Working with large spreadsheets? Got lists of products, contacts, feedback, or any data needing intelligent processing? You know the pain. Going row by row to summarize text, generate descriptions, translate content, or analyze information gives good result but is time-consuming. Google's Gemini AI can handle these tasks, but applying it to thousands of rows is another story.

The challenge isn't Gemini's capability; it's the logistics. Setting up bulk processing usually means writing scripts, managing rate limits, handling inevitable errors, and retrying failed requests.

This is where Datablist changes the game.

Datablist acts as the bridge between your Excel or CSV files and the power of Google Gemini. With Datablist, you write a single prompt and use simple variables ({{Column Name}}) to pull data from your spreadsheet.

Step-by-Step: Processing Your Spreadsheet with Gemini via Datablist

Ready to automate your data tasks? Here’s how:

Step 1: Upload Your CSV or Excel File to Datablist

First, get your data into Datablist. Sign up for a free account. Datablist is built for large datasets. Create a new "Collection" and upload your CSV or Excel file.

Step 2: Choose the "AskGemini" Enrichment

Once your data is loaded, click the "Enrich" button. Search for or find the "Ask Gemini" enrichment.

Select Ask Google AI / Gemini enrichment in Datablist store
Select Ask Google AI / Gemini enrichment in Datablist store

Step 3: Craft Your Prompt Using Variables

Tell Gemini what to do. In the configuration panel, write your instruction. Use {{Column Name}} to insert data dynamically from your spreadsheet.

Example Prompt:

Write a short, engaging marketing description for {{Product Name}} highlighting these features: {{Features}}.
Writing a prompt with variables in Datablist
Writing a prompt with variables in Datablist

You can also add a "System Prompt" to guide Gemini's role or output format.

Step 4: Specify Where to Save Gemini's Output (Text or Structured)

Gemini can return a single text result or structured data (list of defined outputs). Datablist handles both.

Single Text Result Simply tell Datablist which column (new or existing) should store Gemini's response.

Structured Output If your prompt asks for multiple details, enable the "Define outputs format" option.

Defining a single text output column
Defining a single text output column
Enabling multiple/structured output definition
Enabling multiple/structured output definition

Then, map each piece of structured information (e.g., 'company_name', 'contact_person') to specific columns in your spreadsheet.

Configuring mapping for structured output fields to columns
Configuring mapping for structured output fields to columns

Step 5: Test on a Sample, Then Run for All Rows

Datablist first runs your prompt on a small sample (e.g., 10 rows) so you can check the results in real-time. Review the output carefully.

Previewing Gemini results on sample rows before running on all data
Previewing Gemini results on sample rows before running on all data

If the results look good, click "Run enrichment on all items" to apply the prompt to your entire dataset. Datablist manages the API calls and retries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What's the cost involved?

Using the Gemini enrichment in Datablist is free. However, you need your own Google AI API Key. Google charges for Gemini API usage based on input/output tokens, billed directly by Google Cloud.

Important Note: You must have a Google Cloud project set up with billing enabled and the Gemini API activated. Generate an API key associated with that project.

How do I get a Google Gemini API Key?

  1. Go to Google AI Studio or Google Cloud Console.
  2. Set up a Google Cloud project with billing and enable the "Vertex AI API".
  3. Navigate to "Credentials" under "APIs & Services" and create an API key.
  4. Keep your API key secure and confidential.

Can Datablist handle really large Excel or CSV files?

Yes. Datablist is designed for large datasets and handles them much better than standard spreadsheet software.

Why Use Google Gemini?

Gemini is Google's cutting-edge AI family, known for:

  • Multimodality: Underlying ability to understand text, images, audio, and code.
  • Advanced Reasoning & Performance: Sophisticated understanding, summarization, translation, and generation capabilities.
  • Integration & Scalability: Backed by Google's infrastructure for reliable performance.

Which specific Gemini model is used?

Typically, Datablist uses standard models like Gemini Pro. Check the enrichment settings for specific options, as availability might vary.

Powerful Use Cases for Gemini on Your Spreadsheets

  • Personalized Outreach: Generate custom email intros or messages using data like {{First Name}}, {{Company}}.
  • Content Generation: Create product descriptions, summarize articles ({{Article Text}}), draft social media posts.
  • Data Cleaning & Structuring: Standardize addresses ({{Raw Address}}), extract info from notes ({{Notes}} -> {{Contact}}, {{Date}}), fix grammar.
  • Translation at Scale: Translate text from one column to another ({{Description DE}} -> {{Description EN}}).
  • Advanced Analysis: Analyze sentiment ({{Feedback}}), categorize comments, identify themes in survey responses.
  • Information Extraction: Pull specific data points (prices, SKUs) from text blocks.