A computer-implemented method for inserting a formula at a location on a content surface (105, 305) in a user interface (100, 300), comprising: displaying in the user interface, by a computer, a status bar (117, 317) comprising at least one predetermined calculation, the at least one predetermined calculation being automatically generated based on selected data values (115, 315) displayed on the content surface in the user interface; adding at least one custom calculation to the status bar in the user interface, wherein a custom calculation is created by a formula being typed in the content surface and the formula then being dragged to the status bar, wherein a range of values selected on the content surface is automatically calculated according to the formula; receiving in the user interface, by the computer, a selection of the at least one predetermined calculation in the status bar; dragging in the user interface the selected at least one predetermined calculation from the status bar; inserting in the user interface the selected at least one predetermined calculation at a drop location (155, 355) on the content surface; automatically generating in the user interface, by the computer, a formula corresponding to the selected at least one predetermined calculation; and after inserting the selected at least one predetermined calculation at the drop location on the content surface, displaying a formula corresponding to the at least one predetermined calculation in a formula bar (150, 350), the formula bar being displayed on the content surface; the method further comprising: automatically inserting a descriptive label in the content surface adjacent to the drop location that the at least one predetermined calculation was dragged to. displaying in the user interface, by a computer, a status bar (117, 317) comprising at least one predetermined calculation, the at least one predetermined calculation being automatically generated based on selected data values (115, 315) displayed on the content surface in the user interface; adding at least one custom calculation to the status bar in the user interface, wherein a custom calculation is created by a formula being typed in the content surface and the formula then being dragged to the status bar, wherein a range of values selected on the content surface is automatically calculated according to the formula; receiving in the user interface, by the computer, a selection of the at least one predetermined calculation in the status bar; dragging in the user interface the selected at least one predetermined calculation from the status bar; inserting in the user interface the selected at least one predetermined calculation at a drop location (155, 355) on the content surface; automatically generating in the user interface, by the computer, a formula corresponding to the selected at least one predetermined calculation; and after inserting the selected at least one predetermined calculation at the drop location on the content surface, displaying a formula corresponding to the at least one predetermined calculation in a formula bar (150, 350), the formula bar being displayed on the content surface; the method further comprising: automatically inserting a descriptive label in the content surface adjacent to the drop location that the at least one predetermined calculation was dragged to.