Docs/Sources/Generate GUIDs

Generate GUIDs

Generate globally unique identifiers

OperationalCredits 2 per callp50 140msData Generation

Overview

GUID Generator works by creating random 128-bit identifiers following the RFC 4122 UUID version 4 specification. Supports multiple output formats including standard, uppercase, hyphen-less, and brace-enclosed.

Live Test Generate GUIDs Source →

Formula

One function covers the whole catalog: the first argument names the source, the rest are its inputs, and the "field" pair says which single value lands in the cell. Formulas covers the grammar that applies to all of them.

=VERVE("guidgenerator", "field", "guids")

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. Premium inputs are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

InputTypeWhere it goesDescription
countOptionalinteger"count", valueNumber of GUIDs to generate
default 1 · range 1–100
formatOptionalstring"format", valueOutput format
defaultuppercasenohyphensbraces
default default

Passing an option

=VERVE("guidgenerator", "count", 3)

What lands in your sheet

The "field" pair is what makes the formula resolve to one cell. Its value is a dot-path from the table below, so swapping it is how you pull a different value — one formula per column.

Seeing everything at once

Drop the "field" pair and the formula returns the whole response instead: two columns, field name on the left and value on the right, spilling from the cell you typed in.

=VERVE("guidgenerator")
Good for exploring, not for filling down

The second row's table would land on top of the first's, and every cell after the first reads #REF! (#SPILL! in Excel). Keep one per sheet, or name a field, and leave the cells below and to the right empty.

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Each one is exactly what the "field" pair accepts, so swapping it is how you pull a different value into a cell. On a plan without a Premium field the cell reads #PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.

Use as "field"TypeExample cell valueDescription
guidsarray["099FD1E4-60FD-4749-9B61-53A265F52579","D68CA374-C822-40E4-9948-CE7A5D5FC76A","F6DAD45F-A904-4007-89DF-8F5C76184910"]Array of generated GUID strings in requested format
countnumber3Total number of GUIDs generated in the response
formatstringuppercaseOutput format applied to generated GUIDs
versionPremiumnumber4UUID version used for GUID generation
variantPremiumstringRFC 4122UUID variant standard followed by generated GUIDs

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() will not catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead. Error handling covers the rest.

Cell readsWhat happened
#ERR Not connectedNo API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account.
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or valueA preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference.
#ERR No "x" in guidgeneratorAn option name this source does not take. The message lists the ones it does.
#ERR No data point "…"The "field" path is not in the response. Check it against the table above.
#PREMIUM(field)The field exists but your plan does not include it.
#ERR Out of creditsThe cycle'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 does not leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.

  1. Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
  2. Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
  3. Type the formula above into any cell.

Use cases

Database Records
Generate unique primary keys and identifiers for database records and entities
Session Management
Create unique session identifiers for web applications and APIs
File Naming
Generate unique filenames and resource identifiers to prevent conflicts
Transaction IDs
Create unique transaction and request identifiers for tracking and logging

Other ways to use Generate GUIDs

Set up Generate GUIDs on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Call it as a REST APIOne HTTPS endpoint and an x-api-key header, with SDKs for Node, Python and .NET.APIVerve →Reference →
Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →

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