Cubes & coordinates

A cube is a multidimensional spreadsheet. Where Excel has one sheet with arbitrary cells, a cube has structure: every cell sits at the intersection of well-defined dimension items — for example Revenue × France × Jan 2026.

The cube grid: row and column dimension items form the axes; every cell value sits at a precise coordinate.

Coordinates

A cube is defined by the dimensions attached to it. To read or write a value you specify one item from each dimension — that tuple is the cell's coordinate. There are no free-floating cells: if a coordinate isn't a valid combination of items, it doesn't exist.

This is why a tool reading cube data must walk the dimension items rather than guess codes. Use get_cube_structure to discover each dimension and its items, then pass exact item codes to get_cube_data.

Commands — bulk edits without formulas

Beyond typing values and writing formulas, you can apply commands that transform cell values in place — no formula required. They cover the common bulk edits: clear, fill (a constant or random values), add / subtract / multiply / divide by a value, invert sign, absolute value, percent, spread a total across cells, and lock / unlock cells.

The commands menu: bulk operations applied directly to cell values, without a formula.

Each command runs over a scope you choose — the current section (the block you are in), the whole grid, or a custom selection of rows and columns you pick in the selection dialog. That makes one-off adjustments (e.g. "multiply this region by 1.05" or "clear last year's actuals") quick, without touching the model's formulas.

Defining a custom selection: switch between dimension tabs and tick the items to include — the command then runs over exactly that slice.

Why it matters

Because the structure is explicit, formulas can reference items by name, totals roll up automatically, and the same data can be sliced along different axes without copying it. See Dimensions and Formulas.