Google Sheets is versatile and powerful software that allows users to organize, analyze, and visualize all sorts of data and collaborate with the rest of the team. To be honest, Google Sheets offers so many features that hardly anyone makes full use of the software. One of these features is smart chips.
Smart chips allow users to include additional information in their Google Sheets, making it easy to add more context and functionality to existing sheets. They help users retrieve information such as getting directions to places, accessing files stored in Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, and much more.
In this blog, we’ll explore smart chips, what they can do, and how you can add them to your Google Sheets.
What are smart chips in Google Sheets?
Smart chips are dynamic information snippets that extract data from third-party apps and services and bring them to your sheet. They help you to include information about people, events, phone numbers, contacts, dates, files, and even YouTube videos.
When you insert a smart chip into your sheet, you'll see a preview with important information when you hover the mouse pointer over smart chips. Thus, you'll never need to leave the worksheet and will get instant access to relevant information.
For example, if you’re planning project timelines, you can use smart chips like date and people chips to assign deadlines or task owners. A date chip pops up a calendar, making it easy for you to select a date. A people chip links directly to the email address of the concerned person.
What kind of information can you include?
Gmail or Google Workspace email addresses
Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides files
Google Calendar events
YouTube videos
Ratings
Google Finance entities
Places and map directions
4 ways to use smart chips
Smart chips in Google Sheets can enhance your spreadsheets by providing additional functionality and information. Here are four ways you can use smart chips:
1. Extract data
You can extract important information about a specific chip. You can also click on Data extractions and select the data type you want to extract. For instance, in the case of a file smart chip, you can extract data such as file URL, file name, and mime type, as shown in the image below.
Please note that the attributes you can pull out depend on the type of chip.
You can also use a formula to extract data. Type = and point to the spreadsheet cell address where you have the file. Type . (period) and you will get a list of available extractions. Choose the ones that you need. For example: E10.[file name]
2. Google Finance
With the help of Google Finance smart chips, you can easily add information about stocks, mutual funds, currencies, and other financial entities directly to your Google spreadsheet. As you type “@” and the name of the stock or financial items you want to add, Google Sheets gives suggestions from its finance database. Choose the relevant option, and you’ll get access to information about that financial entity.
3. Gives easy directions
Converting places and locations into place smart chips displays a Google map preview of a specific location. You can further click on it or hover over it to expand and see the complete address and even get easy directions to that location.
4. Verify email addresses
Verifying email addresses with smart chips is super easy and ensures an accurate and valid email address entry. If you enter the wrong email address and convert it into a people chip, it will display an error message: “Cell (address) contains an invalid email.” A valid email address, on the other hand, will get converted into a people chip. You can hover over it or click on it to display all the information that the profile of the person has, including name, birthday, designation, and so on.
How to insert smart chips in Google sheets?
Once you’ve opened up the Google Sheet you want to insert the smart chip in, you can follow one of the three methods discussed below.
Method 1:
Type “@” followed by the email address of a person, file name, event name, etc. You can choose to type the names of any of the following and then select the one you want to insert from the list below.
For files, type the file name.
For events, type the event name from your calendar.
For places, type the place or location.
For finance, type the name of the finance entity.
For rating, type rating and click on the chip to choose zero to five-star rating from dropdowns.
Method 2:
Select the cells where you want to enter the desired chip. Click on Insert > Smart chips. Select the chip you want from the options, as shown in the image below.
Method 3:
Paste the email, fill link, etc., in the cell and press the tab key when prompted. Here’s how you can do it for each type:
Paste an email to the cell and press the tab to create a people chip.
Paste a file link to a cell, and press the tab key to create a file chip.
Paste a map URL to a cell, and press the tab key to create a place chip.
Paste a YouTube video link to a cell, and press the tab key to create a YouTube chip.
Conclusion
Whether managing projects, conducting events, or tracking financial data, smart chips help streamline your workflow. Adding them to your Google Sheets enhances their proficiency by improving accuracy and efficiency in your work processes. By following the steps and using smart chips in ways discussed in this guide, you can make your Google Sheets more organized and efficient and boost your productivity levels to new heights.
