Spill a dynamic array from its anchor
A dynamic-array formula (e.g. =SEQUENCE) renders across the grid from its anchor — the anchor shows the array's first value and the rest spill into read-only echo cells; obstructing the range shows a spill conflict.
What it does
Type a dynamic-array formula — =SEQUENCE(3), =SEQUENCE(2,3), =A1:A3*2 — and the result spills across the grid from the cell you typed it into (the anchor). The anchor keeps the formula and shows the array's top-left value; the remaining cells fill with read-only echoes of the result. Selecting any cell in the range outlines the whole spilled region with a subtle blue spill boundary, matching Google Sheets. If a cell the array needs is already occupied, the spill can't land: the anchor shows a spill conflict and the blocking value is left untouched.
Verified behavior
Matches Google Sheets: In Google Sheets a dynamic-array formula computes at its ANCHOR cell and "spills" the result across neighbouring cells. The anchor holds the formula and displays the array's top-left value; the other cells are read-only echoes of the result and carry no formula of their own. Orientation follows the array's shape — =SEQUENCE(3) spills DOWN a 3x1 column (A1:A3 = 1,2,3), =SEQUENCE(1,3) spills ACROSS a 1x3 row (A1:C1 = 1,2,3), and =SEQUENCE(2,3) fills a 2x3 block. When a cell within a spill cell is selected, Sheets outlines the whole spilled range with a thin blue "spill boundary". If any target cell is occupied the array cannot spill: the anchor shows #SPILL!, no values spill, and the blocking value is preserved. (As of @truecalc/workbook 3.2.0 the engine spills N x 1 arrays VERTICALLY, matching Sheets — the orientation parity gap tracked in truecalc/core#707 is resolved. The blocked-spill error is still #SPILL! in Sheets vs a generic error in the current engine. See the oracle brief.)
A single-column dynamic array spills DOWN a column (vertical, 3.2.0)
Given
When I type =SEQUENCE(5) into E5
Then
- E6 shows
2 - E7 shows
3 - E8 shows
4 - E9 shows
5 - F5 shows
null - G5 shows
null - E5 has formula
=SEQUENCE(5)
A dynamic array spills across the row from its anchor
Given
When I type =SEQUENCE(1,3) into E5
Then
- F5 shows
2 - G5 shows
3 - E5 has formula
=SEQUENCE(1,3)
A 2-D array spills a block; every echo is a value with no formula
Given
When I type =SEQUENCE(2,3) into E5
Then
- F5 shows
2 - G5 shows
3 - E6 shows
4 - F6 shows
5 - G6 shows
6 - E5 has formula
=SEQUENCE(2,3)
Obstructing the target range collapses the spill (spill conflict)
Given
- G6 =
x
When I type =SEQUENCE(2,3) into E5
Then
- G6 shows
x - F5 shows
null - E6 shows
null
Keyboard shortcuts + the '?' cheat sheet
Every keyboard shortcut is declared once, by its own operation; the same declaration drives both the key handler and a discoverable panel (press '?').
View a workbook
A workbook's cell values render on the canvas grid — numbers and dates right-aligned, text left-aligned, formula errors shown distinctly — with only the visible cells drawn so scrolling stays smooth on a large sheet.