Prevent Formula Recalculation
Every time Google Sheets recalculates, your SheetAI formulas make new API calls — consuming credits and slowing down your sheet. Here's how to prevent that.
Why does this happen?
Google Sheets recalculates custom functions (like SHEETAI) when you:
- Reopen the spreadsheet
- Edit any cell in the sheet
- Add or delete rows/columns
- Sort or filter data
- The spreadsheet auto-refreshes
Each recalculation triggers a new API call, which uses your API credits and can return a different response.
Solution: Replace with Values (Recommended)
Built into SheetAI
SheetAI has a built-in menu option that replaces all SHEETAI formulas with their current text values. This permanently stops recalculation while keeping all your results.
Steps:
- Wait for all your SheetAI formulas to finish generating results
- Go to Extensions → SheetAI App → Replace with Values
- All SHEETAI formulas in the current sheet will be replaced with their output text
After this, the cells contain plain text instead of formulas — no more API calls, no more recalculation, and your results are locked in permanently.
Alternative: Manual Copy & Paste as Values
You can also do this manually for specific cells:
- Select the cells containing SheetAI formulas
- Copy them (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
- Right-click → Paste special → Values only
(or use Ctrl+Shift+V / Cmd+Shift+V)
Tips to save API credits
Work in small batches. Fill 10-20 cells at a time, replace with values, then do the next batch.
Enable caching. The cache parameter is true by default. This ensures identical prompts don't make duplicate API calls.
Replace with values as soon as you're done. Don't leave live formulas in your sheet overnight — they'll recalculate when anyone opens the file.
Use a separate "working" sheet. Run SheetAI formulas in one sheet, then copy the final values to your main sheet.
Need help?
If your formulas keep recalculating even after replacing with values, reach out at support@sheetai.app