Need help extracting data from a government website to Google Sheets using Apps Script

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1

Hey everyone, I’m trying to pull some info from a government website into my Google Sheet. I’ve got a list of license numbers in my spreadsheet, and I want to grab details for each one. Here’s what I’m after:

  • First and last name
  • License number
  • Role and sector
  • Expiry date
  • Status and explanation
  • Any extra conditions

I’ve been messing around with different methods but can’t quite crack it. Here’s a bit of code I’ve tried:

function fetchLicenseData() {
  const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  const licenseNumber = '9876543210123456';
  
  const url = 'https://example-gov-site.com/license-lookup';
  const payload = { licenseId: licenseNumber };
  
  const options = {
    method: 'POST',
    payload: payload
  };
  
  const response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, options);
  const content = response.getContentText();
  
  // Need help parsing the response and putting it in the sheet
}

Any ideas on how to make this work? Thanks in advance!

2

I’ve tackled a similar project recently. Your approach is sound, but you’ll need to refine it. Consider using the Cheerio library for parsing HTML if the response isn’t in a structured format like JSON or XML. You might also need to implement error handling and rate limiting to avoid overwhelming the server or getting blocked. For multiple license lookups, consider using batch processing or setTimeout to space out requests. Don’t forget to check the website’s terms of service to ensure you’re not violating any usage policies. If you’re still stuck, examining the network requests in your browser’s developer tools can provide insights into the exact payload format and headers required.

3

hey dancingfox, i’ve done something similar before. ur on the right track with urlfetchapp. for parsing the response, try using regex or xmlservice if the site returns xml. u might need to adjust the payload format too, depending on how the site expects data. good luck!

4

I’ve actually worked on a similar project for a client recently. One thing to keep in mind is that government websites can be tricky to scrape due to security measures. You might need to add headers to your request to mimic a real browser. Also, have you checked if the site has a public API? Sometimes they offer one that’s not well-advertised.

For parsing, I’d recommend using the Cheerio library as someone mentioned. It’s great for navigating HTML structures. You’ll probably need to inspect the page source to find the right selectors for each piece of data you want.

Don’t forget to add some error handling and maybe a delay between requests to be polite to their servers. And definitely double-check their terms of service – some gov sites explicitly prohibit scraping.

If you get stuck, feel free to share more details about the specific site. I might be able to offer more targeted advice.