Skip to main content
Parallel’s Google Sheets integration brings AI-powered web research and retrieval into your spreadsheets. Ask a natural‑language question, optionally specify the data to target, and add contextual guidance—all from a single formula. The integration is designed for creating and enriching datasets in Sheets (e.g., enrichment, summaries, classifications, and quick insights).

​
Prerequisites

  • Get a Parallel API key from Platform.
  • Install the integration on Google Sheets directly from here or follow these steps:
    • Go to Extensions → Add-Ons → Get add-ons
    • Search for Parallel
    • Click on the listing from Parallel Web Systems
  • In Google Sheets, open Extensions → Parallel → Open Sidebar → Paste your API Key → Click Save API Key

​
Function Reference

The integration exposes one function with the following signature: 
=PARALLEL_QUERY(query, target_data, context)
It returns an answer to a query, with optional data targeting and contextual guidance.
  • query (required): A question or instruction. Accepts either a plain query string or a JSON-encoded structured argument.
  • target_data (optional, strongly recommended): A cell, range, or column reference to specify the extraction target.
  • context (optional): Additional information—background, constraints, user intent, or preferences—to tailor the response.
Returns: A concise answer string. When provided, target_data and context are used to improve relevance and precision.
For precise results, include target_data to extract a specific field corresponding to the input data.

​
Usage Patterns

​
Basic

Use PARALLEL_QUERY for general questions: 
=PARALLEL_QUERY("Trends in AI")

​
Targeted data retrieval

Use target_data to power targeted enrichments in your sheet: 
=PARALLEL_QUERY("Parallel Web Systems", target_data="CEO")
Notes
  • The function returns a single text value per call. Use ARRAYFORMULA to apply it over many rows.
  • For long queries, narrow target_data to relevant cells/columns to improve speed and fidelity.

​
Best Practices

  1. Scope your query: Be explicit about the desired format and constraints.
  2. Target the right data: Specify the exact data point you need to retrieve.
  3. Provide context: If needed, add audience, tone, or decision criteria via context. Being verbose here is helpful.
  4. Use cell references: Keep prompts and policies in cells for reuse and review.
  5. Validate outputs: For downstream logic, pair insights with checks (e.g., thresholds).

​
Troubleshooting

  • API key issues
    • Make sure your Parallel API key is saved in the sidebar and has not expired.
  • Slow or incomplete responses
    • Avoid volatile formulas that trigger frequent recalculation.

​
FAQ

  • Can I return multiple fields?
    • No, each response is a single field. You can split one call with multiple output fields into multiple requests, each requesting one field. ARRAYFORMULA is especially useful for this.
  • How do I keep prompts consistent across a team?
    • Store prompts and policies in reference cells or a “Prompts” sheet and reference them in formulas.