Formula Columns
Add computed columns to sheets that calculate values from other columns automatically.
Formula columns let you add computed values to your sheets. Write a formula once, and every row calculates its result automatically — when data is entered during a Session, or when you update the formula later.
Creating a Formula Column
- Open a sheet and click the three-dot menu → Add Column.
- Select formula as the column type.
- Write your formula in the formula editor.
- Choose an output type (number, text, date, or boolean).
- Click Save.
The formula is evaluated against every existing row immediately. As new rows are added through Sessions, each row's formula cells are computed automatically.
Writing Formulas
Formulas use familiar spreadsheet syntax. Every formula starts with = (added automatically) and references other columns in the same row.
Referencing columns
Start typing a column name in the editor — matching columns appear in a dropdown. Select one to insert it as a chip. You can reference any column type: text, number, date, checks, and more.
Examples
| Formula | What it does |
|---|---|
=Price * Quantity | Multiplies two number columns |
=IF(Score > 80, "Pass", "Fail") | Conditional text based on a number |
=ROUND(Total / Count, 2) | Division rounded to 2 decimal places |
=CONCAT(First Name, " ", Last Name) | Joins text values together |
=IF(AND(Score > 50, Complete), "Ready", "Pending") | Multiple conditions |
Available functions
The formula editor suggests commonly used functions as you type:
| Function | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
SUM | Adds values together | =SUM(Price, Tax, Shipping) |
IF | Returns one value if true, another if false | =IF(Score > 50, "Pass", "Fail") |
AVERAGE | Returns the mean | =AVERAGE(Score1, Score2, Score3) |
MAX / MIN | Largest or smallest value | =MAX(Bid1, Bid2, Bid3) |
ROUND | Rounds to a number of decimal places | =ROUND(Ratio * 100, 0) |
CONCAT | Joins text values | =CONCAT(City, ", ", Country) |
ABS | Absolute value | =ABS(Difference) |
LEN | Number of characters in text | =LEN(Response) |
AND / OR / NOT | Combine or invert conditions | =AND(Approved, Verified) |
TODAY | Current date | =TODAY() |
These are the most common functions, but any standard spreadsheet function is supported — type it directly if you know the name.
Structured Column Properties
Some column types store structured data (checklists, polls, multi-selects). When you reference one of these columns in a formula, Eddy gives you a sensible default value — but you can also access specific properties.
Checklists
When you select a checklist column, a property picker appears:
| Property | Returns | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Checked count (default) | Number of ticked items | =Checklist.checked |
| Total items | Total number of items | =Checklist.total |
| Unchecked count | Items not yet ticked | =Checklist.unchecked |
| All complete? | True if every item is ticked | =IF(Checklist.complete, "Done", "In Progress") |
| Completion ratio | Fraction from 0 to 1 | =ROUND(Checklist.ratio * 100, 0) for a percentage |
Checkboxes
| Property | Returns |
|---|---|
| Checked (default) | True or false |
| Label | The checkbox label text |
Scored items (polls)
| Property | Returns |
|---|---|
| Total score (default) | Sum of all scores |
| Item count | Number of items |
| Average score | Mean score |
| Highest / Lowest score | Max or min score |
Other types
- Single select → the selected label (text)
- Multi-select → count of selected items (number)
- Attachments → count of files (number)
- Text, number, date → the value as-is
Output Type
Every formula column has an output type that tells Eddy how to display and use the result:
- Number — right-aligned, available for sum/average aggregation, numeric operators in filters
- Text — left-aligned, text operators in filters
- Date — formatted as a date
- Boolean — displayed as true/false
The editor infers the output type from your formula automatically. You can override it manually if needed.
Live Preview
Below the formula editor, a preview shows the result of your formula with sample values. Each referenced column gets a test input so you can verify the formula works before saving.
Errors
If a formula can't be computed for a row, the cell shows an error instead of a value:
| Error | Meaning |
|---|---|
#DIV/0! | Division by zero |
#REF! | A referenced column was deleted |
#VALUE! | Wrong data type (e.g., adding text to a number) |
Errors appear in red in the grid. Fix the formula or the source data to resolve them.
Things to Know
- Read-only. Formula cells are computed automatically — you can't type into them during a Session.
- Row-scoped. Each formula operates on its own row. You can't reference values from other rows.
- Real-time. When a participant fills in a block during a Session, any formula columns that reference that block's column update immediately.
- Deletion protection. If you try to delete a column that's referenced by a formula, Eddy warns you and shows which formula columns depend on it.
- Works with rules. Formula columns can be used in transition rules, section visibility rules, and sheet filters — they behave like their output type (a number formula gets number operators, etc.).
- Works with aggregation. Number formula columns support sum, average, min, max, and count in the sheet's aggregation bar.
- Duplicating Maps. When you duplicate a Map, formula columns are copied with their references updated to point to the new columns.
Related
- Sheets — viewing and managing sheet data
- Blocks & Sections — the blocks that capture data into columns
- Building — designing Maps in the builder