Disclosed is a method of as you type error checking of a spreadsheet formula as a user types the formula in a cell, including analyzing, as you type, the cell contents of the spreadsheet formula and throwing an error message when the cell contents are not valid in the formula being typed. The error message identifies/emphasizes a token or group of tokens that cause the error. Also disclosed is selecting and populating into a spreadsheet formula a formulaic data field to be evaluated, starting from a position in the spreadsheet formula where the formulaic data field to be evaluated is to be populated, and responding to typed inputs and/or UI selection by displaying a list of selectable formulaic data fields with additional information that contains (non-data derived) human generated values. Upon selection among the fields, the method includes automatically populating into the starting position in the spreadsheet formula.