Use VoiceOver to create formulas and autofill cells in Numbers on Mac
To make calculations using data in your table, you can create a formula using the Formula Editor. VoiceOver speaks the names of functions, definitions and examples for each function, formula errors, and more, to make it easier to insert and edit formulas in your spreadsheet.
You can also use autofill mode to quickly fill cells, or a row or column, with the same formula, data, or a logical sequence of data—for example, a series of numbers, letters, or dates. VoiceOver indicates when you are using autofill mode.
Insert a formula
Go to the Numbers app
on your Mac.Open a spreadsheet.
To open the Formula Editor, select the cell where you want to insert the formula, then type the equal sign (=).
Begin typing your expression, such as 4x3, or C2+C3.
To add a function to your formula, type the name of the function you want followed by an open parentheses.
You can also type part of the function’s name, then use the left and right arrow keys to cycle through the autocomplete options; use the Return key to choose the function you want.
To complete the function, replace each argument placeholder token with the desired argument value.
When you finish creating your formula, press the Return key.
You can also edit an existing formula. Press VO-Space to bring up the Formula Editor, make your changes, then press Return.
Use the Functions Browser
In Numbers, you use the Functions Browser to learn about functions and their arguments. To open the Functions Browser, you must edit a cell that contains a formula.
Go to the Numbers app
on your Mac.Open a spreadsheet, then select a cell where there’s an existing formula, or where you’d like to add one.
To open the Formula Editor, do one of the following:
Add a formula to an empty cell: Type the equal sign (=).
Edit an existing formula: Press VO-Space.
To jump to the Functions sidebar, Press VO-J, then press VO-Down Arrow to go to the Functions search field.
Type the name of the function you want, or begin typing the name.
Press VO-Down Arrow to jump to the search results, then use the Up and Down Arrow keys to navigate the results.
After you select the function you want, press VO-Down Arrow until you reach “web content,” then press Control-Option-Shift-Down Arrow to enter the Help section. You can read and navigate the help for that function as you would other web content (for example, you can press VO-Command-T to jump between headings).
Accessibility Tip: You can press VO-A to read all the help for the function you selected.
To get more help with functions, you can also read the Formulas and Functions Help.
Review and fix formula errors
If an error is found in a formula, the result of the formula is not displayed until the error is fixed. For example, if you leave an argument for a function blank, an error is present until you specify a value.
Go to the Numbers app
on your Mac.Open the spreadsheet you want to work with, then select the cell where there’s an error.
VoiceOver speaks the error message as part of the cell’s description.
To fix the error, press VO-Space to bring up the Formula Editor, then make your changes.
Autofill cells
Go to the Numbers app
on your Mac.Open a spreadsheet.
To use autofill mode, select the cell whose formula or data you want to apply to other cells, then press Command-\.
VoiceOver indicates when you turn on autofill mode.
Use the arrow keys to adjust the cell range you want to autofill.
To fill all the way to the edge of the table, press the Command key and the arrow key for the direction you want to fill.
When you finish using autofill, press Command-\ to turn off autofill mode.
VoiceOver confirms when you turn off autofill mode.