Keeping track of a max value for my spreadsheet.

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Level 1

10 points

Keeping track of a max value for my spreadsheet.

I have a Numbers spreadsheet that tracks my portfolio. What I would like it to do is (assuming A5 & A4 are currency values):

IF(A5 > A4, WRITE(A5, A4),)

Where the WRITE() function copies the value in cell A5 into cell A4. Each time the spreadsheet is evaluated this would be updated. This calculation could need to live in a separate cell of course.

I have not been able to find a "WRITE()" or equivalent function in the function list. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks

MacBook Air, macOS 26.0

Posted on Nov 2, 2025 8:08 PM

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Answer 1

jzcxr Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 3, 2025 7:58 AM in response to Yellowbox

What I ended up doing was creating a table with 365(6) rows filled with the dates from 1/1 .. 12/31. The value in the second column comes from the following calc.

IF(TODAY()=$A2,$Current $MyCurrentValue,)

Then the last row uses the max() function to extract the larges value. Then where I want to display my ongoing 52 week high I just reference the last value.

Several shortcomings I can see. The spreadsheet needs to be open and recalculated to be updated for a specified days value. Having a large table just for this purpose is awkward but I can hide it off screen or on another sheet. I will need to update the year once a year and maintain the previous years max as a row at the bottom o(or just extend the table every year an additional 366 rows.

Like I said awkward!

Thanks

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Answer 2

Camelot

Level 9

58,245 points

Nov 3, 2025 10:33 AM in response to jzcxr

As has been ascertained, there is no WRITE() function in Numbers (nor Excel, as far as I'm aware, so I don't know where you're getting that from). In either case there is no ability to push any value into any other cell... all cells PULL their values from other cells.

There's no one-step way to achieve what you're asking.... B3 can set its value based on B2, but it can't remember what B2 was in the past to know if it should update or stay the same. For that you would need to calculate and store the data elsewhere, such as in your daily table as you've already described, or via some external script.

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Answer 3

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,915 points

Nov 2, 2025 11:46 PM in response to jzcxr

Hi jzcxr

Numbers does not have a WRITE function.

IF formulas follow this logic: IF, THEN, ELSE

For example: IF it is raining, THEN stay at home, ELSE have a picnic.

What result do you want if A5 is not greater than A4?

Alternatively,

More information may lead to a solution.

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 4

jzcxr Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 4, 2025 6:54 AM in response to jzcxr

Well, that did not work. all the values are still calculated every day so no previous values remain :(

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Answer 5

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Nov 3, 2025 7:33 AM in response to jzcxr

I have trouble visualizing what you are doing (a screenshot would help) but have you considered using the MAX function?

MAX - Apple Support

SG

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Answer 6

jzcxr Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 3, 2025 6:02 AM in response to Yellowbox

If A5 is less than A4, I don’t want it to do anything which is why I left the third argument empty. What I’m trying to get away from is having to do any sort of manual input. I would like it to be completely automatic. What I’m doing now is manually updating it. The best I’m able to do currently is just have conditional. Highlighting where if the value is greater than its current value, it changes the color of the text to let me know I need to manually update it. Essentially, this would be similar to keeping an all time high value.

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Answer 7

jzcxr Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 3, 2025 8:10 AM in response to SGIII

I have a calculated value that is updated each day (B2). I want cell B3 to maintain the largest value that has been calculated in B2. If B2 goes down, nothing should change with B3. If B2 is higher then B3, I want B3 to be updated to the value in B2.

Ideally, I would not have to maintain a table as explained above.

Thanks

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Answer 8

jzcxr Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 3, 2025 5:22 PM in response to Camelot

I understand that the "WRITE()" function does not exist. That is the crux of the question, how to keep a temporary value from one iteration of a calculation to the next iteration. This would seem to be a simple function to implement, not sure why they haven't?

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