Basic calculation in Tables

[Maik Schurrer 31]

I would love to have the possiblity to make simple calculations (sum, multiplication, ...) in the tables.

[PinkElephant 6,211]

Yes, it would be nice to have some basic calculations in tables. Missing them  from time to time myself.

But it would be nice to have a ton of other features as well. And now we are getting closer to the roaring cliffs on software ocean:

Not every user asks for the same, and the total of all requests will turn every software into a crappy piece of bloatware.

So, on second thought, I would still like to have some base functions, but I can pretty much do without it. And there is nothing absurd about this idea.

[kenonu 7]

Yes would be very helpful to have this! 

[PRConsultant 1]

As a developer myself I ask Evernote, how hard can this be to implement?  Come on people.  IT IS a necessary feature or at the very least, a very convenient one that doesn't add too much code to the app.  If in the future people get too cocky about requesting more math functions you can always say no, but basic calculations are a most.  Please.........

[PinkElephant 6,211]

Currently the table is a plain formatting element, without any logical component.

You can drop anything into a table, and it will swallow it. When you start to add functional elements, a whole new set of requirements arises, like defining and checking content type for matching types of content, depending on the nature of the formula one wants to employ. If you want to have a simple SUM formula, all arguments need to be numbers, no text, no picture, no audio clips - all this and more can be placed into a table right now.

Which tells the answer: No, it far from trivial - which even a self acclaimed developer should understand. The current way to get around this feature gap is to insert a table created with the right program (Excel / Numbers / LibreOffice Calc etc.).

[PRConsultant 1]

53 minutes ago, PinkElephant said:

Currently the table is a plain formatting element, without any logical component.

You can drop anything into a table, and it will swallow it. When you start to add functional elements, a whole new set of requirements arises, like defining and checking content type for matching types of content, depending on the nature of the formula one wants to employ. If you want to have a simple SUM formula, all arguments need to be numbers, no text, no picture, no audio clips - all this and more can be placed into a table right now.

Which tells the answer: No, it far from trivial - which even a self acclaimed developer should understand. The current way to get around this feature gap is to insert a table created with the right program (Excel / Numbers / LibreOffice Calc etc.).

Where there's a will there's a way.  It may be difficult or it may be easy, you won't know until you try it.  Another user suggested creating a new table type for this.  I think it is something to ponder on.  Why is it that some people who should be on the user-side of the equation make all of this excuses on behalf of the developer and furthermore enjoy attacking other commenters?    Adding Excel is a great addition which I had forgotten I could use since it is not obvious - by this I mean it is not in any menu.  Still, you have to get out of Evernote to create a new document and then drag and drop into Evernote.  Granted, you will have tons more of funcionality than that which Evernote could ever implement into the app.

You don't have to evaluate contents to such a great level.  Excel uses the '=' equal sign to enable formulas in a cell, Evernote could do something alike in place of evaluating every cell.  Just some basic calculations at row, column, and cell level.  A new table-type sounds like a good idea.  One that only does the basic formatting stuff plus the calc.  

A little brainstorming here instead of attacking other people for a change.  Who knows, I will maybe stick with the Excel option...I don't know....  still some basic calc would be great.
 

[kidtreo 1]

I absolutely do not accept the "slippery slope" argument and feel I have enough information to see this essential feature request rather clearly - and as follows.

1. Evernote is a NOTE TAKING application whose primary goal (if i'm not mistaken) is to make it FAST & EASY CAPTURE essential ideas and well, ummm NOTES.  Further, it's BUSINESS obligations are / should be to give its users AS FEW REASONS AS POSSIBLE to HAVE to use other solutions, or leave their platform environment AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
2. Numbers (best stored in TABLES) actually 100% qualify as NOTES.
3. Tables of numbers without ANY formulas are relatively USELESS and SIGNIFICANTLY slow down the note taking process WITHOUT BASIC formulas (see point 1 above).
4. Linking LOCAL Excel documents (not even SAS cloud spreadsheet integration mind you, like Google Sheets or Office 360) causes SIGNIFICANT issues / slow down / limitation and creates OUTSIDE DEPENDENCIES (not to mention creates a slew of other irritants and ongoing complications like user expense buying additional software, file management / migration of local files, ongoing 3rd party compatibility issues / coding updates etc.)
5. THUS, BASIC FORMULAS (summing, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) ARE INDEED ESSENTIAL AND ARE LONG OVERDUE.  I'm actually surprised this feature only has 255 upvotes as of this moment, but am sure that's far under representing the percentage of users or potential users (who may not be adopting EN because this basic necessary feature is not supported).

Please - get ON this Evernote!  More advanced formulas / functions, like table to table communications (which apparently requires table names which do not as of yet exist in the EN database), percentage calculations (desired but again, could live without for 90%+ of my daily needs at least) and more, could easily wait if these basic tools were provided reliable / robust.

 

 

[PinkElephant 6,211]

Currently tables is a tool to create a HTML format that holds content in a structured way.

It's format, not logic.

If in the future the approach will be altered to logical tables with some functions, time will tell. I doubt it is anywhere high on the backlog, if at all.

[Babis1215 3]

I would say that a very good way of table implementation with some calculations has craft.do

Tables and numbers is a daily and vital part in the note taking space. Especially for those of us using Evernote daily in a work environment and not just storing documents

[PinkElephant 6,211]

If you think it’s important for you, you can wait (probably for a long time, the initial feature request on this is years old), use a workaround or an app that does what you need.

Sometimes you can’t have it all, my mother said in front of the candy store.