Editing

Enter values, formulas, and manipulate cell content.

Entering Data

VimSheet distinguishes strings from numbers and formulas at entry time:

  • \ — open the cell editor for a string (stored as text, left-aligned by default). Use <, >, or | for left-, right-, or center-aligned string insert.

  • = — open the cell editor for a number or formula. Typing =100 stores the number 100; =SUM(A1:A5) stores a live formula. Content after = is evaluated — pure literals are stored as values, expressions as formulas.

To confirm, press Enter. Escape leaves the insert sub-mode for the normal sub-mode (your text is preserved); press Enter (or Escape again) to commit, or use vi motions to fix the entry first.

Multi-line Cell Content

Cells can hold multiple lines of text. While in the cell editor:

  • Press Alt+Enter to insert a newline at the cursor position.

  • The grid row automatically expands to show all lines.

  • The formula bar shows the current line (the line after the last newline) for focused editing.

Collapse and expand row height with normal mode keys:

Key

Action

z_

Collapse current row to height 1

z+

Expand current row to full content height

In visual mode, z_ and z+ collapse or expand all rows in the selection.

Editing Existing Cells

  1. Navigate to a cell you want to edit.

  2. Press e to open the editor at the end of the content (E for the start). The editor opens in normal sub-mode.

  3. Use vi motions (h, w, dw …) or press i / a to type.

  4. Press Enter to confirm your changes.

A and I open the editor in insert sub-mode at the end / start of the content, pre-filled with the existing value. All of these keys share the same editor, so Escape always drops you into normal sub-mode to fix the entry with vi motions before committing.

Copy, Cut, and Paste

Registers

VimSheet supports named registers. Prefix any yank or paste with "{reg} to use a specific register:

"ayy        Yank cell into register 'a'
"aP         Paste from register 'a'
"bdd        Cut cell into register 'b'

The unnamed register ("") stores the last yank or delete. The numbered registers ("0 through "9)

Increment and Decrement

Quickly adjust numeric values using these normal mode keys:

Key

Action

Ctrl+a

Increment the number under the cursor by 1

Ctrl+x

Decrement the number under the cursor by 1

5 Ctrl+a

Increment the number under the cursor by 5

Increment, decrement, dd, dr, and dc are all repeatable with ..

Valueize

Replace a formula with its current computed value:

gv   Replace formula in current cell with its current value

Locking Cells

Prevent a cell from being edited:

zl   Lock current cell (read-only)
zL   Unlock current cell

Cell Comments

Add a note to any cell:

:comment This is a note about this cell
:comment        Show the comment on the current cell

Data Validation

Restrict the type of data that can be entered into a cell:

:validate list yes,no,maybe
:validate number gt 0
:validate integer between 1 100
:validate clear          Remove validation

Cell History

VimSheet tracks changes to cell values. View the history:

:history           Show history for current cell
:history B5        Show history for cell B5

Restore a previous cell value from history:

U   Restore current cell to previous value

Fill Operations

Fill a range with sequential data:

:fill 1 10  A1:A10

This fills A1:A10 with values 1 through 10.

Message History

VimSheet keeps a history of status messages, errors, and notifications. View them with:

:messages      Open the message history panel

Messages are color-coded: red for errors, green for success, yellow for informational messages. The panel shows timestamps and scrolls chronologically (newest at the top).