> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.adriel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to connect

> How to connect the Google Sheets data source to Adriel: authorize a Google account, paste a spreadsheet link, and pick the tabs to import.

Google Sheets connects a spreadsheet tab as a live data source, so manually maintained tables — conversion targets, budgets, offline sales, partner performance — flow into Adriel dashboards alongside connected ad and analytics platforms. Each selected tab becomes its own data source and refreshes automatically.

## Before you connect

The following are required:

* A Google account with read access to the target spreadsheet. Write access is needed only when exporting data back to the sheet via Datastream.
* The full Google Sheets URL of the spreadsheet, in the form `https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/<ID>/...`. Shortened URLs, mobile share links, and Drive links are rejected.
* The name of the tab to import. One tab becomes one data source.
* The file must be in **Google Sheets** format. An XLSX file is not read directly by this connector — open it in Google Drive and convert it first with **File** > **Save as Google Sheets**, then connect the resulting Google Sheet.

## Connect Google Sheets

<Steps>
  <Step title="Authorize a Google account">
    On the **Data Sources** page, search for **Google Sheets** and select it. Click **Sign in with Google** in the pop-up, sign in with an account that has access to the spreadsheet, and click **Continue** to grant access.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Write access (optional)">
    Leave Write access off for a standard read-only import. Grant **Write** access only when the sheet will also receive exported data through Datastream — this upgrades the authorization to read/write scope, which lets Adriel write back to the spreadsheet. Write access can only be granted when the connection is first created.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the spreadsheet link and pick tabs">
    In **Google Sheets Link (URL)**, paste the full spreadsheet URL. It must contain `https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/`. When the link loads, a **Sheet** dropdown lists the available tabs. Select the tabs to import; keep the selection to 10 or fewer to avoid connection failures. Each selected tab is created as its own independent data source.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the channel (optional)">
    Set an **Alternative Channel Name** and **Alternative Channel Icon** if a custom label or icon should appear next to the data source. An SVG file can be uploaded for the icon.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit">
    Click **Submit** to complete the connection. Initial data availability can take up to one business day.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What gets imported

Each selected tab becomes one independent data source. The first row of the tab is treated as the header. Numeric columns become metrics and text columns become breakdowns, with column typing following how each cell is displayed (number, date, percentage). Available fields are derived from the tab's columns after each sync, and internal bookkeeping columns are excluded so they never appear in widget builders. Column names are sanitized for storage — special characters are stripped, reserved names and duplicates are suffixed, and very long names are truncated — while the original header is preserved in the interface.

For the complete field list and behavior, see the [Google Sheets data reference](/data-sources/g-n/google-sheets/data-reference).

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="An XLSX file will not connect">
    This connector reads Google Sheets only. Convert the XLSX file to Google Sheets format in Google Drive with **File** > **Save as Google Sheets**, then connect the converted sheet. For direct file uploads, use the CSV Files data source instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'Sheet not found' or 404 errors">
    The authorizing Google account does not have access to the spreadsheet. Request access from the sheet owner, or reconnect using an account that already has access.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'Link is invalid. Please input the full link of your spreadsheet.'">
    The pasted link does not contain `https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/`. Use the link copied from the Sheets address bar. Shortened URLs, mobile share links, Drive links, and pre-edit URLs all fail validation before any data is fetched.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A column appears with a different name than in the sheet">
    Column names are sanitized to fit storage rules and length limits. Headers with special characters, headers that collide with reserved names, or headers that are too long are renamed before storage. The original header is preserved in the interface where possible; the underlying column is the sanitized form.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Dashboards break after a column is renamed in the sheet">
    Column renames propagate to Adriel on the next refresh, which can invalidate widgets that reference the previous name. Plan column changes carefully and update dependent widgets in the same change window.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Google Sheets data reference" href="/data-sources/g-n/google-sheets/data-reference">
    Fields, refresh cadence, and limits for Google Sheets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Sheets FAQs" href="/data-sources/g-n/google-sheets/faqs">
    Common questions and expected behaviors for the Google Sheets data source.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How to connect CSV Files" href="/data-sources/a-f/csv-files/how-to-connect">
    Upload spreadsheet files directly, including XLSX, instead of linking a cloud sheet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How to connect Airtable" href="/data-sources/a-f/airtable/how-to-connect">
    Connect an Airtable base as an alternative structured-data source.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>