Overview
Password Generator works by generating passwords based on the specified length and complexity. It returns the generated password in a structured format.
Live Test Generate Passwords 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("passwordgenerator", "field", "passwords.0.password")=VERVE.CALL("passwordgenerator", "field", "passwords.0.password")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.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
countOptional | integer | "count", value | The number of passwords to generate default 1 · range 1–100 |
lengthOptional | integer | "length", value | The length of the password to generate default 12 · range 4–128 |
complexityOptional | string | "complexity", value | The complexity of the password. Only applies when type is randomsimplemediumstrongmaximumdefault medium |
typeOptional | string | "type", value | The kind of password to generate. random uses the complexity preset, pronounceable builds readable syllables, passphrase joins dictionary words, and custom honours the include/exclude switches belowrandompronounceablepassphrasecustomdefault random |
includeNumbersOptional | boolean | "includeNumbers", value | Include digits. Applies to custom and pronounceable, and to random at simple complexity |
includeSymbolsOptional | boolean | "includeSymbols", value | Include punctuation symbols. Applies to custom, and to random at medium complexity |
includeUppercaseOptional | boolean | "includeUppercase", value | Include uppercase letters. Applies to custom, and to random at simple complexity |
includeLowercaseOptional | boolean | "includeLowercase", value | Include lowercase letters in a custom password. Set false to build from the other character sets only default true |
excludeSimilarOptional | boolean | "excludeSimilar", value | Exclude characters that are easy to confuse when read aloud or typed (i, l, 1, L, o, 0, O) |
excludeAmbiguousOptional | boolean | "excludeAmbiguous", value | Exclude brackets, slashes, quotes and other characters that need escaping in shells and config files |
mixedCaseOptional | boolean | "mixedCase", value | Randomly capitalise letters in a pronounceable password |
strictOptional | boolean | "strict", value | Guarantee at least one character from every enabled set rather than leaving it to chance |
wordCountOptional | integer | "wordCount", value | How many words a passphrase contains. Only applies when type is passphrase default 4 · range 2–12 |
separatorOptional | string | "separator", value | The character placed between passphrase words. Only applies when type is passphrase default - |
capitalizeOptional | boolean | "capitalize", value | Capitalise each word of a passphrase. Only applies when type is passphrase |
analyzeOptionalPremium | boolean | "analyze", value | Return a strength analysis alongside each password |
Passing an option
=VERVE("passwordgenerator", "count", 10)=VERVE.CALL("passwordgenerator", "count", 10)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("passwordgenerator")=VERVE.CALL("passwordgenerator")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" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
passwords | array[10] | Array of generated password objects with details | |
passwords.0.password | string | aOwqDh0ZK*P;!M|%oiFYJ!IK%TMXQO | The generated password string |
passwords.0.length | number | 30 | Length of the generated password |
passwords.0.metadata | object | {…} | Metadata about the password generation |
passwords.0.metadata.type | string | random | Type of password generation method used |
passwords.0.metadata.complexityPremium | string | strong | Complexity level of the password |
passwords.0.analysisPremium | object | null | Strength analysis for the password. Returned only when analyze is true, and holds score, strength, feedback and entropy |
count | number | 10 | Total count of passwords generated |
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 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 | A preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in passwordgenerator | An 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 credits | The 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.
- 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.
Use cases
- Employee Account Provisioning
- IT administrators create temporary credentials for new staff accounts matching internal length rules before users complete their initial login.
- Database Credential Rotation
- When rotating secrets in CI/CD pipelines, DevOps engineers produce symbol-free strings to prevent shell escaping errors in connection strings.
- Signup Form Suggestions
- Recommend readable, multi-word passphrases to customers during registration so they adopt strong credentials that remain memorable.
- Help Desk Resets
- Help desk staff generate pronounceable strings for callers locked out of internal systems, avoiding ambiguous characters during phone readbacks.
Other ways to use Generate Passwords
Set up Generate Passwords on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
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