Why a second language
A formula that appended a row every recalc would loop. Metagrid keeps one rule: formulas read. Writing is a command — typed with /, stored in the cell, run on purpose with Space (or a click). The Commands ribbon tab has a library, same idea as Formulas → Library.
Authoring
- Select a cell and type
/. Autocomplete opens from the first letter. Tab, Enter, or Space accepts the highlighted command. - Independent commands (workbook/app, no selection) finish as
/UNDO()and leave edit. Anything that would use the current selection on the ribbon takes atargetpath in the cell — the thing you would have selected. Missing)is added on Enter, same as formulas. - The cell displays the command name (a button). The formula bar still shows the full source.
- Space or click runs it. Undo works.
Chain by writing more than one call:
/REFRESH(sales) /EXPORT(Orders, json)
Name the cell with /NAME:
/NAME("Add order") /SUBMIT(Form, Orders)
/NAME.Dump /REFRESH(sales) /EXPORT(Orders, csv)
Built-in commands
| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
/COPY(from, to) | Clone one cell onto another (scalar or whole nested structure). |
/CUT(from, to) | Copy, then clear the source cell. |
/SET(value, ref) | Evaluate value and write the snapshot into one stored cell (not a live formula). |
/DELETE(ref) | Remove the cell. If it holds a structure, the structure is gone. |
/CLEAR(ref) | Blank values inside a structure; keep headers, names, and formulas. |
/APPEND(form, table) | Append the form dictionary as a record. On commit, field pairs are baked as refs so rename keeps them aligned. Extra form fields that do not map are an error. |
/SUBMIT(form, table) | APPEND, then CLEAR the form. |
/PASTE(to) | Clipboard into one cell. |
/REFRESH(query) | Re-fetch a saved query by name. Omit the name to refresh all. |
/EXPORT(data, type) | Download json, csv, or tsv. Omit data for the whole workbook. |
/EMAIL(to, subject, body, from, mode) | Open a mail draft. from is a linked address or its label (Settings → Sending addresses). Last arg send delivers through Metagrid (Reply-To = that address). Gmail from opens that inbox’s compose window. No args uses the workbook email export. |
/TEXT(to, body, from, mode) | Open an SMS draft. One argument is the message body. from picks a linked number. send delivers through Metagrid when SMS is configured. |
/OPEN(url) | Open a URL. |
/NAME("Label") | Display name only — does not run. /NAME.Label works too. |
/TRANSPOSE(Budget), /TABLE(cell), /FMTNUMBER(Orders.Price) | Ribbon ids, uppercase. If the ribbon uses the current selection, the cell form takes target — that path. Independent cmds are /UNDO(), /REFRESH(). See Commands. |
Paths are the same as formulas: Orders, Form.Region, #log, grid ranges A1:B2.
Ribbon is a sheet
The left column is the same UI as the workbook: row numbers, Name, command cells. Click a tab (Insert, Data, …) and the ribbon shows that dictionary. Space or click runs a row. Edit lets you add slash commands to the ribbon (stored in this browser with the other menus). Profile, field ☰, and the empty-cell picker still open as a floating metasheet.