LARGE in Calligra Sheets: Find the 1st, 2nd or k-th Largest Value

LARGE returns the value that appears at position k when a collection of numbers is arranged from highest to lowest. With k=1, it finds the maximum; with k=2, the second-highest entry. Duplicate values each occupy a position; it does not calculate a distinct-only top-k list. KDE’s LARGE function description; release-pinned LARGE function body (checked 2026-10-13).

=LARGE(A2:A9;2)

For the reproducible eight-score dataset below, the independently computed expected answer is 20. This was not executed in Calligra.

=LARGE(range; k)

• range (required, first): the source cell range or numeric array. KDE’s XML marks the parameter as a range of Double values; the C++ function accepts an array. On this page A2:A9 contains eight finite numeric cells.
• k (required, second): a whole-number position counted from the largest value, starting at 1, not 0. KDE’s XML type is Int; the implementation converts using asInteger and returns an internal value error for k<1 or k beyond the populated array length. Avoid fractional or text values for k because their actual coercion and locale behavior were not tested.
• Return: a numeric value from the requested order-statistic position, not a count, rank number or row reference.
• Defaults: neither argument is optional; the official registration explicitly sets two parameters. KDE XML; function registration; implementation.

1. Open a blank sheet in Calligra Sheets. Enter Score in A1.
2. Enter these eight numeric values, not quoted text, in the cells shown:

3. In an unused cell, type each formula below with the leading equals sign. For an ordinary English-language setup, use the semicolon argument separator documented by KDE. Press Enter to evaluate it in your own installed application.
4. For independent cross-checking, ascending order is 4, 7, 7, 12, 12, 15, 20, 30; descending order is 30, 20, 15, 12, 12, 7, 7, 4. The two 7s and two 12s are intentional and make ties observable.

All results below are independently derived mathematical expectations, not screenshots or observed outputs from a running copy of Calligra. The examples avoid blanks and text because the pinned implementation’s array helper converts entries to floating point values instead of visibly skipping every non-numeric type. Do not extrapolate Excel’s text/blank rules to this Calligra source.

Read the sorted list above to verify all outputs by hand. The final combined formula also depends on KDE’s documented COUNT function, it is not a statement that a native combined test was performed. KDE LARGE example; COUNT reference.

A third-place threshold: =LARGE(A2:A9;3) gives 15 for the dataset. Compare individual scores to the threshold using =A2>=LARGE($A$2:$A$9;3) and fill down to A9’s row in a neighbouring column. Independent expected flags for rows 2–9: FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE. This identifies the three scores 20, 15 and 30; the formula answers whether a value reaches the cutoff, not the identity of the third-place person.

Ties can select more than k rows: With =A2>=LARGE($A$2:$A$9;4), the fourth-largest threshold is 12, but five scores meet or exceed it because 12 occurs twice. This is appropriate for an inclusive award threshold; it is not a way to force exactly four winners.

User-selected rank: Put 1, 2, 3 in B2:B4. Put =LARGE($A$2:$A$9;B2) in C2 and copy down. Independent expected values: 30, 20, 15. Anchoring the input range with $ avoids shifting A2:A9 as formulas move. KDE reference-copying instructions.

When a distinct-value ranking is required: LARGE alone retains duplicates. Do not label the fourth value “fourth distinct value”. A distinct-only helper requires separately verified logic, so no untested Calligra-specific array expression is offered here.

Important implementation nuance: the source initializes an internal position counter at 1, then its numeric array helper increments the counter for each collected element. The index calculation compensates for this counter initialization for well-formed numeric arrays; do not “correct” the formula by shifting k in worksheet use. Array helper; LARGE body.

LARGE(data;k) returns the value at descending position k; SMALL(data;k) returns the value at ascending position k. RANK(value;data;order) returns a position for a nominated value, with ties sharing a rank. For this dataset, LARGE(A2:A9;2)=20, SMALL(A2:A9;2)=7, and RANK(20;A2:A9)=2 by independently evaluated mathematics. These are related but not interchangeable. Official LARGE, SMALL, RANK.

1. KDE LARGE handbook entry — purpose, LARGE(range; k), types, and three-cell example; checked 2026-10-13.
2. KDE 26.08.2 function XML — range and integer parameter order; checked 2026-10-13.
3. Version-pinned C++ registration — exact name, two mandatory arguments, array support; checked 2026-10-13.
4. Version-pinned C++ body and helper — sorting/indexing and internal error branches; checked 2026-10-13.
5. KDE formulas handbook — separator, leading =, case, absolute references; checked 2026-10-13.
6. KDE 26.08.2 release, app listing, download page — release date and platform claims; checked 2026-10-13.

This review is scoped to Calligra Sheets 26.08.2 from KDE Gear, officially dated 8 October 2026. The exact registered function and parameter counts were inspected in the KDE source at commit 72123cc643f6625351139e7df294544255a1056f and the official KDE XML function descriptions. KDE release notice; Calligra Sheets release listing; version-pinned function registry; XML descriptions. Registration and handbook presence demonstrate source/catalogue availability, not successful execution on a particular installed package.

KDE’s formulas guide says formulas begin with =; argument separators are semicolons in its examples; function names are case-insensitive; absolute references such as $A$2:$A$9 resist movement when filled. A locale or packaged build can behave differently: alternate decimal symbols, argument separators, language, and parsing were not tested. The review formulas use period decimals (where applicable), standard A1 references, and semicolons.

KDE’s download page documents Linux distribution installation and Flatpak and says Windows availability is still being worked on. Therefore Windows execution is not claimed. The Calligra source does not establish interoperability with Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice or Google Sheets, nor does it validate import/export of their workbooks. If transferring a workbook, re-test the formula, separators, sorting, ties and error cases in the target application rather than assuming identical results.

Related official references: LARGE, SMALL, RANK, MEDIAN, and COUNT all have official KDE function-reference entries.

Official handbook/XML/C++ source inspected: YES, on 2026-10-13. Numerical results independently calculated: YES. Native Calligra worksheet execution: NOT PERFORMED. Visual/UI errors, locales, platform-specific packages, XLSX round-trips, screenshots: NOT TESTED.