Base64 Encode in a Cell
Formula
Base64 Encoder/Decoder provides fast and reliable Base64 encoding and decoding operations with detailed information about the conversion results.
=VERVE("base64", A2)=VERVE.CALL("base64", A2)A2 holds the text you're looking up. Drag the formula down and each row resolves on its own.
With literal values
Nothing has to come from a cell — typed values work the same way.
=VERVE("base64", "Hello World")Inputs
Required inputs are positional, in the order below. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after them — the same shape as SUMIFS.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
textRequired | string | argument 2 | The text to encode (e.g. Hello World) |
action | string | "action", value | The action to perform (e.g. encode) |
Passing an option
=VERVE("base64", A2, "action", "encode")What lands in your sheet
With no "field" pair the formula spills the whole response as two columns — field name on the left, value on the right — starting at the cell you typed in. Make sure the cells below and to the right are empty.
Pulling one value
Add a "field" pair to get a single cell back instead of a table. The field name is the dot-path from the table below.
=VERVE("base64", A2, "field", "action")=VERVE.CALL("base64", A2, "field", "action")Available fields
| Use as "field" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
action | string | encode | The action performed on the text |
original | string | Hello World | The original Base64 encoded string input |
encoded | string | SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ= | The decoded text result from Base64 string |
length | number | 16 | Length of the original Base64 encoded string |
Filling a whole column
Hand the first argument a range instead of a cell and the add-in makes one batched call for the lot, then spills the answers down. That is faster than dragging the formula and costs the same credits — one per row looked up.
=VERVE("base64", A2:A100, "field", "action")=VERVE.CALL("base64", A2:A100, "field", "action")A2:A100 is the column of text values. The result spills down alongside it, one row per input, blanks skipped.
When a cell doesn't fill
A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() won't catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead.
| Cell reads | What happened |
|---|---|
#ERR Not connected | No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account. |
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value | The preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in base64 | An option name that this source doesn't take. The message lists the ones it does. |
#ERR No data point "…" | The "field" path isn't in the response. Check the dot-path against the table above. |
#PREMIUM(field) | The field exists but your plan doesn't include it. |
#ERR Out of credits | The month's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date. |
Before the formula works
The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet doesn't leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.
- Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
- Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
- Type the formula above into any cell.
Other ways to use Base64 Encode in a Cell
Set up Base64 Encode in a Cell on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Base64 Encode in a Cell work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes — the same source, the same arguments. Sheets calls it =VERVE("base64", …) and Excel calls it =VERVE.CALL("base64", …); that function name is the only difference.
Do the cells recalculate on their own?
They recalculate when the sheet does — on edit, on open, or on a manual recalc. Each recalculation is a fresh call and spends credits, so for a large static column it's worth copying the results and pasting them as values.
How many credits does a filled column cost?
1 credit per row looked up, whether you drag the formula or pass a range. The range form is one HTTP call instead of many, but the credit count is the same.
Can I share the sheet without sharing my key?
Yes. The key is stored against your account, not in the file. Collaborators see the values already in the cells; formulas only recalculate for someone who has connected their own account.
Why is a cell showing #ERR instead of an error?
So you can read the reason. Excel can't display a custom message on a real spreadsheet error, so the add-in returns the explanation as text on both platforms instead.