If you've been using Promptitude within Google Sheets and encountered the error message "Exceeded maximum execution time (line 0)", you might be wondering what it means and how to resolve it.

This error is related to the limitations of Google Sheets' Custom Functions and the time it takes for your prompt to execute. In this article, we'll explain what this error means, why it occurs, and provide some recommendations on how to handle it.

Promptitude is a powerful tool that allows you to bring your prompts to Google Sheets through Custom Functions. These functions enable you to connect your Promptitude API Key and call the functionality of your prompts through a formula, generating the results directly inside Google Sheets.

While Custom Functions are incredibly useful, they do come with some limitations. One of these is the execution time. By default, Google Sheets allows a 30-second delay for custom functions. If the execution of your prompt takes longer than this allotted time, you'll encounter the "Exceeded maximum execution time (line 0)" error message.

This issue often arises with prompts that involve processing long texts. The occurrence of this error is dependent on both the Google Sheets limitation and the provider's response time.

If you're frequently encountering this error, here are some steps you can take:

1️⃣ Experiment with a different AI provider and model: This will allow you to compare the execution times and identify any potential bottlenecks.

2️⃣ Check the current status of the provider: If the provider's servers are experiencing high load or temporary downtime, this can slow down the execution process.

While the "Exceeded maximum execution time (line 0)" error can be frustrating, it's important to remember that it's a limitation of Google Sheets, not Promptitude. By understanding what causes this error and following the recommendations provided, you can work towards minimizing its occurrence and continue to make the most of Promptitude's functionality within Google Sheets.