How to load data from Google Sheets to Google Sheets

Learn how to use Airbyte to synchronize your Google Sheets data into Google Sheets within minutes.

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Start syncing with Airbyte in 3 easy steps within 10 minutes

Set up a Google Sheets connector in Airbyte

Connect to Google Sheets or one of 400+ pre-built or 10,000+ custom connectors through simple account authentication.

Set up Google Sheets for your extracted Google Sheets data

Select Google Sheets where you want to import data from your Google Sheets source to. You can also choose other cloud data warehouses, databases, data lakes, vector databases, or any other supported Airbyte destinations.

Configure the Google Sheets to Google Sheets in Airbyte

This includes selecting the data you want to extract - streams and columns -, the sync frequency, where in the destination you want that data to be loaded.

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Check out our interactive demo and our how-to videos to learn how you can sync data from any source to any destination.

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How to Sync Google Sheets to Google Sheets Manually

Step 1: Identify the Data Sources

Source Sheet
- Determine the Google Sheet containing the data to be transferred.
- Note the Spreadsheet ID and Sheet Name, which are accessible in the sheet’s URL: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/SPREADSHEET_ID/edit#gid=SHEET_ID

Destination Sheet
- Prepare the target sheet where the data will be copied.
- Ensure adequate space is available to accommodate incoming data.
- Record its Spreadsheet ID for reference.

Step 2: Configure Access to Google Sheets API

Enable API Access:
- Visit Google Cloud Console and create a new project or use an existing one.
- Enable the Google Sheets API within the project.

Set Up OAuth Credentials:
- Navigate to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials" in the Cloud Console.
- Generate an OAuth 2.0 client ID and download the credentials file in JSON format.

Authenticate Your Application:
- Use libraries such as google-auth for Python or googleapis for JavaScript to authenticate your app.
- Grant permissions for scopes like https://www.googleapis.com/auth/spreadsheets.

Step 3: Extract Data from Source Sheet

Fetch Data Using API:
- Utilize the spreadsheets.values.get method to retrieve values from a specified range in the source sheet.
- Define ranges using A1 notation (e.g., Sheet1!A1:D10) for precise extraction.

Store Extracted Data:
Temporarily save fetched data in memory or export it into formats such as JSON or CSV for further processing.

Step 4: Prepare Data for Transfer

Clean and Format Data:
- Ensure that the extracted data aligns with the structure of the destination sheet.
- Address issues like empty cells, null values, or inconsistent formats during this step.

Map Columns:
If column names differ between sheets, create a mapping strategy to align source data with destination columns.

Step 5: Insert Data into Destination Sheet

Write Data Using API:
Use the spreadsheets.values.append method to add rows of data into the target sheet.

Specify Insertion Method:

You can choose between:
INSERT_ROWS: Appends new rows below existing ones.
OVERWRITE: Replaces rows with new data.

Monitor API Responses:
Check responses for success messages or errors to confirm successful transfer.

Step 6: Validate Transfer Data

- Compare row counts between source and destination sheets to ensure completeness.
- Verify that all entries have been copied accurately without missing or malformed values.
- Test formulas, references, and formatting within the destination sheet.

FAQs

What is ETL?

ETL, an acronym for Extract, Transform, Load, is a vital data integration process. It involves extracting data from diverse sources, transforming it into a usable format, and loading it into a database, data warehouse or data lake. This process enables meaningful data analysis, enhancing business intelligence.

What is Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet program that allows users to create, edit, and share spreadsheets online. It is a free alternative to Microsoft Excel and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Google Sheets offers a range of features including formulas, charts, and conditional formatting, making it a powerful tool for data analysis and organization. Users can collaborate in real-time, making it easy to work on projects with others. Additionally, Google Sheets integrates with other Google apps such as Google Drive and Google Forms, making it a versatile tool for personal and professional use.

What data can you extract from Google Sheets?

Google Sheets API provides access to a wide range of data types that can be used for various purposes. Here are some of the categories of data that can be accessed through the API:

1. Spreadsheet data: This includes the data stored in the cells of a spreadsheet, such as text, numbers, and formulas.
2. Cell formatting: The API allows access to the formatting of cells, such as font size, color, and alignment.
3. Sheet properties: This includes information about the sheet, such as its title, size, and visibility.
4. Charts: The API provides access to the charts created in a sheet, including their data and formatting.
5. Named ranges: This includes the named ranges created in a sheet, which can be used to refer to specific cells or ranges of cells.
6. Filters: The API allows access to the filters applied to a sheet, which can be used to sort and filter data.
7. Comments: This includes the comments added to cells in a sheet, which can be used to provide additional context or information.
8. Permissions: The API allows access to the permissions set for a sheet, including who has access to view or edit the sheet.

How do I transfer data from Google Sheets?

This can be done by building a data pipeline manually, usually a Python script (you can leverage a tool as Apache Airflow for this). This process can take more than a full week of development. Or it can be done in minutes on Airbyte in three easy steps: 
1. Set up Google Sheets to Google Sheets as a source connector (using Auth, or usually an API key)
2. Choose a destination (more than 50 available destination databases, data warehouses or lakes) to sync data too and set it up as a destination connector
3. Define which data you want to transfer from Google Sheets to Google Sheets and how frequently
You can choose to self-host the pipeline using Airbyte Open Source or have it managed for you with Airbyte Cloud. 

What is ELT?

ELT, standing for Extract, Load, Transform, is a modern take on the traditional ETL data integration process. In ELT, data is first extracted from various sources, loaded directly into a data warehouse, and then transformed. This approach enhances data processing speed, analytical flexibility and autonomy.

Difference between ETL and ELT?

ETL and ELT are critical data integration strategies with key differences. ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) transforms data before loading, ideal for structured data. In contrast, ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) loads data before transformation, perfect for processing large, diverse data sets in modern data warehouses. ELT is becoming the new standard as it offers a lot more flexibility and autonomy to data analysts.

What should you do next?

Hope you enjoyed the reading. Here are the 3 ways we can help you in your data journey:

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