Sync Tables -> Sheets with IMPORTDATA() (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Importrange and Importdata? ›

IMPORTRANGE lets you import a range of data from one Google Sheets spreadsheet into another. IMPORTDATA lets you transfer data from different file types (e.g. XML, HTML, CSV) to your spreadsheet. So while they both let you import data, they're for completely different sources.

Here's how you can use the IMPORTDATA function: Open a Google Sheets document or create a new one. Select the cell where you want the imported data to appear. In that cell, enter the following formula: =IMPORTDATA(url), replacing "url" with the actual URL of the data source you want to import.

Type in “IMPORTRANGE” or navigate to the “Insert” tab (or “Functions” icon) → “Function” → “Web” → “IMPORTRANGE”. Open a Google Sheets file you want to refer to. Copy the URL of the file. Insert the URL in the formula and enclose it wilt quotation marks.

Google Apps Script: Another IMPORTRANGE Google Sheets alternative is Google Apps Script. You can write custom scripts to perform tasks that Google Sheets can't do on its own. This includes importing from different data sources, handling errors, and formatting your data.

IMPORTDATA can only import a maximum of 50,000 data cells at a time.

One of the foremost reasons users encounter errors with IMPORTRANGE is due to permission and access issues. The function requires authorization to pull data from another spreadsheet. If a user sees a #REF! error with a message to allow access, clicking the “allow access” button should resolve the problem.

IMPORTRANGE replicates data from one spreadsheet onto another and will automatically update the imported data as you add, delete, or otherwise manipulate the original data set.

Copy data from one sheet to another automatically

Click on the cell where you wish your data to be located, and enter the IMPORTRANGE formula, inserting the URL you copied where needed. You can also choose to specify the data range within the formula.

There's no way to force a sync on another device. Either the user syncs, or wait for background sync.

Sheets will update the data automatically at up to 1 hour intervals , using the IMPORTDATA() function, which is very similar to IMPORTRANGE(). To force a refresh of the data synced into Sheets, you can go to the cell in Sheets which has the formula, delete it, and then undo the change.

What are the limitations of Importrange? ›

However, when you use IMPORTRANGE, you'll notice two limitations: (1) you cannot manipulate your imported data, and (2) the formatting from your original sheet will not automatically carry over.

Is there IMPORTRANGE in Excel? There are many functions in Excel, such as VLOOKUP Excel or SUMIF Excel. However, there is no Excel IMPORTRANGE function. At the same time, Excel provides a similar to IMPORTRANGE functionality for linking a data range from a separate spreadsheet.

load is for loading matlab workspace data, like variables; import is for programming stuff you probably won't need, and textscan and friends are for reading variables from text files.

In this formula, QUERY searches data from a predefined range/array according to specific criteria. Simultaneously, IMPORTRANGE imports the data into the target spreadsheet. Placing QUERY before IMPORTRANGE allows you to search (query) specific information from the data that is imported with IMPORTRANGE.