Spreadsheets

Open XLSX, XLS, or CSV files beside the reports and presentations that depend on them.

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Work in the grid#

The spreadsheet workspace includes sheet tabs, grid selection, a formula bar, formatting controls, charts, and workbook save actions. You can edit values and formulas, navigate ranges with the keyboard, rename sheets, and work across multiple sheets.

Formula entry supports suggestions and cross-sheet references. Use explicit sheet names when the workbook is large:

=SUM('North America'!D2:D18)

Save with Cmd/Ctrl + S. Commit an active cell or formula-bar edit before closing the file so the final value is included in the save.

Legacy .xls workbooks can be opened and edited, but Nebula Writer cannot overwrite the original .xls file. Use Save As and choose .xlsx to keep your changes.

Ask the agent to inspect first#

Start by identifying the source of truth and any workbook features that must not change:

Inspect @forecast.xlsx. Tell me which sheets contain inputs, formulas, and presentation outputs. Identify named ranges, charts, and structural warnings. Do not edit the workbook.

Then request a bounded change:

Update only the Q3 values in the Summary sheet from the Approved Forecast table. Preserve formulas, chart ranges, number formats, hidden rows, and every other sheet. Show the affected cells for review.

Review formulas and structure#

After a workbook edit, check more than the visible values:

• Formulas and cross-sheet references
• Absolute and relative references
• Number and date formats
• Merged cells, tables, named ranges, and hidden rows or columns
• Chart source ranges and labels
• Workbook warnings after structural edits

Nebula Writer can flag structural metadata that may drift when rows, columns, tables, or other workbook structures change. Treat that warning as a reason to narrow the edit and verify the file in Excel when fidelity is critical.

Cached values can make an unsupported or stale calculation look correct. Open the formula audit or warning state when it appears and recalculate in Excel before relying on a high-stakes result.

Turn a workbook into a document#

Keep the workbook as the evidence and create a separate output:

Use the Summary and Risks sheets in @forecast.xlsx to create exports/forecast-brief.docx. Include the three largest variances, their owners, and the source cell for each number. Do not modify the workbook.

For repeatable aggregation or chart generation, use Data analysis & artifacts and save the script beside its outputs.

Export XLSX or CSV#

Use XLSX when the output needs multiple sheets, formulas, formatting, charts, merged cells, or workbook metadata. Use CSV for one flat table that will be consumed as data.

CSV cannot preserve:

• Multiple sheets
• Formulas as workbook logic
• Cell formatting
• Charts and images
• Merged cells, named ranges, or workbook metadata

Nebula Writer does not currently provide native PDF export for spreadsheets. Use a spreadsheet application with print and PDF controls, then check scale, print area, repeated headers, and page breaks.

A reliable handoff#

Before sharing a workbook:

1. Save it and reopen it from the project tree.
2. Check every changed cell and formula.
3. Confirm charts still use the intended ranges.
4. Resolve or document structural warnings.
5. Recalculate and inspect in Excel when the recipient depends on exact compatibility.