(core) Implement AI Assistant UI V2

Summary: Implements the latest design of the Formula AI Assistant. Also switches out brace to the latest build of ace. Test Plan: Browser tests. Reviewers: jarek Reviewed By: jarek Subscribers: jarek Differential Revision: https://phab.getgrist.com/D3949
2025-06-13 20:53:59 +00:00 · 2023-07-13 10:00:56 -04:00 · 2023-07-13 10:00:56 -04:00 · ea8a59c5e9
commit ea8a59c5e9
parent 8581492912
23 changed files with 983 additions and 641 deletions
--- a/app/client/aclui/ACLFormulaEditor.ts
+++ b/app/client/aclui/ACLFormulaEditor.ts
@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
+import ace, {Ace} from 'ace-builds';
 import {setupAceEditorCompletions} from 'app/client/components/AceEditorCompletions';
 import {theme} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
 import {Theme} from 'app/common/ThemePrefs';
 import {getGristConfig} from 'app/common/urlUtils';
-import * as ace from 'brace';
 import {Computed, dom, DomArg, Listener, Observable, styled} from 'grainjs';
 import debounce from 'lodash/debounce';

@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ export interface ACLFormulaOptions {
  placeholder: DomArg;
  setValue: (value: string) => void;
  getSuggestions: (prefix: string) => string[];
-  customiseEditor?: (editor: ace.Editor) => void;
+  customiseEditor?: (editor: Ace.Editor) => void;
 }

 export function aclFormulaEditor(options: ACLFormulaOptions) {
  // Create an element and an editor within it.
  const editorElem = dom('div');
-  const editor: ace.Editor = ace.edit(editorElem);
+  const editor: Ace.Editor = ace.edit(editorElem);

  // Set various editor options.
  function setAceTheme(gristTheme: Theme) {
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export function aclFormulaEditor(options: ACLFormulaOptions) {
  editor.renderer.setShowGutter(false);       // Default line numbers to hidden
  editor.renderer.setPadding(5);
  editor.renderer.setScrollMargin(4, 4, 0, 0);
-  editor.$blockScrolling = Infinity;
+  (editor as any).$blockScrolling = Infinity;
  editor.setReadOnly(options.readOnly);
  editor.setFontSize('12');
  editor.setHighlightActiveLine(false);
--- a/app/client/components/AceEditor.css
+++ b/app/client/components/AceEditor.css
@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+.ace_editor {
+  background-color: var(--grist-theme-ace-editor-bg, white);
+}
+
 .ace_grist_link_hidden {
  display: none;
 }
@ -14,6 +18,7 @@

 .ace_editor.ace_autocomplete .ace_completion-highlight {
  color: var(--grist-theme-ace-autocomplete-highlighted-fg, #000) !important;
+  text-shadow: 0 0 0.01em;
 }

 .ace_editor.ace_autocomplete .ace_completion-highlight.ace_grist_link {
@ -41,3 +46,8 @@
 .ace_editor.ace_autocomplete .ace_marker-layer .ace_active-line {
  background-color: var(--grist-theme-ace-autocomplete-active-line-bg, #CAD6FA) !important;
 }
+
+.ace_autocomplete .ace_line .ace_ {
+  /* Ace collapses whitespace by default, which breaks alignment changes made in AceEditorCompletions.ts. */
+  white-space: pre !important;
+}
--- a/app/client/components/AceEditor.js
+++ b/app/client/components/AceEditor.js
@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-var ace = require('brace');
+var ace = require('ace-builds');
 var _ = require('underscore');
-// Used to load python language settings and color themes
-require('brace/mode/python');
-require('brace/theme/chrome');
-require('brace/theme/dracula');
-require('brace/ext/language_tools');
+// ace-builds also has a minified build (src-min-noconflict), but we don't
+// use it since webpack already handles minification.
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/mode-python');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/theme-chrome');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/theme-dracula');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/ext-language_tools');
 var {setupAceEditorCompletions} = require('./AceEditorCompletions');
 var {getGristConfig} = require('../../common/urlUtils');
 var dom = require('../lib/dom');
@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ AceEditor.prototype._setAceTheme = function(gristTheme) {

 let _RangeConstructor = null; //singleton, load it lazily
 AceEditor.makeRange = function(a, b, c, d) {
-  _RangeConstructor = _RangeConstructor || ace.acequire('ace/range').Range;
+  _RangeConstructor = _RangeConstructor || ace.require('ace/range').Range;
  return new _RangeConstructor(a, b, c, d);
 };

--- a/app/client/components/AceEditorCompletions.ts
+++ b/app/client/components/AceEditorCompletions.ts
@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
+import ace, {Ace} from 'ace-builds';
 import {ISuggestionWithValue} from 'app/common/ActiveDocAPI';
 import {commonUrls} from 'app/common/gristUrls';
-import * as ace from 'brace';

 export interface ICompletionOptions {
  getSuggestions(prefix: string): Promise<ISuggestionWithValue[]>;
 }

-const completionOptions = new WeakMap<ace.Editor, ICompletionOptions>();
+const completionOptions = new WeakMap<Ace.Editor, ICompletionOptions>();

-export function setupAceEditorCompletions(editor: ace.Editor, options: ICompletionOptions) {
+export function setupAceEditorCompletions(editor: Ace.Editor, options: ICompletionOptions) {
  initCustomCompleter();
  completionOptions.set(editor, options);

@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export function setupAceEditorCompletions(editor: ace.Editor, options: ICompleti
  // It is important for autoSelect to be off so that hitting enter doesn't automatically
  // use a suggestion, a change of behavior that doesn't seem particularly desirable and
  // which also breaks several existing tests.
-  const {Autocomplete} = ace.acequire('ace/autocomplete'); // lives in brace/ext/language_tools
+  const {Autocomplete} = ace.require('ace/autocomplete');

  const completer = new Autocomplete();
  completer.autoSelect = false;
@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export function setupAceEditorCompletions(editor: ace.Editor, options: ICompleti
  // it adds to body even when it detaches itself. Ace's AutoCompleter doesn't expose any
  // interface for this, so this takes some hacking. (One reason for this is that Ace seems to
  // expect that a single AutoCompleter would be used for all editor instances.)
-  editor.on('destroy', () => {
+  editor.on('destroy' as any, () => {
    if (completer.editor) {
      completer.detach();
    }
@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ function initCustomCompleter() {
  const prefixMatchRegex = /\w+\.(?:lookupRecords|lookupOne)\([\w.$\u00A2-\uFFFF]*$|[\w.$\u00A2-\uFFFF]+$/;

  // Monkey-patch getCompletionPrefix. This is based on the source code in
-  // node_modules/brace/ext/language_tools.js, simplified to do the one thing we want here (since
-  // the original method's generality doesn't help us here).
-  const util = ace.acequire('ace/autocomplete/util');   // lives in brace/ext/language_tools
-  util.getCompletionPrefix = function getCompletionPrefix(this: any, editor: ace.Editor) {
+  // node_modules/ace-builds/src-noconflict/ext-language_tools.js, simplified to do the one thing
+  // we want here (since the original method's generality doesn't help us here).
+  const util = ace.require('ace/autocomplete/util');
+  util.getCompletionPrefix = function getCompletionPrefix(this: any, editor: Ace.Editor) {
    const pos = editor.getCursorPosition();
    const line = editor.session.getLine(pos.row);
    const match = line.slice(0, pos.column).match(prefixMatchRegex);
@ -102,14 +102,14 @@ function initCustomCompleter() {
  };

  // Add some autocompletion with partial access to document
-  const aceLanguageTools = ace.acequire('ace/ext/language_tools');
+  const aceLanguageTools = ace.require('ace/ext/language_tools');
  aceLanguageTools.setCompleters([]);
  aceLanguageTools.addCompleter({
    // For autocompletion we ship text to the sandbox and run standard completion there.
    async getCompletions(
-      editor: ace.Editor,
-      session: ace.IEditSession,
-      pos: ace.Position,
+      editor: Ace.Editor,
+      session: Ace.EditSession,
+      pos: Ace.Position,
      prefix: string,
      callback: any
    ) {
@ -120,12 +120,13 @@ function initCustomCompleter() {
      // in the case where one function is being switched with another. Since we normally
      // append a "(" when completing such suggestions, we need to be careful not to do
      // so if a "(" is already present. One way to do this in ACE is to check if the
-      // current token is an identifier, and the next token is a lparen; if both are true,
-      // we skip appending a "(" to each suggestion.
+      // current token is a function/identifier, and the next token is a lparen; if both are
+      // true, we skip appending a "(" to each suggestion.
      const wordRange = session.getWordRange(pos.row, pos.column);
-      const token = session.getTokenAt(pos.row, wordRange.end.column) as TokenInfo;
-      const nextToken = session.getTokenAt(pos.row, wordRange.end.column + 1) as TokenInfo|null;
-      const isRenamingFunc = token.type === 'identifier' && nextToken?.type === 'paren.lparen';
+      const token = session.getTokenAt(pos.row, wordRange.end.column) as Ace.Token;
+      const nextToken = session.getTokenAt(pos.row, wordRange.end.column + 1);
+      const isRenamingFunc = ['function.support', 'identifier'].includes(token.type)
+        && nextToken?.type === 'paren.lparen';

      const suggestions = await options.getSuggestions(prefix);
      // ACE autocompletions are very poorly documented. This is somewhat helpful:
@ -209,7 +210,8 @@ interface AceSuggestion {
 * them to look like links, and handle clicks to open the destination URL.
 *
 * This implementation relies a lot on the details of the implementation in
- * node_modules/brace/ext/language_tools.js. Updates to brace module may easily break it.
+ * node_modules/ace-builds/src-noconflict/ext-language_tools.js. Updates to ace-builds module may
+ * easily break it.
 */
 function aceCompleterAddHelpLinks(completer: any) {
  // Replace the $init function in order to intercept the creation of the autocomplete popup.
@ -239,11 +241,7 @@ function customizeAceCompleterPopup(completer: any, popup: any) {
  });
 }

-interface TokenInfo extends ace.TokenInfo {
-  type: string;
-}
-
-function retokenizeAceCompleterRow(rowData: AceSuggestion, tokens: TokenInfo[]): TokenInfo[] {
+function retokenizeAceCompleterRow(rowData: AceSuggestion, tokens: Ace.Token[]): Ace.Token[] {
  if (!(rowData.funcname || rowData.example)) {
    // Not a special completion, pass through the result of ACE's original tokenizing.
    return tokens;
--- a/app/client/lib/popupUtils.ts
+++ b/app/client/lib/popupUtils.ts
@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function documentCursor(type: 'ns-resize' | 'grabbing'): IDisposable {
 export function movable<T>(options: {
  onMove: (dx: number, dy: number, state: T) => void,
  onStart: () => T,
+  onEnd?: () => void,
 }) {
  return (el: HTMLElement) => {
    // Remember the initial position of the mouse.
@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ export function movable<T>(options: {
        options.onMove(dx, dy, state);
      }));
      owner.autoDispose(dom.onElem(document, 'mouseup', () => {
+        options.onEnd?.();
        holder.clear();
      }));
      owner.autoDispose(documentCursor('ns-resize'));
--- a/app/client/ui/CodeHighlight.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/CodeHighlight.ts
@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
+import * as ace from 'ace-builds';
 import {theme, vars} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
 import {Theme} from 'app/common/ThemePrefs';
 import {getGristConfig} from 'app/common/urlUtils';
-import * as ace from 'brace';
 import {BindableValue, Computed, dom, DomElementArg, Observable, styled, subscribeElem} from 'grainjs';

-// tslint:disable:no-var-requires
-require('brace/ext/static_highlight');
-require("brace/mode/python");
-require("brace/theme/chrome");
-require('brace/theme/dracula');
+// ace-builds also has a minified build (src-min-noconflict), but we don't
+// use it since webpack already handles minification.
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/ext-static_highlight');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/mode-python');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/theme-chrome');
+require('ace-builds/src-noconflict/theme-dracula');

 export interface ICodeOptions {
  gristTheme: Computed<Theme>;
@ -22,10 +23,11 @@ export function buildHighlightedCode(
  const {gristTheme, placeholder, maxLines} = options;
  const {enableCustomCss} = getGristConfig();

-  const highlighter = ace.acequire('ace/ext/static_highlight');
-  const PythonMode = ace.acequire('ace/mode/python').Mode;
-  const chrome = ace.acequire('ace/theme/chrome');
-  const dracula = ace.acequire('ace/theme/dracula');
+  const highlighter = ace.require('ace/ext/static_highlight');
+  const PythonMode = ace.require('ace/mode/python').Mode;
+  const aceDom = ace.require('ace/lib/dom');
+  const chrome = ace.require('ace/theme/chrome');
+  const dracula = ace.require('ace/theme/dracula');
  const mode = new PythonMode();

  const codeText = Observable.create(null, '');
@ -33,21 +35,37 @@ export function buildHighlightedCode(

  function updateHighlightedCode(elem: HTMLElement) {
    let text = codeText.get();
-    if (text) {
-      if (maxLines) {
-        // If requested, trim to maxLines, and add an ellipsis at the end.
-        // (Long lines are also truncated with an ellpsis via text-overflow style.)
-        const lines = text.split(/\n/);
-        if (lines.length > maxLines) {
-          text = lines.slice(0, maxLines).join("\n") + " \u2026";  // Ellipsis
-        }
-      }
-
-      const aceTheme = codeTheme.get().appearance === 'dark' && !enableCustomCss ? dracula : chrome;
-      elem.innerHTML = highlighter.render(text, mode, aceTheme, 1, true).html;
-    } else {
+    if (!text) {
      elem.textContent = placeholder || '';
+      return;
    }
+
+    if (maxLines) {
+      // If requested, trim to maxLines, and add an ellipsis at the end.
+      // (Long lines are also truncated with an ellpsis via text-overflow style.)
+      const lines = text.split(/\n/);
+      if (lines.length > maxLines) {
+        text = lines.slice(0, maxLines).join("\n") + " \u2026";  // Ellipsis
+      }
+    }
+
+    let aceThemeName: 'chrome' | 'dracula';
+    let aceTheme: any;
+    if (codeTheme.get().appearance === 'dark' && !enableCustomCss) {
+      aceThemeName = 'dracula';
+      aceTheme = dracula;
+    } else {
+      aceThemeName = 'chrome';
+      aceTheme = chrome;
+    }
+
+    // Rendering highlighted code gives you back the HTML to insert into the DOM, as well
+    // as the CSS styles needed to apply the theme. The latter typically isn't included in
+    // the document until an Ace editor is opened, so we explicitly import it here to avoid
+    // leaving highlighted code blocks without a theme applied.
+    const {html, css} = highlighter.render(text, mode, aceTheme, 1, true);
+    elem.innerHTML = html;
+    aceDom.importCssString(css, `${aceThemeName}-highlighted-code`);
  }

  return cssHighlightedCode(
--- a/app/client/ui/DocTutorial.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/DocTutorial.ts
@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import {GristDoc} from 'app/client/components/GristDoc';
 import {logTelemetryEvent} from 'app/client/lib/telemetry';
 import {getWelcomeHomeUrl, urlState} from 'app/client/models/gristUrlState';
 import {renderer} from 'app/client/ui/DocTutorialRenderer';
-import {cssPopupBody, FloatingPopup} from 'app/client/ui/FloatingPopup';
+import {cssPopupBody, FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY, FloatingPopup} from 'app/client/ui/FloatingPopup';
 import {sanitizeHTML} from 'app/client/ui/sanitizeHTML';
 import {hoverTooltip, setHoverTooltip} from 'app/client/ui/tooltips';
 import {basicButton, primaryButton} from 'app/client/ui2018/buttons';
@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ interface DocTutorialSlide {

 const testId = makeTestId('test-doc-tutorial-');

-const TOOLTIP_KEY = 'docTutorialTooltip';
-
 export class DocTutorial extends FloatingPopup {
  private _appModel = this._gristDoc.docPageModel.appModel;
  private _currentDoc = this._gristDoc.docPageModel.currentDoc.get();
@ -47,7 +45,10 @@ export class DocTutorial extends FloatingPopup {
  });

  constructor(private _gristDoc: GristDoc) {
-    super({stopClickPropagationOnMove: true});
+    super({
+      minimizable: true,
+      stopClickPropagationOnMove: true,
+    });
  }

  public async start() {
@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ export class DocTutorial extends FloatingPopup {
          return [
              cssFooterButtonsLeft(
              cssPopupFooterButton(icon('Undo'),
-                hoverTooltip('Restart Tutorial', {key: TOOLTIP_KEY}),
+                hoverTooltip('Restart Tutorial', {key: FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY}),
                dom.on('click', () => this._restartTutorial()),
                testId('popup-restart'),
              ),
@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ export class DocTutorial extends FloatingPopup {
              range(slides.length).map((i) => cssProgressBarDot(
                hoverTooltip(slides[i].slideTitle, {
                  closeOnClick: false,
-                  key: TOOLTIP_KEY,
+                  key: FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY,
                }),
                cssProgressBarDot.cls('-current', i === slideIndex),
                i === slideIndex ? null : dom.on('click', () => this._changeSlide(i)),
@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ export class DocTutorial extends FloatingPopup {
          img.src = img.src;

          setHoverTooltip(img, 'Click to expand', {
-            key: TOOLTIP_KEY,
+            key: FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY,
            modifiers: {
              flip: {
                boundariesElement: 'scrollParent',
--- a/app/client/ui/FieldConfig.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/FieldConfig.ts
@ -89,12 +89,22 @@ export function buildNameConfig(
  ];
 }

+export interface BuildEditorOptions {
+  // Element to attach to.
+  refElem: Element;
+  // Should the detach button be shown?
+  canDetach: boolean;
+  // Simulate user typing on the cell - open editor with an initial value.
+  editValue?: string;
+  // Custom save handler.
+  onSave?: SaveHandler;
+  // Custom cancel handler.
+  onCancel?: () => void;
+}
+
 type SaveHandler = (column: ColumnRec, formula: string) => Promise<void>;
-type BuildEditor = (
-  cellElem: Element,
-  editValue?: string,
-  onSave?: SaveHandler,
-  onCancel?: () => void) => void;
+
+type BuildEditor = (options: BuildEditorOptions) => void;

 export function buildFormulaConfig(
  owner: MultiHolder, origColumn: ColumnRec, gristDoc: GristDoc, buildEditor: BuildEditor
@ -315,14 +325,14 @@ export function buildFormulaConfig(

  const errorMessage = createFormulaErrorObs(owner, gristDoc, origColumn);
  // Helper that will create different flavors for formula builder.
-  const formulaBuilder = (onSave: SaveHandler) => [
+  const formulaBuilder = (onSave: SaveHandler, canDetach?: boolean) => [
    cssRow(formulaField = buildFormula(
      origColumn,
      buildEditor,
      {
        gristTheme: gristDoc.currentTheme,
-        placeholder: t("Enter formula"),
        disabled: disableOtherActions,
+        canDetach,
        onSave,
        onCancel: clearState,
      })),
@ -386,7 +396,7 @@ export function buildFormulaConfig(
        // If data column is or wants to be a trigger formula:
        dom.maybe((use) => use(maybeTrigger) || use(origColumn.hasTriggerFormula), () => [
          cssLabel(t("TRIGGER FORMULA")),
-          formulaBuilder(onSaveConvertToTrigger),
+          formulaBuilder(onSaveConvertToTrigger, false),
          dom.create(buildFormulaTriggers, origColumn, {
            disabled: disableOtherActions,
            notTrigger: maybeTrigger,
@ -411,8 +421,8 @@ export function buildFormulaConfig(

 interface BuildFormulaOptions {
  gristTheme: Computed<Theme>;
-  placeholder: string;
  disabled: Observable<boolean>;
+  canDetach?: boolean;
  onSave?: SaveHandler;
  onCancel?: () => void;
 }
@ -422,8 +432,8 @@ function buildFormula(
  buildEditor: BuildEditor,
  options: BuildFormulaOptions
 ) {
-  const {gristTheme, placeholder, disabled, onSave, onCancel} = options;
-  return cssFieldFormula(column.formula, {gristTheme, placeholder, maxLines: 2},
+  const {gristTheme, disabled, canDetach = true, onSave, onCancel} = options;
+  return cssFieldFormula(column.formula, {gristTheme, maxLines: 2},
    dom.cls('formula_field_sidepane'),
    cssFieldFormula.cls('-disabled', disabled),
    cssFieldFormula.cls('-disabled-icon', use => !use(column.formula)),
@ -431,7 +441,13 @@ function buildFormula(
    {tabIndex: '-1'},
    // Focus event use used by a user to edit an existing formula.
    // It can also be triggered manually to open up the editor.
-    dom.on('focus', (_, elem) => buildEditor(elem, undefined, onSave, onCancel)),
+    dom.on('focus', (_, refElem) => buildEditor({
+      refElem,
+      editValue: undefined,
+      canDetach,
+      onSave,
+      onCancel,
+    })),
  );
 }

--- a/app/client/ui/FloatingPopup.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/FloatingPopup.ts
@ -1,31 +1,45 @@
+import {makeT} from 'app/client/lib/localization';
 import {documentCursor} from 'app/client/lib/popupUtils';
 import {hoverTooltip} from 'app/client/ui/tooltips';
 import {isNarrowScreen, isNarrowScreenObs, theme, vars} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
+import {IconName} from 'app/client/ui2018/IconList';
 import {icon} from 'app/client/ui2018/icons';
 import {Disposable, dom, DomContents, DomElementArg,
        IDisposable, makeTestId, Observable, styled} from 'grainjs';

 const POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX = 16;
-const POPUP_MIN_HEIGHT = 300;
+const POPUP_DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT = 300;
 const POPUP_MAX_HEIGHT = 711;
 const POPUP_HEADER_HEIGHT = 30;

+const t = makeT('FloatingPopup');
+
 const testId = makeTestId('test-floating-popup-');

+export const FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY = 'floatingPopupTooltip';
+
 export interface PopupOptions {
  title?: () => DomContents;
  content?: () => DomContents;
  onClose?: () => void;
  closeButton?: boolean;
+  closeButtonIcon?: IconName;
  closeButtonHover?: () => DomContents;
+  minimizable?: boolean;
  autoHeight?: boolean;
+  /** Minimum height in pixels. */
+  minHeight?: number;
  /** Defaults to false. */
  stopClickPropagationOnMove?: boolean;
+  initialPosition?: [left: number, top: number];
  args?: DomElementArg[];
 }

 export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
  protected _isMinimized = Observable.create(this, false);
+  private _closable = this._options.closeButton ?? false;
+  private _minimizable = this._options.minimizable ?? false;
+  private _minHeight = this._options.minHeight ?? POPUP_DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT;
  private _isFinishingMove = false;
  private _popupElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
  private _popupMinimizeButtonElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
@ -71,7 +85,7 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
    this.autoDispose(isNarrowScreenObs().addListener(() => this._repositionPopup()));

    this.onDispose(() => {
-      this._closePopup();
+      this._disposePopup();
      this._cursorGrab?.dispose();
    });
  }
@ -79,18 +93,22 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
  public showPopup() {
    this._popupElement = this._buildPopup();
    document.body.appendChild(this._popupElement);
-    const topPaddingPx = getTopPopupPaddingPx();
-    const initialLeft = document.body.offsetWidth - this._popupElement.offsetWidth - POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX;
-    const initialTop = document.body.offsetHeight - this._popupElement.offsetHeight - topPaddingPx;
-    this._popupElement.style.left = `${initialLeft}px`;
-    this._popupElement.style.top = `${initialTop}px`;
+
+    const {initialPosition} = this._options;
+    if (initialPosition) {
+      this._setPosition(initialPosition);
+      this._repositionPopup();
+    } else {
+      const left = document.body.offsetWidth - this._popupElement.offsetWidth - POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX;
+      const top = document.body.offsetHeight - this._popupElement.offsetHeight - getTopPopupPaddingPx();
+      this._setPosition([left, top]);
+    }
  }

  protected _closePopup() {
-    if (!this._popupElement) { return; }
-    document.body.removeChild(this._popupElement);
-    dom.domDispose(this._popupElement);
-    this._popupElement = null;
+    if (!this._closable) { return; }
+
+    this._disposePopup();
  }

  protected _buildTitle(): DomContents {
@ -105,6 +123,21 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
    return this._options.args ?? [];
  }

+  private _disposePopup() {
+    if (!this._popupElement) { return; }
+
+    document.body.removeChild(this._popupElement);
+    dom.domDispose(this._popupElement);
+    this._popupElement = null;
+  }
+
+  private _setPosition([left, top]: [left: number, top: number]) {
+    if (!this._popupElement) { return; }
+
+    this._popupElement.style.left = `${left}px`;
+    this._popupElement.style.top = `${top}px`;
+  }
+
  private _rememberPosition() {
    this._initialLeft = this._popupElement!.offsetLeft;
    this._initialTop = this._popupElement!.offsetTop;
@ -151,7 +184,7 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {

      // First just how much we can resize the popup.
      let minTop = this._initialBottom - POPUP_MAX_HEIGHT;
-      let maxTop = this._initialBottom - POPUP_MIN_HEIGHT;
+      let maxTop = this._initialBottom - this._minHeight;

      // Now how far we can move top (leave at least some padding for mobile).
      minTop = Math.max(minTop, getTopPopupPaddingPx());
@ -250,6 +283,8 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
  }

  private _minimizeOrMaximize() {
+    if (!this._minimizable) { return; }
+
    this._isMinimized.set(!this._isMinimized.get());
    this._repositionPopup();
  }
@ -258,6 +293,7 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
    const body = cssPopup(
      {tabIndex: '-1'},
      cssPopup.cls('-auto', this._options.autoHeight ?? false),
+      dom.style('min-height', `${this._minHeight}px`),
      cssPopupHeader(
        cssBottomHandle(testId('move-handle')),
        dom.maybe(use => !use(this._isMinimized), () => {
@ -277,10 +313,12 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
            // center the title.
            cssPopupButtons(
              cssPopupHeaderButton(
-                icon('Maximize')
+                icon('Maximize'),
+                dom.show(this._minimizable),
              ),
-              !this._options.closeButton ? null : cssPopupHeaderButton(
+              cssPopupHeaderButton(
                icon('CrossBig'),
+                dom.show(this._closable),
              ),
              dom.style('visibility', 'hidden'),
            ),
@ -291,17 +329,23 @@ export class FloatingPopup extends Disposable {
            cssPopupButtons(
              this._popupMinimizeButtonElement = cssPopupHeaderButton(
                isMinimized ? icon('Maximize'): icon('Minimize'),
-                hoverTooltip(isMinimized ? 'Maximize' : 'Minimize', {key: 'docTutorialTooltip'}),
+                hoverTooltip(isMinimized ? t('Maximize') : t('Minimize'), {
+                  key: FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY,
+                }),
                dom.on('click', () => this._minimizeOrMaximize()),
+                dom.show(this._minimizable),
                testId('minimize-maximize'),
              ),
-              !this._options.closeButton ? null : cssPopupHeaderButton(
-                icon('CrossBig'),
+              cssPopupHeaderButton(
+                icon(this._options.closeButtonIcon ?? 'CrossBig'),
+                this._options.closeButtonHover && hoverTooltip(this._options.closeButtonHover(), {
+                  key: FLOATING_POPUP_TOOLTIP_KEY,
+                }),
                dom.on('click', () => {
                  this._options.onClose?.() ?? this._closePopup();
                }),
+                dom.show(this._closable),
                testId('close'),
-                this._options.closeButtonHover && hoverTooltip(this._options.closeButtonHover())
              ),
              // Disable dragging when a button in the header is clicked.
              dom.on('mousedown', ev => ev.stopPropagation()),
@ -362,7 +406,9 @@ function getTopPopupPaddingPx(): number {

 const POPUP_HEIGHT = `min(var(--height), calc(100% - (2 * ${POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX}px)))`;
 const POPUP_HEIGHT_MOBILE = `min(var(--height), calc(100% - (2 * ${POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX}px) - (2 * 50px)))`;
-const POPUP_WIDTH = `min(436px, calc(100% - (2 * ${POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX}px)))`;
+
+export const FLOATING_POPUP_MAX_WIDTH_PX = 436;
+const POPUP_WIDTH = `min(${FLOATING_POPUP_MAX_WIDTH_PX}px, calc(100% - (2 * ${POPUP_INITIAL_PADDING_PX}px)))`;

 const cssPopup = styled('div.floating-popup', `
  position: fixed;
@ -374,7 +420,6 @@ const cssPopup = styled('div.floating-popup', `
  --height: ${POPUP_MAX_HEIGHT}px;
  height: ${POPUP_HEIGHT};
  width: ${POPUP_WIDTH};
-  min-height: ${POPUP_MIN_HEIGHT}px;
  background-color: ${theme.popupBg};
  box-shadow: 0 2px 18px 0 ${theme.popupInnerShadow}, 0 0 1px 0 ${theme.popupOuterShadow};
  outline: unset;
--- a/app/client/ui/RightPanel.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/RightPanel.ts
@ -23,12 +23,13 @@ import * as imports from 'app/client/lib/imports';
 import {makeT} from 'app/client/lib/localization';
 import {createSessionObs} from 'app/client/lib/sessionObs';
 import {reportError} from 'app/client/models/AppModel';
-import {ColumnRec, ViewSectionRec} from 'app/client/models/DocModel';
+import {ViewSectionRec} from 'app/client/models/DocModel';
 import {GridOptions} from 'app/client/ui/GridOptions';
 import {attachPageWidgetPicker, IPageWidget, toPageWidget} from 'app/client/ui/PageWidgetPicker';
 import {linkId, selectBy} from 'app/client/ui/selectBy';
 import {CustomSectionConfig} from 'app/client/ui/CustomSectionConfig';
 import {buildDescriptionConfig} from 'app/client/ui/DescriptionConfig';
+import {BuildEditorOptions} from 'app/client/ui/FieldConfig';
 import {cssLabel} from 'app/client/ui/RightPanelStyles';
 import {VisibleFieldsConfig} from 'app/client/ui/VisibleFieldsConfig';
 import {IWidgetType, widgetTypes} from 'app/client/ui/widgetTypes';
@ -295,19 +296,20 @@ export class RightPanel extends Disposable {
  }

  // Helper to activate the side-pane formula editor over the given HTML element.
-  private _activateFormulaEditor(
-    // Element to attach to.
-    refElem: Element,
-    // Simulate user typing on the cell - open editor with an initial value.
-    editValue?: string,
-    // Custom save handler.
-    onSave?: (column: ColumnRec, formula: string) => Promise<void>,
-    // Custom cancel handler.
-    onCancel?: () => void) {
+  private _activateFormulaEditor(options: BuildEditorOptions) {
    const vsi = this._gristDoc.viewModel.activeSection().viewInstance();
    if (!vsi) { return; }
-    const editRowModel = vsi.moveEditRowToCursor();
-    return vsi.activeFieldBuilder.peek().openSideFormulaEditor(editRowModel, refElem, editValue, onSave, onCancel);
+
+    const {refElem, editValue, canDetach, onSave, onCancel} = options;
+    const editRow = vsi.moveEditRowToCursor();
+    return vsi.activeFieldBuilder.peek().openSideFormulaEditor({
+      editRow,
+      refElem,
+      canDetach,
+      editValue,
+      onSave,
+      onCancel,
+    });
  }

  private _buildPageWidgetContent(_owner: MultiHolder) {
--- a/app/client/ui2018/cssVars.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui2018/cssVars.ts
@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ export const vars = {
  floatingPopupZIndex: new CustomProp('floating-popup-z-index', '1002'),
  tutorialModalZIndex: new CustomProp('tutorial-modal-z-index', '1003'),
  pricingModalZIndex: new CustomProp('pricing-modal-z-index', '1004'),
+  floatingPopupMenuZIndex: new CustomProp('floating-popup-menu-z-index', '1004'),
  notificationZIndex: new CustomProp('notification-z-index', '1100'),
  browserCheckZIndex: new CustomProp('browser-check-z-index', '5000'),
  tooltipZIndex: new CustomProp('tooltip-z-index', '5000'),
@ -686,9 +687,6 @@ export const theme = {
  cellBg: new CustomProp('theme-cell-bg', undefined, '#FFFFFF00'),
  cellZebraBg: new CustomProp('theme-cell-zebra-bg', undefined, '#F8F8F8'),

-  /* Formula Editor */
-  formulaEditorBg: new CustomProp('theme-formula-editor-bg', undefined, 'white'),
-
  /* Charts */
  chartFg: new CustomProp('theme-chart-fg', undefined, '#444'),
  chartBg: new CustomProp('theme-chart-bg', undefined, '#fff'),
@ -736,7 +734,8 @@ export const theme = {
    colors.lightGreen),
  tutorialsPopupBoxBg: new CustomProp('theme-tutorials-popup-box-bg', undefined, '#F5F5F5'),

-  /* Ace Autocomplete */
+  /* Ace */
+  aceEditorBg: new CustomProp('theme-ace-editor-bg', undefined, 'white'),
  aceAutocompletePrimaryFg: new CustomProp('theme-ace-autocomplete-primary-fg', undefined, '#444'),
  aceAutocompleteSecondaryFg: new CustomProp('theme-ace-autocomplete-secondary-fg', undefined,
    '#8f8f8f'),
@ -797,6 +796,14 @@ export const theme = {
  loginPageBg: new CustomProp('theme-login-page-bg', undefined, 'white'),
  loginPageBackdrop: new CustomProp('theme-login-page-backdrop', undefined, '#F5F8FA'),
  loginPageLine: new CustomProp('theme-login-page-line', undefined, colors.lightGrey),
+
+  /* Formula Assistant */
+  formulaAssistantHeaderBg: new CustomProp(
+    'theme-formula-assistant-header-bg', undefined, colors.lightGrey),
+  formulaAssistantBorder: new CustomProp(
+    'theme-formula-assistant-border', undefined, colors.darkGrey),
+  formulaAssistantPreformattedTextBg: new CustomProp(
+    'theme-formula-assistant-preformatted-text-bg', undefined, colors.lightGrey),
 };

 const cssColors = values(colors).map(v => v.decl()).join('\n');
--- a/app/client/widgets/FieldBuilder.ts
+++ b/app/client/widgets/FieldBuilder.ts
@ -775,12 +775,16 @@ export class FieldBuilder extends Disposable {
  /**
   * Open the formula editor in the side pane. It will be positioned over refElem.
   */
-  public openSideFormulaEditor(
+  public openSideFormulaEditor(options: {
    editRow: DataRowModel,
    refElem: Element,
+    canDetach: boolean,
    editValue?: string,
    onSave?: (column: ColumnRec, formula: string) => Promise<void>,
-    onCancel?: () => void) {
+    onCancel?: () => void
+  }) {
+    const {editRow, refElem, canDetach, editValue, onSave, onCancel} = options;
+
    // Remember position when the popup was opened.
    const position = this.gristDoc.cursorPosition.get();

@ -838,14 +842,18 @@ export class FieldBuilder extends Disposable {
      editRow,
      refElem,
      editValue,
-      canDetach: true,
+      canDetach,
      onSave,
      onCancel
    });

    // And now create the floating editor itself. It is just a floating wrapper that will grab the dom
    // from the editor and show it in the popup. It also overrides various parts of Grist to make smoother experience.
-    const floatingExtension = FloatingEditor.create(formulaEditor, floatController, this.gristDoc);
+    const floatingExtension = FloatingEditor.create(formulaEditor, floatController, {
+      gristDoc: this.gristDoc,
+      refElem,
+      placement: 'overlapping',
+    });

    // Add editor to document holder - this will prevent multiple formula editor instances.
    this.gristDoc.fieldEditorHolder.autoDispose(formulaEditor);
--- a/app/client/widgets/FieldEditor.ts
+++ b/app/client/widgets/FieldEditor.ts
@ -159,7 +159,11 @@ export class FieldEditor extends Disposable {
    this.rebuildEditor(editValue, Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY, options.state);

    // Create a floating editor, which will be used to display the editor in a popup.
-    this.floatingEditor = FloatingEditor.create(this, this, this._gristDoc);
+    this.floatingEditor = FloatingEditor.create(this, this, {
+      gristDoc: this._gristDoc,
+      refElem: this._cellElem,
+      placement: 'adjacent',
+    });

    if (offerToMakeFormula) {
      this._offerToMakeFormula();
@ -318,6 +322,10 @@ export class FieldEditor extends Disposable {

  private _unmakeFormula() {
    const editor = this._editorHolder.get();
+    if (editor instanceof FormulaEditor && editor.isDetached.get()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
    // Only convert to data if we are undoing a to-formula conversion. To convert formula to
    // data, use column menu option, or delete the formula first (which makes the column "empty").
    if (editor && this._field.editingFormula.peek() && editor.getCursorPos() === 0 &&
--- a/app/client/widgets/FloatingEditor.ts
+++ b/app/client/widgets/FloatingEditor.ts
@ -2,24 +2,57 @@ import * as commands from 'app/client/components/commands';
 import {GristDoc} from 'app/client/components/GristDoc';
 import {detachNode} from 'app/client/lib/dom';
 import {FocusLayer} from 'app/client/lib/FocusLayer';
-import {FloatingPopup} from 'app/client/ui/FloatingPopup';
+import {makeT} from 'app/client/lib/localization';
+import {FLOATING_POPUP_MAX_WIDTH_PX, FloatingPopup} from 'app/client/ui/FloatingPopup';
 import {theme} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
 import {icon} from 'app/client/ui2018/icons';
 import {Disposable, dom, Holder, IDisposableOwner, IDomArgs,
        makeTestId, MultiHolder, Observable, styled} from 'grainjs';

+const t = makeT('FloatingEditor');
+
+const testId = makeTestId('test-floating-editor-');
+
 export interface IFloatingOwner extends IDisposableOwner {
  detach(): HTMLElement;
  attach(content: HTMLElement): Promise<void>|void;
 }

-const testId = makeTestId('test-floating-editor-');
+export interface FloatingEditorOptions {
+  gristDoc: GristDoc;
+  /**
+   * The element that `placement` should be relative to.
+   */
+  refElem?: Element;
+  /**
+   * How to position the editor.
+   *
+   * If "overlapping", the editor will be positioned on top of `refElem`, anchored
+   * to its top-left corner.
+   *
+   * If "adjacent", the editor will be positioned to the left or right of `refElem`,
+   * depending on available space.
+   *
+   * If "fixed", the editor will be positioned in the bottom-right corner of the
+   * viewport.
+   *
+   * Defaults to "fixed".
+   */
+  placement?: 'overlapping' | 'adjacent' | 'fixed';
+}

 export class FloatingEditor extends Disposable {

  public active = Observable.create<boolean>(this, false);

-  constructor(private _fieldEditor: IFloatingOwner, private _gristDoc: GristDoc) {
+  private _gristDoc = this._options.gristDoc;
+  private _placement = this._options.placement ?? 'fixed';
+  private _refElem = this._options.refElem;
+
+  constructor(
+    private _fieldEditor: IFloatingOwner,
+    private _options: FloatingEditorOptions
+  ) {
    super();
    this.autoDispose(commands.createGroup({
      detachEditor: this.createPopup.bind(this),
@ -52,7 +85,8 @@ export class FloatingEditor extends Disposable {
                                                    // detach it on close.
        title: () => title, // We are not reactive yet
        closeButton: true,  // Show the close button with a hover
-        closeButtonHover: () => 'Return to cell',
+        closeButtonIcon: 'Minimize',
+        closeButtonHover: () => t('Collapse Editor'),
        onClose: async () => {
          const layer = FocusLayer.create(null, { defaultFocusElem: document.activeElement as any});
          try {
@ -63,6 +97,8 @@ export class FloatingEditor extends Disposable {
            layer.dispose();
          }
        },
+        minHeight: 550,
+        initialPosition: this._getInitialPosition(),
        args: [testId('popup')]
      });
      // Set a public flag that we are active.
@ -78,6 +114,38 @@ export class FloatingEditor extends Disposable {
      tempOwner.dispose();
    }
  }
+
+  private _getInitialPosition(): [number, number] | undefined {
+    if (!this._refElem || this._placement === 'fixed') {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
+    const refElem = this._refElem as HTMLElement;
+    const refElemBoundingRect = refElem.getBoundingClientRect();
+    if (this._placement === 'overlapping') {
+      // Anchor the floating editor to the top-left corner of the refElement.
+      return [
+        refElemBoundingRect.left,
+        refElemBoundingRect.top,
+      ];
+    } else {
+      if (window.innerWidth - refElemBoundingRect.right >= FLOATING_POPUP_MAX_WIDTH_PX) {
+        // If there's enough space to the right of refElement, position the
+        // floating editor there.
+        return [
+          refElemBoundingRect.right,
+          refElemBoundingRect.top,
+        ];
+      } else {
+        // Otherwise position it to the left of refElement; note that it may still
+        // overlap if there isn't enough space on this side either.
+        return [
+          refElemBoundingRect.left - FLOATING_POPUP_MAX_WIDTH_PX,
+          refElemBoundingRect.top,
+        ];
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }

 export function createDetachedIcon(...args: IDomArgs<HTMLDivElement>) {
--- a/app/client/widgets/FormulaAssistant.ts
+++ b/app/client/widgets/FormulaAssistant.ts
--- a/app/client/widgets/FormulaEditor.ts
+++ b/app/client/widgets/FormulaEditor.ts
@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ import {ColumnRec} from 'app/client/models/DocModel';
 import {ViewFieldRec} from 'app/client/models/entities/ViewFieldRec';
 import {reportError} from 'app/client/models/errors';
 import {GRIST_FORMULA_ASSISTANT} from 'app/client/models/features';
-import {colors, testId, theme} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
+import {hoverTooltip} from 'app/client/ui/tooltips';
+import {textButton} from 'app/client/ui2018/buttons';
+import {colors, testId, theme, vars} from 'app/client/ui2018/cssVars';
 import {icon} from 'app/client/ui2018/icons';
 import {createMobileButtons, getButtonMargins} from 'app/client/widgets/EditorButtons';
 import {EditorPlacement, ISize} from 'app/client/widgets/EditorPlacement';
 import {createDetachedIcon} from 'app/client/widgets/FloatingEditor';
-import {buildRobotIcon, FormulaAssistant} from 'app/client/widgets/FormulaAssistant';
+import {FormulaAssistant} from 'app/client/widgets/FormulaAssistant';
 import {NewBaseEditor, Options} from 'app/client/widgets/NewBaseEditor';
 import {asyncOnce} from 'app/common/AsyncCreate';
 import {CellValue} from 'app/common/DocActions';
@ -55,6 +57,8 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
  private _dom: HTMLElement;
  private _editorPlacement!: EditorPlacement;
  private _placementHolder = Holder.create(this);
+  private _canDetach: boolean;
+  private _isEmpty: Computed<boolean>;

  constructor(options: IFormulaEditorOptions) {
    super(options);
@ -65,6 +69,8 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
    // create editor state observable (used by draft and latest position memory)
    this.editorState = Observable.create(this, initialValue);

+    this._isEmpty = Computed.create(this, this.editorState, (_use, state) => state === '');
+
    this._formulaEditor = AceEditor.create({
      // A bit awkward, but we need to assume calcSize is not used until attach() has been called
      // and _editorPlacement created.
@ -101,8 +107,7 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
        return true;
      }
      // Else invoke regular command.
-      commands.allCommands[name]?.run();
-      return false;
+      return commands.allCommands[name]?.run() ?? false;
    };
    const detachedCommands = this.autoDispose(commands.createGroup({
      nextField: passThrough('nextField'),
@ -140,11 +145,17 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
    // the DOM to update before resizing.
    this.autoDispose(errorDetails.addListener(() => setTimeout(this.resize.bind(this), 0)));

-    const canDetach = GRIST_FORMULA_ASSISTANT().get() &&  options.canDetach && !options.readonly;
+    this._canDetach = Boolean(GRIST_FORMULA_ASSISTANT().get() && options.canDetach && !options.readonly);

    this.autoDispose(this._formulaEditor);
+
+    // Show placeholder text when the formula is blank.
+    this._isEmpty.addListener(() => this._updateEditorPlaceholder());
+
+    // Update the placeholder text when expanding or collapsing the editor.
+    this.isDetached.addListener(() => this._updateEditorPlaceholder());
+
    this._dom = cssFormulaEditor(
-      buildRobotIcon(),
      // switch border shadow
      dom.cls("readonly_editor", options.readonly),
      createMobileButtons(options.commands),
@ -173,7 +184,10 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
        ev.preventDefault();
        this.focus();
      }),
-      canDetach ? createDetachedIcon(dom.hide(this.isDetached)) : null,
+      !this._canDetach ? null : createDetachedIcon(
+        hoverTooltip(t('Expand Editor')),
+        dom.hide(this.isDetached),
+      ),
      cssFormulaEditor.cls('-detached', this.isDetached),
      dom('div.formula_editor.formula_field_edit', testId('formula-editor'),
        this._formulaEditor.buildDom((aceObj: any) => {
@ -198,6 +212,11 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
          aceObj.once("change", () => {
            editingFormula?.(true);
          });
+
+          if (val === '') {
+            // Show placeholder text if the formula is blank.
+            this._updateEditorPlaceholder();
+          }
        })
      ),
      dom.maybe(options.formulaError, () => [
@ -305,6 +324,40 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
    return this._dom;
  }

+  private _updateEditorPlaceholder() {
+    const editor = this._formulaEditor.getEditor();
+    const shouldShowPlaceholder = editor.session.getValue().length === 0;
+    const placeholderNode = editor.renderer.emptyMessageNode;
+    if (placeholderNode) {
+      // Remove the current placeholder if one is present.
+      editor.renderer.scroller.removeChild(placeholderNode);
+    }
+    if (!shouldShowPlaceholder) {
+      editor.renderer.emptyMessageNode = null;
+    } else {
+      editor.renderer.emptyMessageNode = cssFormulaPlaceholder(
+        !this._canDetach || this.isDetached.get()
+          ? t('Enter formula.')
+          : t('Enter formula or {{button}}.', {
+            button: cssUseAssistantButton(
+              t('use AI Assistant'),
+              dom.on('click', (ev) => this._handleUseAssistantButtonClick(ev)),
+              testId('formula-editor-use-ai-assistant'),
+            ),
+          }),
+      );
+      editor.renderer.scroller.appendChild(editor.renderer.emptyMessageNode);
+    }
+    this._formulaEditor.resize();
+  }
+
+  private _handleUseAssistantButtonClick(ev: MouseEvent) {
+    ev.stopPropagation();
+    ev.preventDefault();
+    commands.allCommands.detachEditor.run();
+    commands.allCommands.activateAssistant.run();
+  }
+
  private _calcSize(elem: HTMLElement, desiredElemSize: ISize) {
    if (this.isDetached.get()) {
      // If we are detached, we will stop autosizing.
@ -313,6 +366,16 @@ export class FormulaEditor extends NewBaseEditor {
        width: 0
      };
    }
+
+    const placeholder: HTMLElement | undefined = this._formulaEditor.getEditor().renderer.emptyMessageNode;
+    if (placeholder) {
+      // If we are showing the placeholder, fit it all on the same line.
+      return this._editorPlacement.calcSizeWithPadding(elem, {
+        width: placeholder.scrollWidth,
+        height: placeholder.scrollHeight,
+      });
+    }
+
    const errorBox: HTMLElement|null = this._dom.querySelector('.error_details');
    const errorBoxStartHeight = errorBox?.getBoundingClientRect().height || 0;
    const errorBoxDesiredHeight = errorBox?.scrollHeight || 0;
@ -652,6 +715,9 @@ const cssCollapseIcon = styled(icon, `
  margin: -3px 4px 0 4px;
  --icon-color: ${colors.slate};
  cursor: pointer;
+  position: sticky;
+  top: 0px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 `);

 export const cssError = styled('div', `
@ -666,11 +732,15 @@ const cssFormulaEditor = styled('div.default_editor.formula_editor_wrapper', `
  }
  &-detached .formula_editor {
    flex-grow: 1;
+    min-height: 100px;
  }

  &-detached .error_msg, &-detached .error_details {
-    flex-grow: 0;
-    flex-shrink: 1;
+    max-height: 100px;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+  }
+
+  &-detached .error_msg {
    cursor: default;
  }

@ -683,12 +753,14 @@ const cssFormulaEditor = styled('div.default_editor.formula_editor_wrapper', `
    height: 100% !important;
    width: 100% !important;
  }
-
-  .floating-popup .formula_editor {
-    min-height: 100px;
-  }
-
-  .floating-popup .error_details {
-    min-height: 100px;
-  }
+`);
+
+const cssFormulaPlaceholder = styled('div', `
+  color: ${theme.lightText};
+  font-style: italic;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+`);
+
+const cssUseAssistantButton = styled(textButton, `
+  font-size: ${vars.smallFontSize};
 `);
--- a/app/client/widgets/TextEditor.css
+++ b/app/client/widgets/TextEditor.css
@ -42,8 +42,8 @@
 /* Make overflow hidden, since editor might be 1 pixel bigger due to fix for devices
 * with different pixel ratio */
 .formula_editor {
-  background-color: var(--grist-theme-formula-editor-bg, white);
-  padding: 4px 0 2px 21px;
+  background-color: var(--grist-theme-ace-editor-bg, white);
+  padding: 4px 4px 2px 21px;
  z-index: 10;
  overflow: hidden;
  flex: none;
@ -109,12 +109,14 @@
 }

 .error_msg {
+  display: flex;
  background-color: #ffb6c1;
  padding: 4px;
  color: black;
  cursor: pointer;
  white-space: pre-wrap;
  flex: none;
+  overflow: auto;
 }

 .error_details {
--- a/app/common/ThemePrefs-ti.ts
+++ b/app/common/ThemePrefs-ti.ts
@ -333,7 +333,6 @@ export const ThemeColors = t.iface([], {
  "cell-fg": "string",
  "cell-bg": "string",
  "cell-zebra-bg": "string",
-  "formula-editor-bg": "string",
  "chart-fg": "string",
  "chart-bg": "string",
  "chart-legend-bg": "string",
@ -359,6 +358,7 @@ export const ThemeColors = t.iface([], {
  "tutorials-popup-border": "string",
  "tutorials-popup-header-fg": "string",
  "tutorials-popup-box-bg": "string",
+  "ace-editor-bg": "string",
  "ace-autocomplete-primary-fg": "string",
  "ace-autocomplete-secondary-fg": "string",
  "ace-autocomplete-highlighted-fg": "string",
@ -391,6 +391,9 @@ export const ThemeColors = t.iface([], {
  "login-page-bg": "string",
  "login-page-backdrop": "string",
  "login-page-line": "string",
+  "formula-assistant-header-bg": "string",
+  "formula-assistant-border": "string",
+  "formula-assistant-preformatted-text-bg": "string",
 });

 const exportedTypeSuite: t.ITypeSuite = {
--- a/app/common/ThemePrefs.ts
+++ b/app/common/ThemePrefs.ts
@ -436,9 +436,6 @@ export interface ThemeColors {
  'cell-bg': string;
  'cell-zebra-bg': string;

-  /* Formula Editor */
-  'formula-editor-bg': string;
-
  /* Charts */
  'chart-fg': string;
  'chart-bg': string;
@ -472,7 +469,8 @@ export interface ThemeColors {
  'tutorials-popup-header-fg': string;
  'tutorials-popup-box-bg': string;

-  /* Ace Autocomplete */
+  /* Ace */
+  'ace-editor-bg': string;
  'ace-autocomplete-primary-fg': string;
  'ace-autocomplete-secondary-fg': string;
  'ace-autocomplete-highlighted-fg': string;
@ -511,6 +509,11 @@ export interface ThemeColors {
  'login-page-bg': string;
  'login-page-backdrop': string;
  'login-page-line': string;
+
+  /* Formula Assistant */
+  'formula-assistant-header-bg': string;
+  'formula-assistant-border': string;
+  'formula-assistant-preformatted-text-bg': string;
 }

 export const ThemePrefsChecker = createCheckers(ThemePrefsTI).ThemePrefs as CheckerT<ThemePrefs>;
--- a/app/common/themes/GristDark.ts
+++ b/app/common/themes/GristDark.ts
@ -415,9 +415,6 @@ export const GristDark: ThemeColors = {
  'cell-bg': '#32323F',
  'cell-zebra-bg': '#262633',

-  /* Formula Editor */
-  'formula-editor-bg': '#282A36',
-
  /* Charts */
  'chart-fg': '#A4A4A4',
  'chart-bg': '#32323F',
@ -451,7 +448,8 @@ export const GristDark: ThemeColors = {
  'tutorials-popup-header-fg': '#FFFFFF',
  'tutorials-popup-box-bg': '#57575F',

-  /* Ace Autocomplete */
+  /* Ace */
+  'ace-editor-bg': '#32323F',
  'ace-autocomplete-primary-fg': '#EFEFEF',
  'ace-autocomplete-secondary-fg': '#A4A4A4',
  'ace-autocomplete-highlighted-fg': '#FFFFFF',
@ -490,4 +488,9 @@ export const GristDark: ThemeColors = {
  'login-page-bg': '#32323F',
  'login-page-backdrop': '#404150',
  'login-page-line': '#57575F',
+
+  /* Formula Assistant */
+  'formula-assistant-header-bg': '#262633',
+  'formula-assistant-border': '#69697D',
+  'formula-assistant-preformatted-text-bg': '#262633',
 };
--- a/app/common/themes/GristLight.ts
+++ b/app/common/themes/GristLight.ts
@ -415,9 +415,6 @@ export const GristLight: ThemeColors = {
  'cell-bg': 'white',
  'cell-zebra-bg': '#F8F8F8',

-  /* Formula Editor */
-  'formula-editor-bg': 'white',
-
  /* Charts */
  'chart-fg': '#444',
  'chart-bg': '#fff',
@ -451,7 +448,8 @@ export const GristLight: ThemeColors = {
  'tutorials-popup-header-fg': '#FFFFFF',
  'tutorials-popup-box-bg': '#F5F5F5',

-  /* Ace Autocomplete */
+  /* Ace */
+  'ace-editor-bg': 'white',
  'ace-autocomplete-primary-fg': '#444',
  'ace-autocomplete-secondary-fg': '#8F8F8F',
  'ace-autocomplete-highlighted-fg': '#000',
@ -490,4 +488,9 @@ export const GristLight: ThemeColors = {
  'login-page-bg': 'white',
  'login-page-backdrop': '#F5F8FA',
  'login-page-line': '#F7F7F7',
+
+  /* Formula Assistant */
+  'formula-assistant-header-bg': '#F7F7F7',
+  'formula-assistant-border': '#D9D9D9',
+  'formula-assistant-preformatted-text-bg': '#F7F7F7',
 };
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@ -116,13 +116,13 @@
    "@gristlabs/sqlite3": "5.1.4-grist.8",
    "@popperjs/core": "2.3.3",
    "accept-language-parser": "1.5.0",
+    "ace-builds": "1.23.3",
    "async-mutex": "0.2.4",
    "axios": "0.21.2",
    "backbone": "1.3.3",
    "bootstrap": "3.3.5",
    "bootstrap-datepicker": "1.9.0",
    "bowser": "2.7.0",
-    "brace": "0.11.1",
    "collect-js-deps": "^0.1.1",
    "color-convert": "2.0.1",
    "commander": "9.3.0",
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@ -1262,6 +1262,11 @@ accepts@~1.3.5:
    mime-types "~2.1.24"
    negotiator "0.6.2"

+ace-builds@1.23.3:
+  version "1.23.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ace-builds/-/ace-builds-1.23.3.tgz#0e9a18194b3e8a29a724ffa11900bf1fdc6fe8ef"
+  integrity sha512-TTWtmCQCaMZyTALMBDeQGu2VD9N6ijVZPYwz+CrpuS1XxYVdWPuvK+7b0ORVlIVXLJBnIf8D6dpP8iTO1elemA==
+
 acorn-class-fields@^0.3.7:
  version "0.3.7"
  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/acorn-class-fields/-/acorn-class-fields-0.3.7.tgz#a35122f3cc6ad2bb33b1857e79215677fcfdd720"
@ -1871,11 +1876,6 @@ brace-expansion@^2.0.1:
  dependencies:
    balanced-match "^1.0.0"

-brace@0.11.1:
-  version "0.11.1"
-  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace/-/brace-0.11.1.tgz"
-  integrity sha1-SJb8ydVE7vRfS7dmDbMg07N5/lg=
-
 braces@^3.0.2, braces@~3.0.2:
  version "3.0.2"
  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/braces/-/braces-3.0.2.tgz#3454e1a462ee8d599e236df336cd9ea4f8afe107"