Edit a cell

What it does

Select a cell and start typing (or press Enter/F2 to open the in-cell editor) to set its contents. A bare value — 42, hello — is stored as a literal. A leading = makes it a formula: TrueCalc stores the formula text and shows the computed result. Press Enter to commit and move down, or Escape to cancel.

Try it

Verified behavior

Matches Google Sheets: In Google Sheets, typing a bare number into a cell stores that literal and displays it. Typing a leading "=" makes the entry a formula: the cell stores the formula text and displays its computed result (e.g. with A1=10, entering "=A12" shows 20 while the formula bar still reads "=A12"). Typing into a non-empty cell replaces its prior contents — a literal overwrites a formula and vice-versa — and pressing Enter commits and moves the selection down.

Typing a literal number displays that number

Given

When I type 42 into A1

Then

• A1 shows 42

Typing a formula shows the computed value and stores the formula

Given

• A1 = 10

When I type =A1*2 into A2

Then

• A2 shows 20
• A2 has formula =A1*2

Typing into a non-empty cell replaces its prior contents

Given

• A1 = 10
• A2 = =A1*2

When I type 7 into A2

Then

• A2 shows 7

A committed formula stores its text while displaying its result

Given

• A1 = 10
• B1 = 3

When I type =A1*B1 into C1

Then

• C1 shows 30
• C1 has formula =A1*B1