moss-formulas-variables

name	moss-formulas-variables
description	Create or edit Moss formulas and variables, including editable anchors, derived values, bound references, display values, IDs, metadata, and table-cell usage.

Moss Formulas and Variables

Use this skill when creating or editing Moss formula/variable pills, especially when values should be named, reused, or derived from editable anchors.

Formulas And Variables

Use formulas and variables for compact computed or labeled values displayed inline with surrounding text or table cells. The core use case is defining a small set of editable anchors, then deriving related values from those named anchors so the system updates together instead of becoming a set of disconnected numbers.

• Formula is an unnamed executable expression like =2+2.
• Variable is a named value — executable like sum=2+2, or symbolic like timeline=6 weeks. Any named variable can be referenced from other formulas through the cross-note lookup/typeahead, whether its value is executable or symbolic.
• Use variables when a value has a name or should become an editable anchor for related formulas; use formulas when a one-off computed result is enough.

Stored markdown syntax for both kinds of pills:

{{source|display}}

• Writing {{source|display}} into a note creates a live pill. When showing the syntax as a code example in prose, wrap it in backticks.
• Put the source (expression or symbolic label) before the first |, the rendered display value between the first and second |, and any metadata after the second |.
• Variable names must start with a letter and contain only letters, digits, _, or -.
• Executable expressions support + - * / ( ), decimals, $, thousands commas, %, and k/m/b suffixes; they do not support functions or exponentiation.
• Symbolic variables use the variable name as the source and the text value as the display, for example {{timeline|6 weeks}}.
• Named executable variables store the expression in the source and the name in metadata, for example {{5000|5,000|name=budget}}. Existing IDs, display formats, and stale flags may appear as id=...;name=...;format=...;stale=1; preserve them when editing.
• For related values written through the UI, Moss generates formula IDs. For direct Markdown edits, read the real containing note ID from Moss-provided context or existing metadata and generate a fresh UUID for every new formula or variable before writing. Do not create or edit app-owned metadata. If the real note ID is unavailable, do not construct a bound reference.
• Put bound variable references with those real IDs inside later variable expressions so the relationship is live; changing the anchor should show how the dependent values move.
• Bound references use @(name#note-id#formula-id). Preserve them exactly. Create one only with a target formula name and IDs read from that formula; never use example placeholders.
• Keep pills inline; do not use them for multi-line calculations or chart data.
• Pipes inside pills are part of the syntax and do not split table cells.

Common Patterns

One-off formula

{{2+2|4}}

Use for a computed value that does not need a reusable name.

Editable anchor plus derived values

For a direct Markdown edit, assume the real containing note ID is 9e64c3df-c1e2-4a4d-8c07-91528f422413 and the writer generated three fresh formula IDs for this operation. The complete relationship is:

{{28|28|id=b371c6db-70db-48f1-99e2-9ea1ef6f1151;name=h1_size}}
{{@(h1_size#9e64c3df-c1e2-4a4d-8c07-91528f422413#b371c6db-70db-48f1-99e2-9ea1ef6f1151)-6|22|id=c520e764-a784-48c5-81ca-f93ac6f4ad37;name=h2_size}}
{{@(h2_size#9e64c3df-c1e2-4a4d-8c07-91528f422413#c520e764-a784-48c5-81ca-f93ac6f4ad37)-4|18|id=d6189e20-8bca-4a44-a372-6c2473ec93b8;name=h3_size}}

The UUIDs above belong only to this worked example. For a real edit, use that note's real ID and newly generated formula IDs; never paste example IDs into another note.

Weight scale

Use the same workflow: assign normal_weight a fresh formula UUID, then create medium_weight with another fresh UUID and a bound reference containing the real note ID plus the exact normal_weight formula ID.

Tables

Formula and variable pills can appear inside table cells. Keep the row on one markdown line and do not escape the pipes inside the pill; they are part of the formula syntax, not table separators.

Preservation Rules

• Preserve existing id=..., name=..., format=..., and stale=... metadata unless the user asks to rebuild the formula.
• Prefer variables for named or reusable anchors; prefer unnamed formulas for one-off computed values.