Melder
    Documentation Formulas

    Formulas

    Melder provides two powerful AI formulas that work seamlessly within Excel: M.GEN for general AI interactions and M.EXTRACT for targeted information extraction. All Melder formulas start with =M. and can reference both text and files in your spreadsheet.

    M.GEN: General AI Formula

    M.GEN is Melder's most versatile formula, allowing you to generate AI responses from any prompt or content.

    Basic Usage

    =M.GEN("summarize the current state of AI technology")

    Working with Cell References

    Reference any cell content in your prompts:

    =M.GEN("summarize this text:", A2)
=M.GEN("compare these two companies:", A2, "and", B2)

    Multiple Arguments

    Combine text and cell references naturally:

    =M.GEN("write a professional email to", A2, "about", B2, "and keep it under", C2, "words")

    Working with Files

    When referencing cells containing files, M.GEN automatically processes the content:

    =M.GEN("extract the key points from this document:", A2)
=M.GEN("compare these two resumes:", A2, B2)

    M.EXTRACT: Targeted Information Extraction

    M.EXTRACT is designed for pulling specific information from text or documents with high precision.

    Basic Structure

    =M.EXTRACT(reference, "what to extract")

    Example Extractions

    =M.EXTRACT(A2, "company name")
=M.EXTRACT(A2, "years of experience")
=M.EXTRACT(A2, "programming languages with years of experience")
=M.EXTRACT(A2, "project names and their completion dates")

    Working with Formula Outputs

    Melder Text Records

    By default, both formulas return a Melder Text Record that provides:

    • Expandable content viewing in cells
    • Citation tracking in the side panel
    • Rich text formatting
    • Source verification

    Converting to Plain Text

    Add .text to any formula to get standard Excel text:

    =M.GEN("write a summary").text
=M.EXTRACT(A2, "company name").text

    Best Practices

    Writing Effective Prompts

    1. Be specific about what you want
    2. Include context when needed
    3. Specify format requirements upfront
    4. Use natural language

    Working with Files

    • Files are automatically processed for AI analysis
    • Multiple files can be referenced in a single formula
    • Citations are generated automatically
    • Large files may take longer to process

    When to Use Each Formula

    Use M.GEN when you need to:

    • Generate creative content
    • Analyze multiple sources
    • Get detailed explanations
    • Compare information

    Use M.EXTRACT when you need to:

    • Pull specific data points
    • Create structured data
    • Maintain consistent formatting
    • Get precise information from documents