sc

sc [-rxnCqS] [file]

sc is a terminal-based spreadsheet calculator with vi-style keybindings. It supports formulas, macros, and external functions while operating entirely in text mode. Spreadsheets are saved as human-readable command scripts.The modern successor sc-im (Spreadsheet Calculator Improvised) extends sc with undo/redo, support for 65,536 rows and 702 columns, CSV/XLSX import/export, and Lua scripting. Both programs share similar vi-like navigation and editing commands.Spreadsheet files can be exported to plain text, LaTeX, or CSV formats for use with other applications.

-r

Read-only mode

Disable X11 functionality

No prompting for commands

Start with color disabled

Quiet mode

h, j, k, l

Move left, down, up, right (vi-style)

Go to specified cell (e.g., gA1, gD3)

Enter edit mode for current cell

Enter a formula

Delete current cell contents

Delete entire row

Yank (copy) row

Paste yanked content

Save and quit

Quit without saving

sc uses a unique file format (.sc) that stores spreadsheets as command sequences. The original sc development stalled in 2002; sc-im is the actively maintained fork for modern systems.

Development of sc began in 1981 by James Gosling and Mark Weiser, making it one of the oldest open-source spreadsheet applications. Chuck Martin later added modifications. In 2015, development resumed under the name sc-im with significant enhancements.

sc-im(1), gnumeric(1), bc(1), vi(1)