← Back to Running a business

Tools / Working in a spreadsheet

Find it. Understand it. Use it.

Formula Lab
+ Cheat Sheet.

Find the formula for the job in front of you—and keep a clear reference beside your spreadsheet.

Get the Lab + Cheat Sheet — $3 ↗

One-time purchase · Offline formula finder + one-page PDF

See how the formula fits the cells
The same worked SUMIF example appears in the Lab and opening guide.

Search by the task or the function.

Open the Formula Lab in your browser. Search its 40 formula cards by name or purpose, or narrow the results using eight categories: math, logical, lookup, text, dates, statistics, financial, and dynamic arrays.

Each card gives a purpose and a formula pattern to adapt. Some cards also explain related functions or show a worked result.

Copy the right pattern for your app.

Choose Excel or Google Sheets before copying. Where the examples differ, the Lab shows the appropriate syntax. If your browser blocks automatic copying, select the formula and copy it manually.

Replace the sample cell ranges and assumptions with your own. The Lab helps you find and understand a formula; your spreadsheet performs the calculation.

Keep the Cheat Sheet within reach.

The one-page landscape PDF groups the core functions and reminders into a compact reference. Print it or keep it on a second screen while you work.

Use the Lab when you need to search and copy. Use the Cheat Sheet when you want to scan related functions and syntax. Both are included in this one offer.

What you receive.

  • Formula Lab: a standalone HTML file with 40 searchable cards, eight category filters, an app selector, and copy controls.
  • Formula Cheat Sheet: one printable US Letter landscape PDF.
  • Opening guide: a README with setup, the invoice example, compatibility notes, and official documentation links.

One ZIP with three files. Extract it, keep the files together, and open the HTML in a modern browser. No installation, account, or subscription is needed for the Lab.

Check the result before relying on it.

The examples target Excel 2021, Excel 2024, Microsoft 365, and current Google Sheets. Older Excel versions may lack newer functions. English function names and comma separators may need adapting to your locale.

Test the formula on a few known rows. Check dates, data types, matching range sizes, and—for financial formulas—the signs and periods. A reference cannot check those details in your own file.

Formula Lab / From question to checked result

Give the formula a job.

A small invoice list makes the formula understandable. The example is included in the downloaded Lab and guide.

01 / Start with the question

“How much has been paid?”

You have an invoice list with a Status column and an Amount column. Adding every amount would include invoices still open.

SUMIF

Add amounts only where the status is Paid.

Choose your spreadsheet app, review the card, and copy the example. This SUMIF pattern is shared by Excel and Google Sheets.

Other tasks need other functions. The category filters help you explore nearby choices without scrolling through the whole reference.

One combined download: offline HTML Lab + one-page PDF + opening guide.

Keep your open draft?

Continuing will discard your unsaved changes. You can return to the draft and save or download it first.