Importing Data from Google Sheets

One of GridIron’s most popular features is its ability to import structured data directly from Google Sheets. This allows you to manage and edit your content using a spreadsheet and automatically display it on your website in a table, list, or grid.

This guide walks you through the full process—from creating a Google Sheet to linking it inside your GridIron stack.

1. Create Your Google Sheet

If you haven’t yet created a Google Sheet, follow these steps:

1. Go to Google Sheets.
2. Click on Blank to start a new spreadsheet.
3. Enter your data, using headers in the first row (e.g., Name, Role, Email).
4. Give your spreadsheet a name by clicking the Untitled Spreadsheet text at the top.

It is also possible to import data into Google Sheets in a choice of formats, including Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc and Apple Numbers.

2. Make the Sheet Public

For GridIron to access your Google Sheet, the sheet must be published or publicly viewable. Here’s how:

1. In your sheet, go to File > Share > Publish to web.
2. Under Link, select the Entire Document.
3. Choose Web page as the format.
4. Click Publish.
5. You will be asked to confirm that you want to publish the document. Click OK
6. Copy the URL shown.
7. Close the publish to web pop-up when done.

This is how you access the publishing settings in Google Sheets, from under the file menu:

And once the publishing settings have opened, you are presented with a pop-up window like this. It is necessary to select the sheet and set the format to webpage:

Important: Publishing a sheet makes the content viewable by anyone with the link, but not editable. You should not include private or confidential information, like bank details, full addresses, or phone numbers.

3. Copy the Sheet URL or Key

GridIron can use either the full published URL or the Google Sheet key, which is the long string in the URL:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XyzABC1234EfGhIjKlMnOpQRsTuvWxyz1234567890/edit#gid=0
                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                  This is your sheet key

You’ll need either the full published link or just the key for the next step.

Here is a detailed screenshot showing the sheet key highlighted blue in the web browser address bar:

4. Add the Google Sheet to GridIron

Now that your sheet is published and the link is ready, let’s bring it into your website using GridIron.

In RapidWeaver or the Stacks App:

1. Drag a GridIron stack onto your page.

2. In the GridIron settings panel, locate the Type setting.

3. Choose Google Sheets Key or Google Sheets URL as your source type.

4. Paste either the Google Sheet URL or just the Sheet Key.

5. Optionally configure:

   • Sheet GIDe (if your spreadsheet has multiple sheets)

5. Save and Preview

Once you’ve configured the stack:

1. Click Preview in RapidWeaver or Stacks Pro.
2. You should now see your Google Sheet data rendered as a table (or list/grid, depending on your output choice).
3. You can further style the output using GridIron’s display options, such as column highlighting, filters, or responsive layouts.

Tips for Managing Google Sheets Data

• Avoid formulas that rely on user input or external plugins, as these may not render when the data is cached.
• Keep column headers clear and descriptive — they will be used in the front-end output.
• If you change the sheet structure, check that things still look correct in GridIron.

Privacy & Security Note

GridIron caches the Google Sheet server-side, so your site visitors never connect directly to Google. This ensures excellent compatibility with GDPR and other data privacy laws.