Automating Excel to Google Sheets Conversion and importrange without Authorization

Learn how to seamlessly convert Excel files to Google Sheets and use `importrange` without repetitive authorizations. This guide explains a streamlined approach to file management in Google Drive through Apps Script.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66705122/ asked by the user 'Pep Sakdoek' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13529043/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66707573/ provided by the user 'Pep Sakdoek' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13529043/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Automating Excel to Google Sheets Conversion and importrange without Authorization

Converting Excel files (.xlsx) into Google Sheets is a common requirement for those who work with data and spreadsheets incessantly. However, if you find yourself in a position where you need to use the importrange function to access these converted sheets, the authorization process can become a tedious chore.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at how to automate the conversion process so that you can both simplify your workflow and eliminate the need to manually authorize access every single time.

The Challenge: Repetitive Authorizations with importrange

If your workflow involves regular updates of .xlsx files that you then convert to Google Sheets, using the importrange function to access those sheets can quickly become cumbersome. Each time a new Google Sheet is created from an updated Excel file, you must go through the authorization process that allows access to the new sheet. This can slow down your productivity tremendously, especially if you have to do it repeatedly throughout the day.

Key Considerations:

Frequent conversions lead to new sheet IDs.

New sheet IDs require separate authorizations.

Manual authorizations can be time-consuming and inefficient.

The Solution: Streamlined Conversion and Authorizations

In order to handle this issue effectively, we've devised a solution that automates the conversion process and ensures you do not need to authorize access for each new Google Sheet that you generate. Let's walk through the steps involved in implementing this solution using Google Apps Script.

Step 1: Modify the Conversion Script

Here’s the updated Google Apps Script code that not only converts the Excel file but also manages the creation of a Google Sheets file in an organized manner.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Explanation of the Code

Identifying File IDs: The code fetches the file ID of the Excel file to be converted; it retrieves this value from a named range called "DataFile" in your active spreadsheet.

Blob Conversion: The script checks if the file name contains the .xlsx extension. If so, it obtains the Blob (binary large object) of the file, which allows for its conversion into a Google Sheet.

New or Update: The script then checks if a Google Sheet ID (saved using a named range "GDatafile") already exists. If it does not exist, it will create a new Google Sheet and save its ID. If it does exist, the script updates the existing Google Sheet instead of creating a new one.

Conclusion

By following this approach, you can efficiently convert your Excel files into Google Sheets and utilize the importrange function without facing the hassle of repeated authorizations every time a new sheet is generated.

This method saves you time, allowing you to focus on what really matters: analyzing your data rather than managing your data sources.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance on automating your workflow!