Using the Formula Builder (⨍) in SheetXAI

Overview

The Formula Builder (represented by the ⨍ symbol) is a powerful tool that simplifies the creation and management of SAI formulas in your spreadsheet. This feature eliminates the need to manually type complex formula syntax, helps you reference cells easily, and provides utilities to manage formula performance.

Platform Availability: The Formula Builder functions the same way in both Google Sheets and Excel, though the resulting formulas will use the appropriate syntax for each platform (=SAI() for Google Sheets, =SHEETXAI.SAI() for Excel).

In Google sheets, Make sure to Activate SAI formulas in any new spreadsheet before using them

Key Functions of Formula Builder

• Formula Creation: Instantly generate SAI formulas from plain language requests
• Cell Reference Integration: Easily include cell references by clicking cells or ranges
• Formula Management: Convert formulas to static text to prevent unnecessary API calls
• Error Resolution: Reset formulas that have returned errors

How to Use Formula Builder

1. Open the Formula Builder

   • Click the ⨍ (function) symbol in the SheetXAI sidebar
   • The Formula Builder panel will appear

2. Create a Formula

   • Type your request in plain language
   • Example: "Write a product description for A2 that integrates info about the sales: B2"
   • The builder will automatically generate the appropriate SAI formula syntax

3. Reference Cells Easily

   • Method 1: Type cell references manually (A2, B5:C10, etc.)
   • Method 2: Click on cells or select ranges in your spreadsheet
     • The selected cell references will automatically appear in your input box
     • Wait a moment after clicking to ensure the reference is captured

4. Use Your Formula

   • Copy the generated formula from the Formula Builder
   • Paste it into your desired cell in the spreadsheet
   • The formula will execute using the appropriate syntax for your platform

Formula Management Options

When you open the Formula Builder and select a range (no extra words) that contains SAI formulas, two special options appear:

Make Static

• What It Does: Converts all SAI formulas in the selected range to static text values
• When To Use It:
  • After formulas have generated the desired results
  • To prevent unnecessary API calls and costs when spreadsheets refresh
  • When you're satisfied with the current output and don't need it to update
• How To Use It:
  1. Select the range containing SAI formulas
  2. Open the Formula Builder (⨍)
  3. Wait for the range to populate in the input box
  4. Click "Make Static"
  5. Wait for the conversion to complete before closing or taking other actions

Monitor SAI Formulas

• What It Does: Automatically resets and retries all SAI formulas that have returned #ERROR
• When To Use It:
  • When some formulas have timed out or failed
  • To avoid manually finding and fixing each error
  • When processing large batches of formulas
• How To Use It:
  1. Select the range containing SAI formulas (including errors)
  2. Open the Formula Builder (⨍)
  3. Wait for the range to populate in the input box
  4. Click "Monitor SAI Formulas"
  5. Let the process run - you can leave the formula builder open and work on other tasks

Pro Tips

• Time-Saver: The Formula Builder eliminates the need to remember the exact SAI formula syntax for each platform

• Cell Reference Overload: If cell references keep appearing in the input box when you don't want them, simply close and reopen the Formula Builder

• Batching Operations: Use "Make Static" regularly during large projects to minimize unnecessary API calls

• Error Management: Run "Monitor SAI Formulas" overnight or during breaks to fix large batches of error formulas

• Cost Control: Making formulas static after you're satisfied with the results is an essential practice to manage API usage and costs

Common Issues

Problem: Unwanted Cell References Appearing

Solution:

1. Close the Formula Builder
2. Reopen it when you're ready to select specific cells
3. Be intentional about which cells you click when the Formula Builder is open

Problem: Formulas Not Converting to Static Text

Solution:

1. Make sure you've selected the entire range containing the formulas
2. Wait for the range to fully populate in the input box before clicking "Make Static"
3. Give the process sufficient time to complete, especially for large ranges

Problem: Some Errors Still Persist After Monitoring

Solution:

1. Some errors may be due to issues other than timeouts (invalid references, etc.)
2. Check a few persistent errors manually by stopping the "Monitor SAI Formula" and hover over the cell to identify any pattern 
3. You may need to reword or fix the underlying formul