How to use nonadjacent columns in a 2d donut chart?

Question

How to use nonadjacent columns in a 2d donut chart?

The only stand out feature with Numbers is that I can have independent tables on the same tab. That's it.

Here's a recent frustration. I can't believe the software is so bad as to make me do this. Is it? Is there another way?

Description follows:

I have a table with 6 columns. I want to show the data using a 2D donut chart. I want to use Column A for the labels and Column F for the data. It appears I cannot do this unless I...

Move Column F adjacent to A. Then select the data and add the 2D donut. Only then will the desired labels (column A) be chosen.

You would think that by version 14.4, in the 21st Century, using software from a company that tries to make good software, that I could simply specify the columns for data and for labels. What a bad assumption the designers made. What terrible software.

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Jul 4, 2025 5:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Badunit

Level 7

30,342 points

Jul 4, 2025 4:33 PM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

If A is not a header column, do pretty much what you are currently doing. You can easily pick up column F and drop it next to A, make the chart, then pick the column back up and drop it back where it was. You are fighting the way Numbers works when you do this (it expects labels to be in a header for category charts like the donut chart) but you can get around it with a few extra steps.

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Answer 2

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,927 points

Jul 4, 2025 5:54 PM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

Hi Slarti_Bartfast,

To select non-adjacent columns, use command click.

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 3

Jul 4, 2025 10:53 PM in response to Yellowbox

Works so long as column A is a header column.

As you can have more than one header column (as I just discovered), I can do what I want, without rearranging columns before and after creating a chart. So the key seems to be to have your Legend column be a header column. Comparing this to the same process in, say, Microsoft Excel, it is probably about as efficient, but a different (and fairly well hidden) workflow.

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Answer 4

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jul 5, 2025 1:44 AM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

Slarti_Bartfast wrote:

Works so long as column A is a header column.

the key seems to be to have your Legend column be a header column.

That's the key! Not hidden. But not documented either. Charts in both Numbers and Excel are fiddly, just fiddly in different ways. Excel has more options, if you need them.

SG

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Answer 5

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,927 points

Jul 5, 2025 12:12 AM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

Thank you, Slarti_Bartfast!

I didn't know that several Header columns will enable us to command-click on Columns A and C for one category graph, then Columns B and D for a different category graph. An upvote for you!

A Heads Up: non category graphs such as Scatter Plot and Bubble Graph require data to be in Body Cells, not Header Cells. Take a look at: Menu > File > New to see the template chooser > Graphing Basics (Charting Basics in the USA).

Happy Numbering!

Ian.

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Answer 6

Jul 4, 2025 8:52 PM in response to Badunit

> You are fighting the way Numbers works when you do this

Indeed. Someone else (Yellowbox) seems to have managed to make command-click work, but I had no luck with that. As there is no guidance to be found, it's a pity we are supposed to rely on happenstance/ beating our heads against the software to get something simple done.

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Answer 7

Badunit

Level 7

30,342 points

Jul 4, 2025 5:43 AM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

If column A is a header column, all you need to do is select column F and make a chart.

If A is not a header column you make the chart and one-by-one specify each label. Not what you want to do. Charts with the labels on an axis you can change all the labels at once.

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Answer 8

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jul 4, 2025 9:10 AM in response to Slarti_Bartfast

Step-by-step documentation for charts in Numbers is sparse. Working with examples is probably the best way to learn.

If you haven't done so already, be sure to study the examples in the 'Charting Basics' template at File > New in your menu. You'll get the hang of it.

Category charts get their labels from a Header Column. For Scatter charts, on the other hand, you don't want a Header Column.

SG

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