Formulas

Add a formula such as {{ sum }} to a row to show totals, counts, or task progress from the rows nested below it. Results update as you edit those rows.

Show a total

1. Type Shopping ($) Total {{ sum }} in the row where you want the total
2. Indent these three rows one level below it: Rice $12.00, Tea $3.50, and Bread $2.50
3. Move the cursor to another row. The formula shows the total, 18.00

Shopping ($) Total {{ sum }}
  Rice $12.00
  Tea $3.50
  Bread $2.50

Place the cursor on the result to edit the formula.

Spaces inside the braces are optional: {{ sum }} and {{sum}} work the same way.

Available formulas

Add {{ words }} to a draft and its sections to show their word counts:

Draft {{ words }}
  Introduction {{ words }}
    Write your text here.
  Chapter 1 {{ words }}
    Write your text here.

The draft total includes the section headings. Use {{ chars }} to count characters instead. Both counts exclude Markdown formatting marks.

If no rows are included, the result is 0, or 0/0 for progress.

Show task progress

Type Travel preparation {{ progress }} Remaining {{ todo }} in the parent row. Add tasks below it using checkbox syntax:

• [ ] Check passport creates an unchecked task
• [x] Pack bags creates a checked task

Which rows are included

By default, {{ sum }} includes all rows nested under it: children, grandchildren, and so on. It means the same as {{ descendants.sum }}.

Shopping {{ sum }}
  Food 100
    Snacks 200
  Household items 300

In this example, {{ sum }} shows 600. Change it to {{ children.sum }} to include only direct children. The result is then 100 + 300 = 400.

Other scopes also start from the row containing the formula.

Replace sum with count, progress, or another formula name to use the same scopes.

• Notes are excluded
• Collapsed rows and rows hidden by filters are included
• parent gives an error if the row has no parent
• For a top-level row, siblings includes the other top-level rows

Numeric inputs

sum adds the numbers it finds in row text. Use a dot for decimals and commas to separate groups of three digits. Negative numbers and full-width characters also work.

A sum keeps the greatest number of decimal places in its inputs. For example, 12.00, 3.50, and 2.50 show a total of 18.00. Inputs that are all integers give an integer result. This display rule does not apply to arithmetic expressions such as sum + 1.

Currencies and units are not converted or checked, so use values that make sense to add together. Place the cursor inside a formula to highlight the numbers it includes. To exclude a model number such as 123ABC, wrap it in backticks: `123ABC`.

A row can contain several values. For example, $10 $20 gives 30. Numbers separated only by spaces, such as 10 20, give an error.

Add durations

Write 1 hour 30 minutes as 1:30.

Work time {{ sum }}
  Design 13:00
  Implementation 12:30

This example shows a total of 25:30 (25 hours 30 minutes).

If you mix durations and other numbers, the formula shows a Mixed units error.

Arithmetic

Use +, -, *, /, and parentheses to calculate with numbers and formula results.

• {{ 1200 * 12 }} → 14400
• {{ (2 + 3) * 4 }} → 20
• {{ sum / 2 }} → half the descendant sum

Inside formulas, write numbers using digits 0–9 and a dot for decimals.

Duration results support addition and subtraction only. You cannot multiply or divide them, or write a duration such as 13:00 directly inside a formula.

progress cannot be used in arithmetic. Dividing by zero gives a Division by zero error.

Notes

• Formulas and their results are excluded from other calculations. For example, Subtotal {{ sum }} in a child row does not count the subtotal a second time in the parent total
• To keep {{ sum }} as text without calculating it, add a backslash: \{{ sum }}. Formulas inside code, math, links, or image syntax are not calculated either
• Export normally uses calculated results. Choose Source to export the original formula text
• Turn off Settings > Appearance > Content > Formulas to show and export the original text, such as {{ sum }}