Explain formula (Coach)

Location on ribbon: Tab DVD Addin → Group AI → Menu AI Menu

Command ID: btnFormulaExplain

What it does

Opens the AI Formula Coach — Explain panel: it sends the active cell's formula to AI (Gemini) and returns a plain-language explanation — what the formula does, the role of each function, what the referenced ranges are for, and common pitfalls. Handy when you inherit someone else's estimate or quantity workbook full of nested formulas. Unlike the dvdAIExplain UDF, the answer stays in the panel — nothing is written to the sheet.

How to use

1. Select the cell whose formula you want explained (if you select a range, only the first cell is analyzed).
2. Click DVD Addin → AI → AI Menu → Explain formula (Coach) — the "AI Formula Coach — Explain" tab opens in the tool window.
3. Click Explain. The panel shows the cell address, the formula, and the Explanation box with the AI answer (selectable for copying).
4. The panel is modeless: click another cell on the sheet and press Explain again to analyze it. Click Close when done.

Example

You receive a quantity summary with =SUMPRODUCT((TaskCode=$B5)*(Month=C$4)*Qty) in a cell. Select it → Explain → the AI describes that it sums quantities for the task code in B5 during the month in C4, walks through each multiplied condition inside SUMPRODUCT, and warns that the named ranges TaskCode, Month, Qty must have equal row counts.

Notes

• A Gemini API key must be configured in Preferences ▸ AI Assistant first; without it the panel reports that the API key is missing.
• The selected cell must contain a formula (starting with =) — a value-only cell shows "The selected cell has no formula".
• The answer is AI-generated — verify it against the cell's actual behaviour, especially for cost/quantity formulas.
• Requires an Internet connection; the formula text is sent to the external AI service (other cell data is not sent).

Related

• Fix formula error — the twin mode: diagnoses an error cell and proposes a corrected formula.
• Formula View — quick non-AI view of the formulas in a selection.
• Error Check — scan the sheet for error cells before fixing them one by one.
• AI Chat — general AI chat panel for deeper questions about your data.