How to Import Data into Google Sheets

How to Import Data into Google Sheets. In this article, I will look at two methods for importing data from one Google Sheet to another. The first method involves synchronizing the selected range, which allows you to track all changes. The second is tied precisely to the transfer of information for further editing. Choose the appropriate method and follow the instructions to achieve the desired result.

How to Import Data into Google Sheets

Here are two methods below:

Method 1: IMPORTRANGE function

The IMPORTRANGE function allows you to specify a table and range of cells to import into another file. In this case, all changes in the original are picked up and automatically made to the place where the import took place. This is useful not only for summaries, but also for other tasks involving multiple tables.

It is important that the imported table be available via a link. To do this, you need to change the settings as follows:

1. Open the file you want to transfer to another table and click on the “Access Settings” button .
2. If the table has not yet been given a name, be sure to enter it, and then proceed to the next step.
3. Click on the link “Allow access to everyone with the link” .

Pass the information to the owner of this file so that he will allow you access as a reader or editor. If you are the owner of this table, you can skip the setup step and start entering the function, but first you will see an error with the “Share Access” button , which you must click to grant access.

This was a short preface so that you don’t have any problems using the function. Now let’s go directly to importing the desired range with data using the tool built into Google Spreadsheets.

1. Choose an empty cell, which will serve as the beginning of a new table. Make sure that there are enough empty cells around it to import the data, otherwise the action will fail and you will still have to erase the excess or select another cell. Write =IMPORTRANGE() to declare the appropriate function.
2. Navigate to the table you want to import and copy the code from its link. You can also copy the entire link, but in some cases it stops working, so only the code located between the slashes (slashes) is the best option.
3. Activate the cursor between the function brackets and paste the copied code in quotation marks. It is mandatory to add quotation marks, since this information is textual.
4. Put a semicolon and add quotes again.
5. In them, specify the name of the sheet to be imported, if there are more than one in the table, be sure to add the ! sign at the end ! , which is needed to comply with the syntax.
6. Check the sheet name in the original spreadsheet, as both case and any spaces must be taken into account.
7. Next, decide which range of data you want to import.
8. Then, after the exclamation point, enter this range in the format A1:B4 , where A1 is the first required cell from the top, and B4 is the last cell from the bottom right.
9. Press Enter and wait for the content to load. As you can see, the import was successful, and the first row of the table contains the entire function that can be edited if necessary.

Here is a complete example of writing a function so that you have no difficulty familiarizing yourself with the steps of the instruction:

=IMPORTRANGE("Table_code_from_URL"; "Sheet name!A1-F10").

As mentioned earlier, all changes made to the original will be shown on the sheet where the import took place, so editing the content does not make sense, because it will be updated anyway. If access to the file is closed, an appropriate error notification will appear and the entire range will be lost. 

Method 2: Import via the File menu

Let’s quickly deal with the second, simple import method, which is necessary for the usual copying of the contents of one table and transferring it to another. In this case, changes will not be tracked, and you can edit the values ​​and functions in any way convenient for you.

1. Open the first table, call the “File” menu and click the “Import” button in it .
2. Find an existing table in the suggested tabs or use the search.
3. From the drop-down list, select the appropriate import target. You can create a new file, insert sheets into the current table, or replace it. In some cases, insertion into the current sheet is available if the cells are free.
4. Confirm the import and wait for the information to load. I chose to insert a new sheet, so you can see how it appeared in the current table. Any cells can be copied and pasted to any other location with formatting and functions preserved.

Google provides all the necessary functions for interacting with different tables, including quick import of information. Use one of the two methods, following the instructions, and then there will be no difficulty. 

If you work with Excel files at the same time, I recommend reading another material related to transferring data from Google Sheets.