# Formula Basics

## Column Reference Syntax

In Formula Pro, you reference column values using the `{item's ColumnName}` syntax:

```
{item's Status}
{item's Date}
{item's Number}
{item's Timeline}
```

When configuring automations, column placeholders are replaced with actual values at runtime. In the formula editor, you'll see placeholders like `$values.pulse.column_id.value` — these map to your selected columns.

## Formula Structure

Formulas follow standard function-call syntax:

```
FUNCTION_NAME(argument1, argument2, ...)
```

Examples:

```
SUM(5, 10, 15)                    → 30
CONCATENATE("Hello", " ", "World") → "Hello World"
IF({item's Number} > 10, "High", "Low")
```

## Common Patterns

### Date formatting

```
TEXT(DATEVALUE({item's Date}), "YYYY-MM-DD")
FORMAT_DATE({item's Date}, "MMM DD, YYYY")
```

### Conditional logic

```
IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false)
SWITCH({item's Status}, "Done", "Complete", "In Progress", "Active", "Unknown")
```

### Timeline handling

```
LEFT({item's Timeline}, 10)      → Start date (YYYY-MM-DD)
RIGHT({item's Timeline}, 10)     → End date (YYYY-MM-DD)
START({item's Timeline})          → Start date (Formula Pro function)
END({item's Timeline})            → End date (Formula Pro function)
```

## Excel Compatibility

Formula Pro implements 399+ Excel functions from categories including:

* Math and trigonometry
* Statistical
* Date and time
* Text
* Logical
* Lookup and reference
* Financial
* Engineering

See the [Excel Functions Reference](/formula-pro/excel-compatible-functions/excel-functions.md) for the full list.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://formulapro.shadebridge.com/formula-pro/getting-started/formula-basics.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.