iWork ’09: Numbers - Easy as 1, 2, 3

Numbers was first announced on August 7, 2007. Its second and latest version 2.0 was announced on January 6, 2009 in Apple’s Macworld event and is part of the iWork ’09 office suite. The app focuses a more usable interface, easier to understand by the common computer user and offers better control over the appearance and presentation of tables and data.

In its latest update, the following features were introduced:

• easy formulas
• formula list view
• table categories
• advanced charts
• enhanced template chooser
• easier sharing options

Instant Formulas are pre-set common calculations readily available for you as you use Numbers. With Numbers '09, there are over 250 functions that you can use to provide almost anything that you might need - from simple addition to calculating the sum, to complex trigonomic expressions.

Each function is equipped with a full and easy to understand formula description which can be found from the built-in help. Formulas may also be custom created using what Apple calls visual placeholders, where you can choose cells to include in your calculation and provide the mathematical notations as your create your formula.

The one click Instant Formula icon at the menu bar makes it easy to perform common calculation on your spreadsheets. Results are auto inserted in a new row below your data. Furthermore, you can make more sense of selected cells as you click on them because now, in Numbers' latest update, the lower left section of the app displays overview data. This overview data can be picked and dragged to your cell as needed.

As you create your spreadsheets in Numbers, formulas tend to pile up as more data is included in your document. The latest update introduces what is called a Formula List View, where you can view all of your formulas existing in the spreadsheet. This feature allows you to jump to and search for formulas, functions or cell references making it easier to manage your formulas and calculations.

Clicking on a formula in the Formula List View takes you to the cell where it's located in the spreadsheet, making it easier for you for editing and fine tuning your calculations. To access this feature, just click on the Formula List icon on the toolbar above, or via the menu bar: View->Show Formula List.

Table categories provide a fast and easy way to better understand huge sets of data.

In your tables, you now have the option to group together columns of information by clicking on "Categorize by This Column" which will result to Numbers auto inserting headers and groupings. To group data even further, you can add sub categories, by following the same steps, as you see fit, and Numbers will dynamically create it for you. Each header generated from this is collapsable and expandable, giving you the ability to hide and show information as you sift through your data.

Apple has generously provided a video demonstration of Table Categories, explaining how to generate categories for easier data viewing and analysis.