How to use the GPT function

Write and lay out your prompts and your content in Microsoft Excel in order to use the GPT function efficiently, from a simple prompt up to running multiple prompts in parallel on a column of data.

The concepts and steps covered in this article apply to most functions in GPT for Excel. Although the examples on this page use Google Sheets, the formulas and functionality work similarly in Excel.

Prerequisites

You have created a Microsoft workbook and clicked GPT for Excel Word in the Home tab.

You can use the example template to follow along.

Types of prompts

Write your prompt in the function

Type a GPT formula into a cell and press Enter to generate the result:

See it in action in this video:

Use a cell as a prompt

Type a prompt in a cell and use this cell as a parameter for your formula:

See it in action in this video:

Apply a prompt to many cells

Apply a simple prompt to many cells

Separate the prompt from the value it applies to: "prompt",A25. Then drag the formula down to apply it to other values:

See it in action in this video:

Apply a cell prompt to many cells

Use a $ symbol to create an absolute reference to the cell used as a prompt. The reference to the cell won't change when you drag the formula down the column:

See it in action in this video:

Use more data in your prompt

Build a complex prompt

Enter a GPT formula with a range of cells as a parameter:

See it in action in this video:

Apply a complex prompt to many cells

Enter a GPT formula with a range of cells as a parameter, and use a $ symbol to create an absolute reference to the cells used as a prompt. The reference to the cells won't change when you drag the formula down the column:

See it in action in this video:

What's next

Now that you are familiar with the basics of GPT formula creation, try out our examples involving various functions.