Offcell

Offcell, in the context of spreadsheet software and data visualization, refers to a data point or value that is not directly associated with a specific cell within the primary grid of a spreadsheet or table. This typically means the data point is calculated or derived from values within the grid but is displayed or used outside the confines of the row and column structure.

Offcell calculations and displays are often used for summary statistics, such as totals, averages, minimums, and maximums, which are presented below, above, or to the side of the main dataset. They can also represent the results of more complex analyses or manipulations performed on the data within the spreadsheet.

Furthermore, offcell values are commonly employed to populate elements of charts, graphs, and dashboards. The data series for these visualizations are frequently derived from the contents of the spreadsheet's cells, but the charting components themselves (e.g., titles, labels, axis values) may incorporate offcell values to provide dynamic annotations or summaries of the visualized data.

The term "offcell" emphasizes the distinction between the core, structured data in the spreadsheet grid and the derived or summary information presented alongside it. This derived information, though dependent on the cell data, resides "off" the main cell grid.