1---2title: "Building formulas"3sidebar_position: 34---56# Building formulas78- After an operator or `(`, arrow keys (or a click) pick a cell and insert9 its reference; Shift+arrows (or a drag) pick a range. Keep typing to go on.10- While you type a name, suggestions drop down: named ranges first, then11 [tables](../sheets/tables.md), the other sheets, then functions with12 their arguments. Tab or Enter13 inserts `NAME(`, or a sheet with its `!`, quoted when it needs to be14 (`=Su` offers `Summary!`; `=Q3` or `='Q3` offers `'Q3 plan'!`). An arrow15 after it points into that sheet, as clicking its tab does. Hidden16 sheets aren't offered, though formulas still read them.17- Inside a function's parentheses the context line shows its signature with18 the current argument marked, e.g. `SUMIF(range, criterion, [sum_range])`.19- Inside a table's brackets, `=SUM(Sales[a`, suggestions offer its20 columns (after `#`, the items `#All`, `#Data`, `#Headers`, `#This Row`;21 after `@`, the columns again), and Tab or Enter inserts one with its22 `]`. The context line lists the table's columns, the one being typed23 marked: `Sales[Region, Units, Amount]`24 ([Tables by column name](references.md#tables-by-column-name)).25- Alt+; marks what the active cell's formula reads and the formulas that26 read it, as the pointer moves; Alt+= steps through a formula one part27 at a time. See [Tracing formulas](tracing.md).28- A formula left Automatic shows the format of what it reads: `=B5*2` of29 a currency cell shows currency, and so does `=SUM(B2:B9)`. A blank cell30 counts with its column's, row's or sheet's format, and changing those31 formats changes what the formulas show at once.