Create and edit a spreadsheet

A spreadsheet belongs to the Personal or team context selected in Magpie. Open Spreadsheets and choose New Spreadsheet. The blank workbook opens immediately with one sheet named Sheet1.

Enter and select cells

Click a cell and type to replace its contents. Press Enter to finish and move down. Double-click a cell to edit its existing contents with the value selected, so typing replaces it. Press Enter or F2 to edit without selecting the value. Use the arrow keys to move, Shift with an arrow key to extend a selection, and Tab or Shift+Tab to move across a row. Delete clears the selected values without deleting their rows or columns.

The box above the grid shows the active address, such as A1. Enter an address there and press Enter to jump to it. The formula bar shows the cell's entered content, including a formula rather than only its calculated result.

Copy and paste rectangular ranges with the normal keyboard shortcuts. Plain text and tab-separated ranges copied from another spreadsheet are placed into rows and columns. Copying between Magpie Spreadsheet cells also preserves supported cell formatting and formula semantics. A copied formula adjusts relative references for its new location; an in-workbook cut preserves the formula's existing stable references. A paste is limited to 10,000 cells in one action. Undo and redo cover cell edits made in the current editor session. A range paste, clear, format change, or fill is one undo step rather than one step for every cell. Inserted or deleted rows and columns can also be undone and redone. Magpie preserves the affected populated cells with the structural operation instead of saving another copy of the complete workbook. If the same structure has changed again and cannot be reversed safely, Magpie refuses the undo rather than overwriting the newer structure.

Use formulas

A formula starts with =. The current foundation supports numbers, text, booleans, parentheses, arithmetic, comparisons, concatenation with &, cell and range references, cross-sheet references, and SUM.

Formula autocomplete appears as you type a function name and shows its syntax and a short explanation. While a formula is being edited, its referenced cells and ranges are outlined in distinct treatments on the current sheet. The function library also includes arithmetic functions such as ABS, ROUND, PRODUCT, MOD, POWER, and SQRT; statistical functions including AVERAGE, MEDIAN, STDEV, VAR, RANK, PERCENTILE, QUARTILE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, and COUNTIF; logical functions including IF, IFS, SWITCH, AND, OR, NOT, XOR, and IFERROR; conditional SUMIF; lookup functions VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH; text functions including TEXTJOIN, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, PROPER, TRIM, CLEAN, SUBSTITUTE, REPLACE, FIND, SEARCH, and VALUE; dynamic-array functions FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE, SEQUENCE, TRANSPOSE, FLATTEN, and ARRAYFORMULA; and value tests such as ISBLANK, ISNUMBER, ISTEXT, ISERROR, and TYPE.

Reference and array helpers include ROW, COLUMN, ROWS, COLUMNS, ADDRESS, CHOOSE, LOOKUP, SUMPRODUCT, and ISFORMULA. SPLIT separates deterministic text delimiters into columns. Reference-aware functions follow stable row, column, and sheet identities after structural edits.

Multi-condition calculations are available through SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, and AVERAGEIFS; AVERAGEIF handles one condition. Each criteria range must have the same number of values as the range being added or averaged. XLOOKUP returns a corresponding result value and can provide an explicit missing-value result, while XMATCH returns the matching position. Both default to exact matching.

Common periodic financial calculations use FV, PV, PMT, NPV, IRR, RATE, IPMT, and PPMT. Cash paid out and cash received use opposite signs. Rates are per period, so a monthly loan formula normally divides an annual rate by 12 and supplies the number of monthly periods. NPV and IRR treat cash flows as equally spaced periods; date-specific irregular cash-flow functions are not yet available.

Deterministic date and time formulas include DATE, DATEVALUE, TIME, TIMEVALUE, YEAR, MONTH, DAY, HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND, WEEKDAY, EDATE, EOMONTH, WORKDAY, and NETWORKDAYS. DATEVALUE accepts unambiguous ISO dates such as 2026-08-23; it does not guess ambiguous numeric date text. Weekend-aware workday functions accept an optional range of holiday dates. Apply the Date number format to a numeric date result to display it using the workbook locale.

TODAY() and NOW() use the workbook timezone and the last server-confirmed calculation epoch. They remain stable while you edit locally, then advance when Magpie durably accepts an operation. Collaborators calculating the same saved revision therefore receive the same clock value instead of using their individual browser clocks.

Array literals use commas for columns and semicolons for rows. For example, ={1,2;3,4} produces a two-row, two-column result. All rows in a literal must have the same number of values.

For example:

=SUM(B2:B11)
=A2*B2
=Sheet2!C7
='Annual Budget'!B7

References may be relative, absolute, or mixed, such as A1, $A$1, A$1, and $A1. Formula results update locally as referenced values change. A circular formula or invalid calculation displays a spreadsheet error instead of running arbitrary code. An error inside a referenced range propagates through arithmetic, aggregate, lookup, and filter calculations where that error affects the result; it is not silently treated as a blank value. Ordinary text beginning with # remains text unless it exactly matches a supported spreadsheet error value. Formulas may refer to cells and ranges outside the visible grid. Magpie loads only the sparse chunks intersecting those dependencies and recalculates when they arrive; an off-screen populated cell is not treated as blank merely because it has not been viewed. When a referenced sheet is renamed, the formula bar shows the new name. When a referenced row or column is deleted, the formula shows #REF! instead of silently pointing elsewhere.

Use named ranges

Select a cell or rectangular range, open Named ranges, enter a name such as TaxRate, and choose Use current selection. Names start with a letter or underscore, may contain letters, numbers, underscores, and periods, and cannot look like a cell address. A workbook can contain up to 500 named ranges.

Use the name directly in a formula, for example =Revenue*TaxRate or =SUM(QuarterlyRevenue). Open Named ranges to jump to, update, or delete a name. You can also type a name into the box above the grid and press Enter to jump to it. Named ranges follow inserted and deleted rows or columns through stable identities. Renaming a named range updates how bound formulas display it. Deleting a name causes bound formulas to show #NAME? instead of silently referring to another range.

Deleting a row or column at the edge of a referenced range contracts the range to its next surviving boundary. For example, deleting row 2 changes =SUM(A2:A10) to cover the surviving A2:A9. Deleting every cell covered by a range produces #REF!. A single cell reference that is deleted also produces #REF!; it is never silently moved to a different cell. Undo restores both the deleted structure and the previous formula bounds.

Create named functions

Open Named functions to save a repeated calculation as a workbook function. Enter a name, comma-separated parameter names, and a normal Spreadsheet formula. For example, create PRICE_AFTER_DISCOUNT with parameters PRICE, DISCOUNT and the definition =PRICE*(1-DISCOUNT). You can then use =PRICE_AFTER_DISCOUNT(B2,C2) in any sheet.

Named functions use the same parser, calculation limits, stable references, and error values as ordinary formulas. They do not run scripts. Names cannot replace built-in functions such as SUM, parameter names must be unique, and one definition can have up to 20 parameters. A workbook can contain up to 100 named functions. Formula autocomplete includes saved named functions.

The sheet active when the definition is saved provides the context for unqualified cell references in that definition. Cross-sheet references and named ranges can also be used. Renaming a named function updates how bound formulas display it; deleting it causes those formulas to show #NAME?. Recursive definitions stop with #NUM! rather than calculating without a limit. Row and column deletion updates referenced ranges inside definitions, and structural undo restores their previous bounds.

Advanced formulas can use LAMBDA directly with MAP, REDUCE, SCAN, BYROW, BYCOL, and MAKEARRAY. For example, =MAP(A2:A10,LAMBDA(V,V*2)) applies the same calculation to every value and spills the results. Lambda parameters are local to the lambda and do not replace workbook named ranges with the same name. Array-producing helpers follow the same 10,000-cell result limit as other spilled formulas.

Use dynamic arrays

Some formulas return more than one value. For example, =SEQUENCE(10) fills ten rows, and =FILTER(A2:C100,C2:C100="Active") returns every matching row. The formula remains in its starting cell; the other displayed cells belong to its generated spill range.

Edit or delete the formula at the start of the spill. Individual generated cells cannot be edited or pasted over. If existing content blocks a required destination, the formula shows #SPILL!. Move or clear the blocking content and the results appear again. One array result is limited to 10,000 cells.

Find a command

Commands are grouped into five menus above the grid: File, Edit, Rows and columns, Format, and Data. Every menu is reachable from the keyboard: Tab to a menu name, then use the arrow keys to move within and between menus, and Escape to close.

Undo, Redo, Bold, Italic, and the number format stay on the bar below the menus, because they are used constantly.

Commands that act on one row, column, sheet, or selection also appear when you right-click that thing. Right-click a row or column heading for its insert, delete, group, and freeze commands; right-click a selection for merging, sorting, validation, and conditional formatting; right-click a sheet tab to rename, duplicate, move, hide, or delete that sheet. Right-clicking a heading or a cell outside the current selection selects it first, so the command acts on what you pointed at.

The same commands are available at every window width. Nothing is hidden on a small screen; the menu bar scrolls sideways when it does not fit.

Format and organize

Select a rectangular range and choose Data → Sort A–Z or Sort Z–A. The active column is the sort key, while every selected column moves with its row. Numbers, booleans, and text use their appropriate ordering; equal keys keep their previous order and blank values remain at the end. Formulas moving to another row adjust relative references while absolute references remain fixed.

Sorting one selected column does not move adjacent columns. Magpie asks for confirmation before that potentially misaligning operation. Expand the selection first when the other columns belong to the same records. One sort can contain up to 10,000 cells and is one undo step. Undo is refused if one of its cells changed again after the sort, rather than overwriting the newer value.

Select a range and choose Data → Filter to create a shared worksheet filter. Choose a column and show rows that are blank, not blank, equal to a value, contain text, or are numerically greater or less than a value. The first row can remain visible as a header. Row numbers skip filtered-out records, and keyboard navigation, selection, editing, and frozen rows use the remaining visible-row projection.

The filter belongs to the worksheet and is visible to everyone with access. Editors can change or clear it; viewers can inspect it. Filter definitions follow inserted rows and columns through stable identities. Deleting the filter's condition column clears the filter, while deleting an edge of its range contracts the remaining range. A filter change is one undo step and refuses an unsafe undo after another filter change.

Choose Filter views to save a personal combination of filtering and sorting. Give the view a name, use the current selection as its range, choose an optional filter condition, and choose an optional ascending or descending sort column. At least one filter or sort is required.

Opening a Filter View changes only your projected rows. It does not change the shared worksheet filter, move stored cells, advance the workbook revision, or disrupt another collaborator's view. Viewers and commenters can save their own Filter Views because the saved state belongs to their account rather than to workbook contents. A Filter View can be updated, closed, or deleted from the same panel.

Saved ranges use stable row and column identities. Insertions remain within the intended structure; deleting an edge contracts the view. If deletion removes its complete range—or removes its only active filter or sort target—Magpie removes the unusable view rather than silently pointing it at different data. An active view closes during a structural edit and reloads its durable definition.

Select cells and choose Data → Data validation, or right-click the selection and choose Data validation, to restrict their input. A dropdown rule accepts one of up to 100 listed values. A checkbox stores real checked and unchecked values—TRUE and FALSE by default—so formulas can use them normally. A number rule can set a minimum, a maximum, or both. A rule can reject invalid literal input or allow it with a warning; blank cells remain allowed. Formulas are accepted in validated cells while evaluated-result validation awaits Magpie's shared trusted calculation runtime.

Double-click a dropdown cell to choose a value and double-click a checkbox to toggle it. Validation applies to typing and multi-cell paste, is enforced again when the server saves literal values, and is stored once per range rather than on every blank cell. Rules use stable row and column identities, contract when part of their range is deleted, copy with a duplicated sheet, and participate in operation-based undo and redo.

Choose Format → Conditional formatting, or right-click the selection and choose Conditional formatting, to apply text color, fill color, or bold text when selected cells are blank, not blank, equal to a value, contain text, or are numerically greater or less than a value. The two color fields use the same color picker as the rest of Magpie. Rules use calculated cell values and update immediately when source data changes. When several matching rules set the same property, the later rule takes priority. The underlying cell style and value do not change.

Conditional formatting is stored as sparse range metadata. Rules follow inserted structure, contract around deleted rows and columns, copy with a duplicated sheet, and can be undone or redone as one workbook operation. A sheet can contain up to 200 conditional formatting rules.

Choose Find or press Ctrl+F/Command+F to search entered cell content in the current sheet or every sheet. Search can match case or require the complete cell. Results show their sheet and address and can be opened directly. A search returns up to 500 matches and scans up to one million populated cells; narrow a truncated search before replacing values.

Enter replacement text and choose Replace all to update the complete result set in one bounded cell operation. Formula text is parsed again after replacement, ordinary formatting is preserved, validation rules still apply, and the replacement is one undo step. Replacement is unavailable to viewers and commenters.

Use tables

Select a rectangular range with a header row and at least one data row, then choose Tables. Give the table a workbook-unique name and one unique name for every column. Magpie saves the headers as ordinary cells and adds table header and alternating-row treatments without turning the worksheet into a rigid database. Tables cannot overlap.

Use a structured reference such as =SUM(Sales[Revenue]) to calculate over a table column's data rows. Table and column identities remain stable when their displayed names change, so an existing formula renders the new name without changing what it references. Deleting the referenced table or column makes the formula show #REF! rather than silently using another range.

Entering a nonblank value in the row immediately below a table expands the table when the cell is within its columns. A cell edit and its automatic expansion share one durable undo operation. Inserted rows and columns retain stable table boundaries; deletion contracts the remaining table and removes a definition that no longer has a valid header, data row, or column. Convert to range removes the table definition while keeping cell values and ordinary cell formatting.

Select cells, then use Bold, Italic, or the number-format menu on the bar below the menus. Number formats include ordinary numbers, integers, Canadian currency, percentages, and dates. Values remain values; choosing Currency does not turn a number into currency text.

Drag the boundary at the right of a column heading to resize that column. Select a cell and choose Rows and columns → Freeze through selected row or Freeze through selected column to keep that cell's row or column and everything before it visible while scrolling, or right-click the row or column heading and choose Freeze through this row or Freeze through this column. Row and column freezes can be combined. Choose Unfreeze panes to remove both freezes.

Choose + beside the sheet tabs to add another worksheet, then select a tab to switch sheets. Double-click a tab to rename it, or right-click a tab to rename, duplicate, move, hide, or delete that sheet. Choose All sheets at the end of the tab strip to see every sheet in the workbook, including hidden ones; choosing a hidden sheet unhides it. A workbook always keeps at least one sheet and at least one visible sheet.

Use Insert row above, Delete row, Insert column left, or Delete column, from the Rows and columns menu or from a right-click on the row or column heading, for the selected rows or columns. Magpie gives rows and columns stable internal identities, so formulas continue to refer to the intended cells when surrounding rows or columns move. Blank rows and columns remain sparse and do not create stored cell records.

Select two or more rows and choose Rows and columns → Group rows, or select two or more columns and choose Group columns. Both are also on the row and column heading right-click menus. Collapse group hides the grouped range without deleting its cells. Expand groups reveals collapsed ranges, including when the selected cell was inside a range that is no longer visible. Groups may be nested. Choose Ungroup to remove the smallest group intersecting the selection. Inserting rows or columns keeps a group's stable boundaries; deleting structure contracts the group and removes it if fewer than two grouped positions remain.

Select two or more cells and choose Format → Merge cells, or right-click the selection and choose Merge cells, to display them as one range. The Merge horizontally command creates one merged range per selected row, while Merge vertically creates one per selected column as a single undoable action. The top-left cell owns the merged value, formula, and formatting. Magpie asks you to clear any other populated cells first so merging cannot silently discard data. Clicking or navigating into a merged range selects the whole range. Choose Unmerge cells to restore its ordinary cells; the top-left value remains. Merged ranges cannot overlap, and pastes or sorts cannot write into an individual generated part of a merge. Frozen pane boundaries cannot split a merged range.

Saving and access

Changes appear immediately and save in the background. Saved is shown only after Magpie has durably accepted the operation. If saving fails, the status changes to Save failed and an error is shown. When another tab has already changed the workbook, reload before continuing so Magpie does not silently overwrite that newer revision.

Team members receive access through the owning team. Someone with team management authority can choose Share and add another Magpie user by username as a Viewer, Commenter, or Editor. That direct collaborator does not join the team and receives no access to its other resources. Viewer and Commenter access cannot change workbook cells; comments will be added in a later collaboration release. With those levels of access the editing commands are shown as unavailable rather than doing nothing when chosen, and reading commands such as Find and Named ranges remain usable.

Import and export CSV

Choose Import on the Spreadsheets list to create a workbook from CSV or TSV. Magpie can detect comma, tab, or semicolon delimiters, or you can choose one. Imports can contain up to 5 MB, 100,000 rows, 1,000 columns, and 1,000,000 cells.

Choose File → Export CSV in a workbook to download its current worksheet. CSV contains one worksheet, so export each sheet separately when a workbook has several. Magpie preserves intentional formulas beginning with = and protects ordinary text beginning with other external spreadsheet formula prefixes.

If values do not return after reopening, formulas produce an unexpected result, or saving repeatedly fails, Contact support.