How to refresh spreadsheet-linked tables in Google Docs using API

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1

I need help with refreshing tables that are connected to Google Sheets data inside Google Docs using the API. When I get the document data through the API, I can see all the table information but I cannot find any reference that connects it back to the original spreadsheet. The JSON response only shows the current text values from the cells, not the connection to the source sheet.

Here is what a sample table looks like in the API response with 2 rows containing “Math Skills” and “Science Skills”:

{
  "tableData": {
    "totalRows": 2,
    "totalColumns": 1,
    "rowData": [
      {
        "startPos": 45,
        "endPos": 62,
        "cellData": [
          {
            "startPos": 46,
            "endPos": 62,
            "cellContent": [
              {
                "startPos": 47,
                "endPos": 62,
                "textBlock": {
                  "textElements": [
                    {
                      "startPos": 47,
                      "endPos": 58,
                      "textContent": {
                        "text": "Math Skills",
                        "formatting": {
                          "bold": true,
                          "textColor": {
                            "colorValue": {
                              "rgbValues": {
                                "r": 0.2,
                                "g": 0.4,
                                "b": 0.9
                              }
                            }
                          },
                          "textSize": {
                            "value": 18,
                            "measurement": "PT"
                          },
                          "fontInfo": {
                            "name": "Calibri",
                            "style": 400
                          }
                        }
                      }
                    }
                  ]
                }
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Basically I want to do the same thing as clicking the “REFRESH” button on a linked table but through code. Any ideas how to make this work?

2

Google Docs API doesn’t expose spreadsheet connection metadata for linked tables, so programmatic refreshing is a pain. Hit this same wall last year trying to automate our quarterly report updates. The API just treats linked tables as static content and strips away all the source info.

Found a workaround using Google Apps Script though. Create a script that accesses the doc through Apps Script’s Document service - it actually knows about linked elements. Then you can call refreshLinkedTable() on the table ranges. Not as clean as direct API access, but it works when you need automated refreshing.

3

yeah, this is a known issue unfortunatly. I’ve been dealing with the same thing for months. the Docs API basicly ignores the sheet connection and just gives you rendered text. only real solution I’ve found is using Apps Script like Ryan mentioned, or rebuilding the whole table from scratch each time with fresh Sheets data. super annoying, but Google’s API team hasn’t prioritized fixing this yet.

4

This limitation drove me crazy when building document automation tools. The Docs API treats linked tables like snapshots instead of dynamic connections - that’s why you’re only seeing static values. I ended up ditching the refresh approach entirely. Instead, I recreate the tables programmatically. Pull fresh data from your source spreadsheet using the Sheets API, then update the table content in Google Docs with batchUpdate requests. More work, but you get complete control. You could also use Selenium to automate clicking the refresh button, though that’s pretty clunky compared to a pure API solution. Bottom line: Google hasn’t exposed the linking mechanisms through their REST APIs yet.