Build a workbook in the editor

How to build a calculation model directly in SpreadAPI's built-in spreadsheet editor, without an Excel file, and which tools the editor offers.

Start with an empty workbook

1. Create a new service and open it.
2. On the empty Configuration (Konfiguration) tab, click Create a new spreadsheet (Neue Arbeitsmappe erstellen).
3. An empty sheet named Sheet1 opens in the editor.

The editor works like a spreadsheet program. Click a cell and type a value. Start an entry with = to write a formula, for example =B1*B2. Formulas calculate at once, with the same functions the published service uses.

The editor is also where an imported workbook shows. Everything on this page applies to imported workbooks too.

A small model, step by step

1. Type labels in column A, for example Amount in A1, Tax rate in A2 and Total in A3.
2. Type the input values next to them: 1000 in B1 and 0.19 in B2.
3. Select B2, open Number format (Zahlenformat) in the toolbar and choose Percentage (12%) (Prozent). The cell now shows 19%.
4. Type the formula =B1*(1+B2) in B3.
5. Select B1 and click Add as Parameter (Als Parameter hinzufügen) in the panel on the right. Do the same for B2 and B3.
6. Click Save (Speichern).

Because the labels sit to the left of the values, SpreadAPI suggests the names amount, tax_rate and total by itself. B1 and B2 become inputs, B3 becomes an output because it holds a formula. See Add inputs and Add outputs.

The toolbar

The toolbar sits above the sheet. The first groups format cells; they are described in Formatting and number formats. The last group holds the tools for building a model:

Two of these tools help directly with parameters:

• A cell with a List (dropdown) rule becomes an input whose allowed values are filled in for you. See Input validation.
• A defined name makes formulas easier to read and to check. The rules for a name: it starts with a letter or _, contains only letters, digits, _ or ., and must not look like a cell address such as A1.

Zoom and file size

The status bar under the sheet has a zoom control from 50% to 200%. It also shows the size of the workbook as File (Datei). Your plan has a limit for this size; see File size limits.

Saving

Changes in the editor are not saved until you click Save. If you leave the page with unsaved changes, SpreadAPI asks before the changes are lost. Callers see a change only after you publish again; see Save changes and Publish and republish.

To try your model with different values before publishing, see Test before publishing.

When Excel is the better tool

The editor is made for building and adjusting a model in the browser. If you already have the model in Excel, import it instead of typing it again: Import an Excel file. To continue working in Excel later, download the workbook with Export to Excel; see Export the workbook.

For developers and agents

• A new workbook has one sheet named Sheet1. Parameter addresses always carry the sheet name, for example Sheet1!B1.
• Formulas use Excel syntax with English function names. The argument separator follows the language of the app: , in English, ; in German (as in a German Excel), for example =IF(A1>10;1;0).
• An AI agent connected to the account can create a workbook from cells it sends, without a file; see Build a service with an agent.

FAQ

Can I create a service without an Excel file?

Yes. Click Create a new spreadsheet on the empty Configuration tab and build the model in the editor. You type values and formulas as in any spreadsheet.

How do I enter a formula?

Select a cell and type = followed by the formula, for example =B1*B2, then press Enter. Insert function in the toolbar lists all functions with their arguments.

Which functions can I use in the editor?

More than 500 functions, including lookup, math, text, date, financial and statistical functions. Insert function shows the complete list; see also Supported Excel features.

How do I create a drop-down list in a cell?

Select the cell, click Data validation in the toolbar, choose List (dropdown) and enter the values or a range. When you add this cell as an input, the list becomes its allowed values.

How do I name a cell?

Click Name manager in the toolbar, enter a name and what it refers to, for example =Sheet1!$B$2, and click Add. You can then use the name in formulas.

Can I undo a change?

Yes. Click Undo in the toolbar or press Ctrl+Z.

Do I lose my work if I close the browser?

Changes that were not saved are lost. Click Save before you leave; SpreadAPI warns you when you try to leave the page with unsaved changes.

Can I switch between the editor and Excel?

Yes. Download the workbook with Export to Excel from the three-dots menu (⋮), edit it in Excel, and bring it back with Import from Excel. Your parameters are preserved.