How to connect Google Sheets automatically

Did you know that you can connect Google Sheets to one another? Using a large amount of data among multiple spreadsheets can become complex, and often, it affects the efficiency of our work. Finding a way to connect these Google Sheets automatically is a fantastic way to actively solve this issue, and increase our productivity further.

In this article, let’s explore how the Sheetgo add-on in Google Sheets can help not only connect your Google Sheets automatically to sync your data, but also create an automated workflow that transforms the way you and your team work together.

Connecting Google Sheets

Google has already revolutionized the way we work with spreadsheets. In the past, spreadsheets were closed, offline files — and many people still use Excel in that way. Google Sheets changed all that. As an online, cloud-based platform, data is transferred in real-time and anyone can access any file from anywhere.

Although G-Suite’s features are extremely useful to make spreadsheets more accessible overall, there still remain some limitations that may affect how you work. With Google Sheets, more collaborators mean a higher chance of manual mistakes. In addition, one spreadsheet can simply become too large with multiple inputs, making it impossible to analyze data effectively.

The Sheetgo add-on offers a solution to both of these problems and more, thanks to its entirely automated system.

Using the IMPORTRANGE function

In order to connect Google Sheets spreadsheets, you can use the IMPORTRANGE function and transfer data automatically from one file to another. However, there are some limitations to IMPORTRANGE that can set you back.

• It’s very common to encounter parse errors after writing the IMPORTRANGE formula.
• When you share a spreadsheet, the IMPORTRANGE function requires users to have access to the source file. This could be a problem when you don’t want to grant other users access to your source sheet.
• You can’t preserve formatting when you import data with the IMPORTRANGE function. Therefore, you can import the data from your source file, but you will not be able to transfer the formatting to your destination spreadsheet.

Why connect Google Sheets automatically?

Connecting Google Sheets automatically through Sheetgo allows you to connect files and sync data in just a few easy steps.

Sheetgo also offers even more benefits that help to entirely transform the way you and your team work. Let’s take a look at just a few of the additional benefits Sheetgo offers:

• Automated workflow: Your files are turned into a fully-automated workflow that takes care of your entire process from start to finish.
• Saves time and money: Sheetgo does all of the work for you! Your data is automatically transferred from one sheet to another, saving you a huge amount of time and money.
• No manual input: There’s no room for human error with automation. Receive instant transfers in record time.
• Quick setup: You can create an entirely new system for your processes in just a few easy steps.
  Self-sufficient system: Once the Sheetgo workflow is up and running, you’ll never have to worry about it again.
• Easy to build on for scalability: Sheetgo allows you to build up your workflows as your business grows, so your automated systems can always fulfill your needs.

Now that we understand how automatically connecting Google Sheets can improve your efficiency, let’s go through a step-by-step on how to connect Google Sheets using the Sheetgo add-on.

How to connect Google Sheets

Let’s say I am the head of the Marketing department of a food company and I need access to all data on our marketing performance. Across my department, we have several spreadsheets full of data that cover different aspects of our marketing processes, each owned by a different person. I need to connect all of these files to one main spreadsheet so that I can access all information to monitor our KPIs and make important business decisions.

Here is just one example of the many spreadsheets I want to connect with my main spreadsheet. This one handles all of the content marketing figures, but there are other spreadsheets specifically for email marketing, SEO, SEM, etc.

Using the Sheetgo add-on, I can connect multiple spreadsheets like this one to my master sheet. Whenever these spreadsheets are updated by one of my team members, my main spreadsheet is automatically updated too.

Follow the steps below to get started and connect your Google Sheets files automatically.

Step 1: Get the Sheetgo add-on

Click on the blue button below to install the Sheetgo add-on for Google Sheets.

Alternatively, get the Sheetgo-add on from directly in your Google Sheets app.

Open the app and navigate to Add-ons > Get add-ons, then search for Sheetgo and click Install.

Step 2: Connect your files

Open the spreadsheet where you want your other files to connect. With our use case, I’m opening the master sheet named Marketing Dashboard KPIs (master sheet).

Open the Sheetgo add-on by navigating to Add-ons > Sheetgo > Start.

The add-on will open on the right-hand side of your screen.

Under the Import section, click Select data.

Select your source data – this will be other Google Sheet files, so select Google Sheets.

Click Select file and search for the names of your spreadsheets that you wish to connect to the current Google Sheet.

Now, you must choose the tab you wish to connect to. The data I want to access is under the ‘Tracking’ tab, so let’s add that.

Sheetgo also gives me the option to add more files.

Simply click Add another source file and repeat the process for each of your spreadsheets.

Under the Destination section, you can rename the tab to which the data from your multiple files will transfer. As I am receiving data from multiple Tracking tabs, I’ll name it ‘Consolidated Tracking’.

Once you’re finished with connecting your files, press Finish and Save.

Step 3: Automate your workflow

Your files are now successfully connected as a workflow. You can now choose to schedule automatic transfers so that your master sheet remains up-to-date with the latest data.

Start by clicking the Automate button.

Once you’re happy with your schedule, click Save.

Step 4: Connection complete

Now you have a fully-developed automatic workflow where you can receive data from multiple Google Sheets in one place.

Here is what all of the marketing data looks like in my master sheet:

Now you’ve created a connection, Sheetgo automatically imports data from the source spreadsheets into your master sheet.

As a result, your data is now centralized, ready for you to create a dashboard:

If you want some help and tips for creating a data dashboard, take a look at our blog post How to create a dashboard in Google Sheets.

How do I auto pull data in Google Sheets?

And there you have it! With the Sheetgo add-on, you can connect multiple Google Sheets to your source file in order to receive automatic transfers in one place. Simply open the add-on, connect your sheets, and schedule automatic transfers.

Now that you know how to connect Google Sheets using Sheetgo add-on why not take a look at our blog post on How to split Google Sheets into multiple sheets using the add-on?

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