New and preview functions
How Chat answers about Excel and Google Sheets functions released after the AI was trained, what "preview" means, and why answers link their source.
AI models only know the functions that existed when they were trained. Microsoft and Google add new ones every few months, so a model can confidently say a function doesn't exist when it shipped last month.
In Chat, GPTExcel checks first. Ask about a function that might be newer than the AI, or one it isn't sure exists in your app, and it looks the function up before answering.
How a lookup works
It checks the official docs
GPTExcel searches Microsoft's documentation for Excel functions and Google's for Google Sheets functions. A function counts as found only when one of those official pages describes it.
You see what it found
A Looked up line appears above the answer. Expand it for the function's syntax, which versions have it, and links to the official pages.
The answer uses it
The explanation and formulas are based on what the documentation says, and end with a link to the source.
Once a function has been looked up, the next person who asks gets the answer straight away.
Preview functions
Some functions are released to Insider or Beta Channel builds first. Chat marks these as preview and starts its answer with a warning, before any formula:
- the function may not work in your version of Excel yet;
- its syntax can still change before it reaches everyone.
When there's a function that works today, such as TOCOL instead of Excel's FLATTEN, the answer offers
it too.
Tell it which app you use
Some functions exist in only one app, and some share a name but behave differently: FLATTEN in Google
Sheets turns a range into one column, while Excel's works on lists inside cells. Name your app in the
question ("in Excel", "in Google Sheets"). If you don't and it matters, Chat asks.
Things to know
- Lookups cover Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets functions, in Chat.
- "Not found" is double-checked before Chat says a function doesn't exist.
- Like any AI answer, test a new formula on a few rows before relying on it.