneous entries have disappeared, except for the one I wanted there in the first place; Nil.


"There have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code, that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols."

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Jan 24, 2020 6:57 PM in response to FineWine54

As stated above I tried editing them out cell by cell but they kept appearing but then I Saved , Quit Numbers and rebooted my Imac and now those erroneous entries have disappeared, except for the one I wanted there in the first place; Nil.


"There have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code, that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols."

Jan 24, 2020 4:54 PM in response to FineWine54

There is no user control of the suggestion list except the preferences choice to use it or not. If checked in Numbers preferences, the list it presents is automatically built from the current values in that column.


How many rows in the table? Are there any hidden rows?


Sometimes a search by formula will catch things we miss.


Assuming the issue is in column B, here's a formula you can place in an added temporary column on the table. I the example below, it has been entered in G2, and filled down to the last row of the table.


G2: FIND("IL",B2)


Filled down in the sample table, the formula throws an error in rows where it does not find "IL", and 2, indicating the string was found, starting at the second character in cells containing "NIL"

Regards,

Barry

Jan 24, 2020 7:22 PM in response to FineWine54

I suggest making a copy of the column in another column (to preserve what you have now).


then delete half the column


check to see if the offending entries are still in the list when you type in a new cell


If they are, then delete half of the remaining. if not, then undo the delete and remove the other half of the table. repeat as needed



I tried a sequence of typing and observing what is in the suggestion list:


Enter "N" and "Nil"

then in a third cell type "N" to observe list



Add a cell with "NIL" then in another cell enter "N" to observe the list:


Remove entries except for "NIL", then type "N" to observe the list


Add a cell with "Nil" then type "N" in another cell to observe list



Add "N" in a new cell then type "N" in another cell to observe the list


Jan 24, 2020 12:33 PM in response to FineWine54

The Suggestions feature suggests all existing entries that are in the same column and match what you have entered so far in the current cell.


If you are getting an incorrect suggestion, it means that incorrect entry already exists in at least one cell in that column. You edit the suggestions by finding and fixing that existing entry.


Regards,

Barry

Jan 24, 2020 1:35 PM in response to Barry

Thank you for your answer but no that is not working. In the same column I have 3 words in the autofill/autocomplete drop down suggestion box that pops up when I start typing a word starting with N:


N, NIL & Nil


I initially entered N & NIL, realised my typing mistake on reviewing the sheet. I edited the cells by deleting N & NIL from the cell and retyped with the correct word Nil. There are NO OTHER cells with N or NIL in them in that column or any columns.


So I wish to remove N & NIL completely from the autofill/autocomplete drop down suggestion box permanently.

Edit Auto Complete in Numbers

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