Automating data transfer from Excel to Google Sheets within Google Drive

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1

I’m trying to figure out how to move data from an Excel file (.xlsx) to a Google Sheet automatically. Both files reside in my Google Drive. Here’s the situation:

  1. The Excel file updates automatically in my Drive.
  2. I need this data for creating charts in Google Data Studio.
  3. Google Data Studio cannot process Excel files directly.
  4. Therefore, I must transfer the data into a Google Sheet.

Could someone suggest a script or an automated method to copy the data? I prefer not to update it manually each time the Excel file changes. Any help would be appreciated, as it would save me a lot of time.

2

I’ve been in a similar situation before, and I found that using Google Apps Script with the Advanced Drive Service worked wonders. Here’s what I did:

  1. Set up a script in Google Apps Script that runs on a time-based trigger (say, every hour).
  2. Used the Advanced Drive Service to locate and read the Excel file.
  3. Converted the Excel data to a 2D array.
  4. Cleared the existing data in the target Google Sheet.
  5. Wrote the new data to the sheet.

It took some trial and error to get it right, but once set up, it ran smoothly. The trickiest part was handling different Excel formats and ensuring all data types transferred correctly. If you’re comfortable with basic JavaScript, this approach could save you tons of time in the long run.

Just remember to set up error handling and logging, as network issues can sometimes cause hiccups in the process.

3

Google Apps Script can be an effective solution for automating the data transfer. You can create a script that periodically checks your Drive for updates in the Excel file and then transfers the data to the Google Sheet. One viable method is to access the file via the Drive API, convert the Excel file to a Google Sheets format, extract the relevant data, and then update your target sheet. A time-driven trigger can be set up to ensure the data remains current for your Data Studio charts. Note that this method requires some coding experience, so if you are not comfortable with scripting, you might consider third-party automation tools.

4

hey there runningriver, have you tried using zapier? it’s pretty neat for automating stuff like this. you can set it up to watch your drive for changes in the excel file and then trigger an update to your google sheet. no coding required and it’s prtty straightforward to set up. might be worth checking out