How to import the data to add graphs to Keynote?

Question

I want to be able to add graphs to keynote (such as line graphs). It seems like I have to put down the data manually in the table they give. Isn't there a way to read the data from a text file or something like that?

Solution

You can, for example, paste the data from a text file, as Keynote accepts Tab and Newline characters as field and line delimiters. Any source that provides data in this format will do, and you can even copy & paste directly from tables in Numbers.app.

Start by copying your data into the clipboard:
(SuperUser converts my tabs to spaces, I don't think it will work if you just copy this, but you get the idea)

Foo 1   4   5   8   4
Bar 6   7   5   4   8

First, select the first line into which you want to paste your data:

Then, Press Cmd-V to paste the data in the clipboard to the table:

While not as good as having full flexibility in how you input your data, it's better than nothing.

Comments

[Admin]

Welcome to Super User! But this being a Q&A site: please do not combine multiple questions into a single post, and please make titles summarize a question. To avoid people would answer both questions before you read my comment: I have already deleted part of it. Please click here to see your previous version, and copy the remaining part into a new question. Thanks and success!

[Arjan]

Nice! Am I right to assume that pasting from some spreadsheet would not require one to first create a text file? (Hope you did not waste time on answering that 2nd question as well? Or let's assume the question asker will come back to repost that 2nd part!)

[HikeMike]

@Arjan I saw this Q only after your edits. You don't need a text file, generally anything that provides its data with tab delimiters and newlines will do, but it might depend on the formats the programs supports. I can directly paste Numbers table selection into the data table of Keynote. If I paste Numbers.app data to plain text, it's converted into the same tab/newline delimited format too.