=SIGN(value)

The return type is a whole number: −1, 0, or 1. No optional arguments or defaults are documented. KDE’s stable-KF6 manual gives SIGN(5) = 1, SIGN(0) = 0 and SIGN(-5) = −1; it documents zero as a separate case, not positive. The pinned Calligra 26.08.2 math registry registers the SIGN function independently. Function reference · Pinned source.

Locale: SIGN takes only one argument, so its standalone call has no separator. Other Calligra functions used in advanced examples follow KDE’s English documentation with semicolons between arguments; decimal punctuation depends on locale. Use Calligra’s function picker if a formula copied from Excel fails. KDE Simple Sums.

In a blank sheet enter Entry in A1, Change in B1, Direction code in C1. Enter exact numeric changes below; do not quote the negatives.

Step 1: Enter the five records and the signed numeric changes in B2:B6.

Step 2: In C2 enter =SIGN(B2) and expect −1, since B2 is below zero. Fill C2 down through C6 with adjusted row references.

Step 3: Compare C3 = 0 to C4 = 1. A zero is not classified as positive. All expected codes in the table follow the official three-way definition and were independently reasoned; no actual Calligra result was observed.

Step 4: Change B2 from −12 to 12 as a check. C2 should become 1 on recalculation. SIGN does not tell you how much the movement was: −0.25 and −12 receive the same direction code.

To label each record, type Status in D1, then enter in D2:

=IF(SIGN(B2)<0;"Outflow";IF(SIGN(B2)>0;"Inflow";"No movement"))

Expected D2:D6: Outflow, No movement, Inflow, Outflow, Inflow. The outer IF checks the negative case first, the inner IF checks the positive case, and the final text handles exactly zero. KDE documents IF’s three arguments; the site’s existing IF guide gives a separate walk-through. This is a logical expectation grounded in the two official function definitions—not a Calligra runtime claim.

Alternative summary: For an urgent audit of negative transactions, enter =COUNTIF(C2:C6;"<0") in another cell. With the codes in the sample table, the expected count is 2 (rows 2 and 5). This combines SIGN-derived codes with Calligra’s documented COUNTIF criterion syntax. See the existing COUNTIF tutorial. Validate criterion syntax and the actual app version before production use.

• SIGN does not preserve magnitude: SIGN(-100) and SIGN(-0.01) both classify as −1; do not use their codes as actual amounts.
• Zero is its own class: SIGN(0) returns 0, not 1 or −1. If your report needs to treat zero as a positive or missing entry, use an explicit separate condition.
• Text and blank imports: The documented argument is numeric; the handbook does not supply a single universal error code for all invalid strings and empty references. Confirm the cell is genuinely numeric.
• Locale-sensitive decimals: For a decimal like −0.25, check that your sheet recognizes the decimal as numeric under its regional settings.
• Floating rounding near zero: A visually displayed 0.00 may conceal a small stored positive or negative value. Inspect stored precision and rounding rules before categorizing financial calculations.
• Bad reference: =SIGN(B3) categorizes the zero in row 3, not the purchase in B2. Check row alignment when copying.

Troubleshooting procedure: Test the literal controls =SIGN(-5), =SIGN(0) and =SIGN(5), expecting −1, 0 and 1 per KDE. Verify formula entry, numeric source types, and cell formatting. If the nested IF expression fails, test the inner SIGN result in a separate helper cell first, then use the IF guide to check the branch conditions. Recalculation and native error behavior were not tested in this batch.

These programs also use SIGN to distinguish negative, zero and positive values. The broad three-state definition is portable, but argument punctuation in nested IF/COUNTIF expressions, imported numeric-text coercion, display precision, and error strings may differ by application and locale. The simple one-argument SIGN syntax avoids separator differences until it is nested. No cross-software file migration or app execution was tested.

• IF in Calligra Sheets
• COUNTIF in Calligra Sheets — count how many records have a direction code below zero; existing source file verified.
• KDE SIGN definition — exact syntax, argument type, return type, and three literal outputs.
• KDE IF definition and COUNTIF definition — advanced examples.
• Pinned Calligra 26.08.2 registry — release-scoped function registration.
• KDE release history — 26.08.2 released 2026-10-08.

• Calligra Sheets — function documentation
• Pinned source
• KDE Simple Sums
• KDE documents IF’s three arguments
• COUNTIF definition

Verification status: Official documentation checked; example outcomes were independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where applicable. Not executed in Calligra Sheets.

• No genuine Calligra Sheets screenshots are included; this guide does not use mock application images.