Formulae

File Format Support (click to show)

The parser will translate from the storage representation to A1-Style strings, while the writer will translate from A1-Style strings to the file format.

Formats	Parse	Write	Array	Dynamic	Storage Representation
XLSX / XLSM	✔	✔	✔	✔	A1-Style strings
XLSB	✔		✔	✔	BIFF parsed tokens
XLS	✔		✔	✕	BIFF parsed tokens
XLML	✔	✔	✔	✕	RC-style strings
SYLK	✔	✔		✕	A1/RC-style strings
CSV / TXT	✔	✔	✕	✕	A1-Style strings
ODS / FODS / UOS	✔	✔		✕	OpenFormula strings
WK*	✔			✕	Lotus parsed tokens
WQ* / WB* / QPW				✕	Quattro Pro tokens
NUMBERS				✕	Numbers parsed tokens

X (✕) marks features that are not supported by the file formats. There is no way to mark a dynamic array formula in the XLS file format.

SheetJS supports reading and writing formulae for a number of file formats. When supported, formulae will always be exported.

By default, formulae are not always imported. To ensure formula parsing, the option cellFormula: true should be passed to the parser.

Browser

Typically file data will be available as an ArrayBuffer, either downloaded with fetch / XMLHttpRequest or user-submitted with a File Input element. cellFormula: true should be added to the second options argument:

/* using read in the browser, `cellFormula` is in the second argument */
const ab = await (await fetch("test.xlsx")).arrayBuffer();
const workbook = XLSX.read(ab, { cellFormula: true });
// ------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NodeJS

Typically file data will be available as a Buffer from a network request / API or stored in the file system. cellFormula: true should be added to the second options argument to read or readFile:

XLSX.read

/* using read in NodeJS, `cellFormula` is in the second argument */
const ab = await (await fetch("test.xlsx")).arrayBuffer();
const workbook = XLSX.read(ab, { cellFormula: true });
// ------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

XLSX.readFile

/* using readFile in NodeJS, add `cellFormula` to the second argument */
const workbook = XLSX.readFile("test.xlsx", { cellFormula: true });
// -------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bun

Typically file data will be available as a Uint8Array from a network request or stored in the file system. cellFormula: true should be set in the options argument to read or readFile:

XLSX.read

/* using read in Bun, `cellFormula` is in the second argument */
const ab = await (await fetch("test.xlsx")).arrayBuffer();
const workbook = XLSX.read(ab, { cellFormula: true });
// ------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

XLSX.readFile

/* using readFile in Bun, add `cellFormula` to the second argument */
const workbook = XLSX.readFile("test.xlsx", { cellFormula: true });
// -------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Deno

Typically file data will be available as a Uint8Array or ArrayBuffer from API or stored in the file system. cellFormula: true should be set in the options argument to read or readFile:

XLSX.read

/* using read in Deno, `cellFormula` is in the second argument */
const ab = await (await fetch("test.xlsx")).arrayBuffer();
const workbook = XLSX.read(ab, { cellFormula: true });
// ------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

XLSX.readFile

/* using readFile in Deno, add `cellFormula` to the second argument */
const workbook = XLSX.readFile("test.xlsx", { cellFormula: true });
// -------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A1-Style Formulae

The A1-Style formula string is stored in the f field of the cell object. Spreadsheet software typically represent formulae with a leading = sign, but SheetJS formulae omit the =.

"A1-Style" describes A1-Style in more detail.

Live Example (click to hide)

For example, consider this test file:

The following code block fetches the file, parses and prints info on cell D1:

/* The live editor requires this function wrapper */
function ConcatFormula(props) {
  const [ws, setWS] = React.useState({"!ref":"A1"});
  const [addr, setAddr] = React.useState("D1");
  const setaddr = React.useCallback((evt)=>{ setAddr(evt.target.value) });

  /* Process ArrayBuffer */
  const process_ab = (ab) => {
    const wb = XLSX.read(ab, {cellFormula: true, sheetStubs: true});
    setWS(wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]]);
  };

  /* Fetch sample file */
  React.useEffect(() => {(async() => {
    process_ab(await (await fetch("/files/concat.xlsx")).arrayBuffer());
  })(); }, []);
  const process_file = async(e) => {
    process_ab(await e.target.files[0].arrayBuffer());
  };
  return ( <>
    <input type="file" onChange={process_file}/><br/>
    <b>Cell: </b><input type="text" value={addr} onChange={setaddr} size="6"/>
    {!ws[addr] ? ( <b>Cell {addr} not found</b> ) : ( <table>
      <tr><td>Formula</td><td><code>{ws[addr].f}</code></td></tr>
      <tr><td>Value</td><td><code>{ws[addr].v}</code></td></tr>
      <tr><td>Cell Type</td><td><code>{ws[addr].t}</code></td></tr>
    </table> )}
  </> );
}

Single-Cell Formulae

For simple formulae, the f key of the desired cell can be set to the actual formula text. This worksheet represents A1=1, A2=2, and A3=A1+A2:

var worksheet = {
  "!ref": "A1:A3", // Worksheet range A1:A3
  A1: { t: "n", v: 1 }, // A1 is a number (1)
  A2: { t: "n", v: 2 }, // A2 is a number (2)
  A3: { t: "n", v: 3, f: "A1+A2" } // A3 =A1+A2
};

Utilities like aoa_to_sheet will accept cell objects in lieu of values:

var worksheet = XLSX.utils.aoa_to_sheet([
  [ 1 ], // A1
  [ 2 ], // A2
  [ {t: "n", v: 3, f: "A1+A2"} ] // A3
]);

Live Example (click to hide)

This demo creates a worksheet where A1=1, A2=2, and A3=A1+A2.

/* The live editor requires this function wrapper */
function ExportSimpleFormula(props) {

  /* Callback invoked when the button is clicked */
  const xport = React.useCallback(() => {
    /* Create worksheet with A1=1, A2=2, A3=A1+A2 */
    var ws = XLSX.utils.aoa_to_sheet([
      [ 1 ], // A1
      [ 2 ], // A2
      [ {t: "n", v: 3, f: "A1+A2"} ] // A3
    ]);

    /* Export to file (start a download) */
    var wb = XLSX.utils.book_new();
    XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(wb, ws, "Sheet1");
    XLSX.writeFile(wb, "SheetJSFormula1.xlsx");
  });

  return (<button onClick={xport}><b>Export XLSX!</b></button>);
}

Cells with formula entries but no value will be serialized in a way that Excel and other spreadsheet tools will recognize. This library will not automatically compute formula results! For example, the following worksheet will include the BESSELJ function but the result will not be available in JavaScript:

var worksheet = XLSX.utils.aoa_to_sheet([
  [ 3.14159, 2 ], // Row "1"
  [ { t: "n", f: "BESSELJ(A1,B1)" } ] // Row "2" will be calculated on file open
])

If the actual results are needed in JS, SheetJS Pro offers a formula calculator component for evaluating expressions, updating values and dependent cells, and refreshing entire workbooks.

Array Formulae

Assign an array formula

XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, range, formula);

Array formulae are stored in the top-left cell of the array block. All cells of an array formula have a F field corresponding to the range. A single-cell formula can be distinguished from a plain formula by the presence of F field.

The following snippet sets cell C1 to the array formula {=SUM(A1:A3*B1:B3)}:

// API function
XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, "C1", "SUM(A1:A3*B1:B3)");

// ... OR raw operations
worksheet["C1"] = { t: "n", f: "SUM(A1:A3*B1:B3)", F: "C1:C1" };

For a multi-cell array formula, every cell has the same array range but only the first cell specifies the formula. Consider D1:D3=A1:A3*B1:B3:

// API function
XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, "D1:D3", "A1:A3*B1:B3");

// ... OR raw operations
worksheet["D1"] = { t: "n", F: "D1:D3", f: "A1:A3*B1:B3" };
worksheet["D2"] = { t: "n", F: "D1:D3" };
worksheet["D3"] = { t: "n", F: "D1:D3" };

Utilities and writers are expected to check for the presence of a F field and ignore any possible formula element f in cells other than the starting cell. They are not expected to perform validation of the formulae!

Live Example (click to show)

/* The live editor requires this function wrapper */
function ExportArrayFormulae(props) {

  /* Callback invoked when the button is clicked */
  const xport = React.useCallback(() => {
    /* Starting data */
    var D = [
      [ "A", "B", , "Cell AF", "Expected", , "Range AF", "Expected" ],
      [  1,   2 ],
      [  3,   4 ],
      [  5,   6 ]
    ];
    /* Add expected values */
    let sum = 0;
    for(let i = 1; i < D.length; ++i) sum += (D[i][7] = D[i][0] * D[i][1]);
    D[1][4] = sum;

    /* Create worksheet */
    var ws = XLSX.utils.aoa_to_sheet(D);

    /* D2 single-cell array formula */
    XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(ws, "D2", "SUM(A2:A4*B2:B4)");

    /* G2:G4 range array formula */
    XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(ws, "G2:G4", "A2:A4*B2:B4");

    /* Export to file (start a download) */
    var wb = XLSX.utils.book_new();
    XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(wb, ws, "Sheet1");
    XLSX.writeFile(wb, "SheetJSArrayFormulae.xlsx");
  });

  return (<button onClick={xport}><b>Export XLSX!</b></button>);
}

Dynamic Array Formulae

Assign a dynamic array formula

XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, range, formula, true);

Released in 2020, Dynamic Array Formulae are supported in the XLSX/XLSM and XLSB file formats. They are represented like normal array formulae but have special cell metadata indicating that the formula should be allowed to adjust the range.

An array formula can be marked as dynamic by setting the cell D property to true. The F range is expected but can be the set to the current cell:

// API function
XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, "C1", "_xlfn.UNIQUE(A1:A3)", 1);

// ... OR raw operations
worksheet["C1"] = { t: "s", f: "_xlfn.UNIQUE(A1:A3)", F:"C1", D: 1 }; // dynamic

Live Example (click to show)

/* The live editor requires this function wrapper */
function ExportDynamicArrayFormulae(props) {

  /* Callback invoked when the button is clicked */
  const xport = React.useCallback(() => {
    /* Starting data */
    var D = [
      [ "A", , "Static", "Expected", , "Dynamic", "Expected" ],
      [  1,  ,         , 1         , ,          ,          1 ],
      [  2,  ,         ,           , ,          ,          2 ],
      [  1, ]
    ];

    /* Create worksheet */
    var ws = XLSX.utils.aoa_to_sheet(D);

    /* C2 static formula */
    XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(ws, "C2", "_xlfn.UNIQUE(A2:A4)");

    /* F2 dynamic formula */
    XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(ws, "F2", "_xlfn.UNIQUE(A2:A4)", 1);

    /* Export to file (start a download) */
    var wb = XLSX.utils.book_new();
    XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(wb, ws, "Sheet1");
    XLSX.writeFile(wb, "SheetJSDynamicFormulae.xlsx");
  });

  return (<button onClick={xport}><b>Export XLSX!</b></button>);
}

Localization

SheetJS operates at the file level. Excel stores formula expressions using the English (United States) function names. For non-English users, Excel uses a localized set of function names.

For example, when the computer language and region is set to Spanish, Excel interprets =CONTAR(A1:C3) as if CONTAR is the COUNT function. However, in the actual file, Excel stores COUNT(A1:C3).

Function arguments are separated with commas. For example, the Spanish Excel formula =CONTAR(A1:C3;B4:D6) is equivalent to the SheetJS formula string COUNT(A1:A3,B4:D6)

JSON Translation table.

Function Name Translator (click to hide)

/* The live editor requires this function wrapper */
function Translator(props) {
  const [locales, setLocales] = React.useState([]);
  const [data, setData] = React.useState({});
  const [names, setNames] = React.useState([]);
  const [name, setName] = React.useState("Enter a function name");
  /* Fetch and display formula */
  React.useEffect(() => { (async() => {
    /* Fetch data */
    const json = await (await fetch("/fmla/table.json")).json();
    setLocales(Object.keys(json));
    setData(json);
    setNames(json.en);
    setName(json.es[0])
  })(); }, []);

  const update_name = React.useCallback(() => {
    const nameelt = document.getElementById("fmla");
    const idx = nameelt.options[nameelt.selectedIndex].value;
    const toelt = document.getElementById("tolocale");
    const tovalue = toelt.options[toelt.selectedIndex].value;
    setName(data[tovalue][idx]);
  });

  const update_from = React.useCallback(() => {
    const fromelt = document.getElementById("fromlocale");
    const fromvalue = fromelt.options[fromelt.selectedIndex].value;
    setNames(data[fromvalue]);
  });

  return ( <>
    <b>Name: </b><select id="fmla" onChange={update_name}>
    {names.map((n, idx) => (<option value={idx}>{n}</option>))}
    </select><br/>
    <b>From: </b><select id="fromlocale" onChange={update_from}>
    {locales.map(l => (<option value={l} selected={l=="en"}>{l}</option>))}
    </select>
    <b> To: </b><select id="tolocale" onChange={update_name}>
    {locales.map(l => (<option value={l} selected={l=="es"}>{l}</option>))}
    </select><br/>
    <b> Translation: </b><pre id="out">{name}</pre>
  </> );
}

Prefixed "Future Functions"

Functions introduced in newer versions of Excel are prefixed with _xlfn. when stored in files. When writing formula expressions using these functions, the prefix is required for maximal compatibility:

// Broadest compatibility
XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, "C1", "_xlfn.UNIQUE(A1:A3)", 1);

// Can cause errors in spreadsheet software
XLSX.utils.sheet_set_array_formula(worksheet, "C1", "UNIQUE(A1:A3)", 1);

When reading a file, the xlfn option preserves the prefixes.

Functions requiring _xlfn. prefix (click to show)

This list is growing with each Excel release.

ACOT
ACOTH
AGGREGATE
ARABIC
BASE
BETA.DIST
BETA.INV
BINOM.DIST
BINOM.DIST.RANGE
BINOM.INV
BITAND
BITLSHIFT
BITOR
BITRSHIFT
BITXOR
BYCOL
BYROW
CEILING.MATH
CEILING.PRECISE
CHISQ.DIST
CHISQ.DIST.RT
CHISQ.INV
CHISQ.INV.RT
CHISQ.TEST
COMBINA
CONCAT
CONFIDENCE.NORM
CONFIDENCE.T
COT
COTH
COVARIANCE.P
COVARIANCE.S
CSC
CSCH
DAYS
DECIMAL
ECMA.CEILING
ERF.PRECISE
ERFC.PRECISE
EXPON.DIST
F.DIST
F.DIST.RT
F.INV
F.INV.RT
F.TEST
FIELDVALUE
FILTERXML
FLOOR.MATH
FLOOR.PRECISE
FORECAST.ETS
FORECAST.ETS.CONFINT
FORECAST.ETS.SEASONALITY
FORECAST.ETS.STAT
FORECAST.LINEAR
FORMULATEXT
GAMMA
GAMMA.DIST
GAMMA.INV
GAMMALN.PRECISE
GAUSS
HYPGEOM.DIST
IFNA
IFS
IMCOSH
IMCOT
IMCSC
IMCSCH
IMSEC
IMSECH
IMSINH
IMTAN
ISFORMULA
ISO.CEILING
ISOMITTED
ISOWEEKNUM
LAMBDA
LET
LOGNORM.DIST
LOGNORM.INV
MAKEARRAY
MAP
MAXIFS
MINIFS
MODE.MULT
MODE.SNGL
MUNIT
NEGBINOM.DIST
NETWORKDAYS.INTL
NORM.DIST
NORM.INV
NORM.S.DIST
NORM.S.INV
NUMBERVALUE
PDURATION
PERCENTILE.EXC
PERCENTILE.INC
PERCENTRANK.EXC
PERCENTRANK.INC
PERMUTATIONA
PHI
POISSON.DIST
QUARTILE.EXC
QUARTILE.INC
QUERYSTRING
RANDARRAY
RANK.AVG
RANK.EQ
REDUCE
RRI
SCAN
SEC
SECH
SEQUENCE
SHEET
SHEETS
SKEW.P
SORTBY
STDEV.P
STDEV.S
SWITCH
T.DIST
T.DIST.2T
T.DIST.RT
T.INV
T.INV.2T
T.TEST
TEXTJOIN
UNICHAR
UNICODE
UNIQUE
VAR.P
VAR.S
WEBSERVICE
WEIBULL.DIST
WORKDAY.INTL
XLOOKUP
XOR
Z.TEST

Caveats

In some cases, seemingly valid formulae may be rejected by spreadsheet software.

EVALUATE is a supported function in WPS Office. It is not valid in a cell formula in Excel. It can be used in an Excel defined name when exporting to XLSM format but not XLSX. This is a limitation of Excel. Since WPS Office accepts files with EVALUATE, the writer does not warn or throw errors.