INFO: Software Cheat Sheets
Numbers '09: Formatting Text and Numbers
Cheat Sheet 20090824
Cheat Sheet 20090824
WARNING: Be careful how you select multiple cells in Numbers. Dragging from a corner can change other cell contents due to its Auto-Fill ability. Pay close attention when selecting multiple cells. The safest method is to use the Shift-Hold method for selecting multiple cells in a row or column.
• Formatting Text
• Formatting Numbers
• Custom Formatting
• Copy Your Custom Formatted Style
• Copy and Paste Styles Using the Option Key
• Conditional Formatting
• Copy Conditional Formatting
• Text Boxes
• Draw Your Own Text Box
• Numbered and Bulleted Lists in a Text Box
• Paragraph Formatting in a Text Box
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format
– or –
use the Format Bar below the Toolbar
– or –
click the Inspector button on the Toolbar and use the Text Inspector for options.
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format
– or –
use the Format Bar buttons for pre-defined formats (see image below):

– or –
click the Inspector button on the Toolbar and use the Cells Inspector for options.
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format - Create Custom Cell Format...
3. A window will open. Drag and drop different elements into the field to create your Custom Format (see image below):

4. On the right side, above the plus (+) button, is where you will see a preview of what you’re making (see image below):

5. Some elements have their own pop-up menu for making further adjustments (see image below):

6. If you name your Custom Format, it will be available to you in the Format Bar pop-up menu. The custom name I added was “jumps” (see image below):
Note: You must have a cell selected before you can use Manage Custom Formats under the Format menu.
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format - Copy Style
3. Select the cell (or cells) you want to copy the style on
4. Go to Format - Paste Style
1. Select cells or an entire table
2. Click Option-Command-C to copy
3. Select your target cells
4. Click Option-Command-V to paste
Use conditional formatting when you want the look of each cell to change depending on the conditions you set:
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format - Show Conditional Format Rules (a window opens)
– or –
click the Inspector button on the Toolbar then –
click the Cells Inspector then –
click the Show rules... button (see image below):


You can copy your Conditional Formatting onto other cells as a Style:
1. Select cell
2. Go to Format - Copy Style
3. Select cells to copy your style on
4. Go to Format - Paste Style
Go to Insert - Text Box
– or –
Use the Text Box button on the Toolbar
Your new text box appears on the middle of the sheet. Grab and move it and change it using the Format Bar and the Text Inspector and the Graphic Inspector.
1. Option-Hold then click Text Box button on the Toolbar
2. Release Option
3. Move onto the canvas and Click-Hold-Drag where you want your text box.
Change it using the Format Bar and the Text Inspector and the Graphic Inspector.
1. Highlight text in a text box
2. Go to Text Inspector - Bullets
Note: If the entire text box is selected, your changes will affect everything in it.
1. Highlight text in a text box to make individual changes within a text box.
2. Change it using the Format Bar and the Text Inspector and the Graphic Inspector.