Describe what you want and get the spreadsheet formula
Tell the AI what your columns hold and what you want to calculate, in plain words. You get a formula that uses your actual column letters.
How do I do a SUMIF?
I have a sales pipeline sheet. Column B is the sales rep's name, column D is the deal stage (like "Prospect", "Negotiation" or "Closed Won") and column E is the deal value. The data starts in row 2. In a summary area, I've listed each rep's name in column H, starting at H2. In I2, I want the total value of that rep's deals that are in the "Negotiation" stage, so I can copy it down the column. Give me the formula for Excel or Google Sheets, explain each part in one line, and tell me how to check it's working.
Why it works
A formula question without your layout gets a generic answer you then have to translate. When you say what's in each column, where your data starts and where the result goes, the AI can write the formula with your real cell references. For this example you'd get something like =SUMIFS(E:E, B:B, H2, D:D, "Negotiation"), which works in both Excel and Google Sheets. Test it on a row you can check by hand before you trust it.
Try it now
Click a highlighted part and type your own details. Press Enter to jump to the next one, then copy.
I have a sheet where column [letter] is [what it holds], column [letter] is [what it holds] and column [letter] is [what it holds]. The data starts in row [number]. In cell [cell], I want [what you want calculated]. Give me the formula for [Excel or Google Sheets], explain each part in one line, and tell me how to check it's working.
Variations
Add a condition
Change the formula so it only counts deals with a close date in column C that falls in the current month.
When it breaks
The formula you gave me returns 0, but I can see matching rows. Here's a sample of my data. What's likely wrong?
Make it readable later
Rewrite the formula so someone else can understand it six months from now, and suggest a short note I can put in the header cell.
Based on: Google Docs Editors Help, "Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets". Last checked October 3, 2026.
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