About the IMPORTDATA Function
Overview of IMPORTDATA
| Import CSV or TSV FilesGoogle Sheets Function | ||
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=IMPORTDATA( URL ) Summary The IMPORTDATA function retrieves data from a specified URL in CSV or TSV format and displays it in your Google Sheet. |
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When to Use IMPORTDATA
- When you need to use CSV or TSV data provided by an external system in your spreadsheet.
- To manage regularly updated data such as weather, currency rates, or stock prices.
- To save time by automating data import instead of manual entry.
How to Use IMPORTDATA
The following example demonstrates the basic usage of the IMPORTDATA function:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Description | Formula | Result |
| 2 | Fetch CSV data | =IMPORTDATA(“https://example.com/data.csv”) | Displays CSV data |
| 3 | Fetch TSV data | =IMPORTDATA(“https://example.com/data.tsv”) | Displays TSV data |
Results
- Cell B2 fetches CSV data from the specified URL and displays it in the sheet.
- Cell B3 fetches TSV data from the specified URL and displays it in the sheet.
Advanced IMPORTDATA Examples
IMPORTDATA allows for automated data retrieval. Below are some examples:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use Case | Formula | Result |
| 2 | Fetch currency exchange rates | =IMPORTDATA(“https://example.com/forex.csv”) | Displays current exchange rates |
| 3 | Fetch product list | =IMPORTDATA(“https://example.com/products.tsv”) | Displays product details |
Points to Note
- The URL must use HTTPS; HTTP URLs are not supported.
- Files must be in CSV or TSV format; other formats will result in errors.
- If the URL lacks proper access permissions or the file format is incorrect, data retrieval will fail.
- Ensure compliance with external system policies regarding data updates and usage.
Conclusion
- The IMPORTDATA function simplifies the process of importing CSV or TSV data into Google Sheets.
- It enables automatic updates for external data, making data management more efficient.
- Verify URL format and access permissions to ensure successful use of the function.