AppleScript and Numbers: Cell Data Formats

Cell Data Formats

Cells have a format property, inherited from the range class, that determines how the cell’s data is parsed and displayed. By default, a new cell’s format is set to automatic, and will attempt to interpret the inserted data into the correct format. Set the format property if the data, such as a numeric value, can be interpreted to be used by more than one format, otherwise leave the format property set to the default of automatic.

The following script will create a small table displaying the various available cell formats:

Create Cell Format Table

tell application "Numbers"

activate

if not (exists document 1) then error number -128

tell document 1

tell active sheet

-- make a new table

set thisTable to make new table with properties ¬

{row count:16, column count:2, name:"Cell Formats"}

tell thisTable

-- a list of the supported formats

set theseFormats to {automatic, checkbox, currency, date and time, fraction, number, percent, pop up menu, scientific, slider, stepper, text, duration, rating, numeral system}

-- placeholder data

set formatData to {"", true, 1234.02, (get current date), 0.1, 123.89, 0.75, "", 64, 64, 35, "HOWDY", 4.5, 3, 4569.123}

-- set the values of the first column with the names of the formats

tell column 1

repeat with i from 1 to the count of theseFormats

set the value of cell (i + 1) to (item i of theseFormats) as string

end repeat

end tell

-- set the formats of the column cells, and add placeholder data

tell column 2

repeat with i from 1 to the count of theseFormats

set the format of cell (i + 1) to (item i of theseFormats)

set the value of cell (i + 1) to (item i of formatData)

end repeat

end tell

The created table:

(above left) The cell formats table. (above right) A selected cell with popup menu format.

(above left) A selected cell with stepper format. (above right) A selected cell with slider format.

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