LinuxCommandLibrary

sc

TLDR

Start sc with a new spreadsheet

$ sc
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Open an existing spreadsheet file
$ sc [file.sc]
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Start sc-im (improved version)
$ sc-im
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Open a CSV file in sc-im
$ sc-im [file.csv]
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Open an Excel file in sc-im
$ sc-im [file.xlsx]
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SYNOPSIS

sc [-rxnCqS] [file]

DESCRIPTION

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.

PARAMETERS

-r

Read-only mode
-x
Disable X11 functionality
-n
No prompting for commands
-C
Start with color disabled
-q
Quiet mode

KEYBOARD COMMANDS

h, j, k, l

Move left, down, up, right (vi-style)
g cell
Go to specified cell (e.g., gA1, gD3)
e
Enter edit mode for current cell
=
Enter a formula
x
Delete current cell contents
dd
Delete entire row
yy
Yank (copy) row
p
Paste yanked content
ZZ
Save and quit
ZQ
Quit without saving

CAVEATS

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.

HISTORY

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.

SEE ALSO

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

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