Power BI Google Sheets API Connector
In this article you will learn, how to integrate Driver mentioned in this article is part of ODBC PowerPack which is a collection of high-performance Drivers for various API data source (i.e. REST API, JSON, XML, CSV, Amazon S3 and many more). Using familiar SQL query language you can make live connection and read/write data from API sources or JSON / XML / CSV Files inside SQL Server (T-SQL) or your favorite Reporting (i.e. Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, SSRS, MicroStrategy, Excel, MS Access), ETL Tools (i.e. Informatica, Talend, Pentaho, SSIS). You can also call our drivers from programming languages such as JAVA, C#, Python, PowerShell etc. If you are new with ODBC and ZappySys ODBC PowerPack then check below links to get started. |
See also
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Video Tutorial - Integrate Google Sheets data in Power BI
This video covers following and more so watch carefully. After watching this video follow the steps described in this article.
- How to download / install required driver for
Google Sheets integration in Power BI - How to configure connection for
Google Sheets - Features about
Google Sheets Driver (Authentication / Query Language / Examples / Driver UI) - Using
Google Sheets Connection in Power BI
Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver
To get data from GoogleSheets using Power BI we first need to create a DSN - Data Source - which will access data from GoogleSheets, which later will be able to get using Power BI. Perform these steps:
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Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack.
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Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):
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Create a User Data Source (User DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver:
You should create System DSN if client application is launched under Windows System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service.
Launch ODBC Data Sources 32-bit version in case your client application is a 32-bit (x86) application (required only for System DSN). -
When a window appears, firstly give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "Google Sheets" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "Google Sheets" is not present in the list, then click "Search Online" and download it. Then set the path to the one where you downloaded it. Finally, hit Continue >> button to continue configuring DSN:
GoogleSheetsDSNGoogle Sheets -
Another window appears and it's time to configure the Connection Manager. Firstly, select Authentication Type, e.g. Token Authentication. Then select API Base URL (in most cases default one is the right one). More info is available in Authentication section.
Steps to get Google Sheets Credentials
This connection can be configured using two ways. Use Default App (Created by ZappySys) OR Use Custom App created by you.
To use minimum settings you can start with ZappySys created App. Just change UseCustomApp=false on the properties grid so you dont need ClientID / Secret. When you click Generate Token you might see warning about App is not trusted (Simply Click Advanced Link to expand hidden section and then click Go to App link to Proceed). To regiter custom app, perform the following steps (Detailed steps found in the help link at the end)- Go to Google API Console
- From the Project Dropdown (usually found at the top bar) click Select Project
- On Project Propup click CREATE PROJECT
- Once project is created you can click Select Project to switch the context (You can click on Notification link or Choose from Top Dropdown)
- Click ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES
- Now we need to Enable two APIs one by one (Sheets API and Drive API).
- Search Sheets. Select and click ENABLE
- Search Drive. Select and click ENABLE
- Go to back to main screen of Google API Console
- Click OAuth Concent Screen Tab. Enter necessary details and Save.
- Click Credentials Tab
- Click CREATE CREDENTIALS (some where in topbar) and select OAuth Client ID option.
- When prompted Select Application Type as Desktop App and click Create to receive your ClientID and Secret. You can use this information now to configure Connection with UseCustomApp=true.
And finally, fill in all the required parameters and set optional parameters if needed.:
GoogleSheetsDSNUser Account [OAuth]https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/spreadsheetsRequired Parameters UseCustomApp Fill in the parameter... Optional Parameters ClientId Fill in the parameter... ClientSecret Fill in the parameter... Scope Fill in the parameter... Default SpreadSheetId Fill in the parameter... Default Tab Name (i.e. Sheet1) Fill in the parameter... -
Once you configured a data source, you can preview data. Hit Preview tab, and use similar settings to preview data:
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Click OK to finish creating the data source
Read data in Power BI from the DSN
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Once you open Power BI Desktop click Get Data to get data from ODBC:
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A window opens, and then search for "odbc" to get data from ODBC data source:
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Another window opens and asks to select a Data Source we already created. Choose GoogleSheetsDSN and continue:
GoogleSheetsDSN -
Most likely, you will be asked to authenticate to a newly created DSN. Just select Windows authentication option together with Use my current credentials option:
GoogleSheetsDSN -
Finally, you will be asked to select a table or view to get data from. Select one and load the data!
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Finally, use data extracted from Google Sheets API in Power BI reports:
Create Custom Store Procedure in ZappySys Driver
You can create procedures to encapsulate custom logic and then only pass handful parameters rather than long SQL to execute your API call.
Steps to create Custom Store Procedure in ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders anywhere inside Procedure Body. Read more about placeholders here
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Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Procedure:
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Enter the desired Procedure name and click on OK:
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Select the created Store Procedure and write the your desired store procedure and Save it and it will create the custom store procedure in the ZappySys Driver:
Here is an example stored procedure for ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders anywhere inside Procedure Body. Read more about placeholders here
CREATE PROCEDURE [usp_get_orders]
@fromdate = '<<yyyy-MM-dd,FUN_TODAY>>'
AS
SELECT * FROM Orders where OrderDate >= '<@fromdate>'
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That's it now go to Preview Tab and Execute your Store Procedure using Exec Command. In this example it will extract the orders from the date 1996-01-01:
Exec usp_get_orders '1996-01-01'
Create Custom Virtual Table in ZappySys Driver
ZappySys API Drivers support flexible Query language so you can override Default Properties you configured on Data Source such as URL, Body. This way you don't have to create multiple Data Sources if you like to read data from multiple EndPoints. However not every application support supplying custom SQL to driver so you can only select Table from list returned from driver.
Many applications like MS Access, Informatica Designer wont give you option to specify custom SQL when you import Objects. In such case Virtual Table is very useful. You can create many Virtual Tables on the same Data Source (e.g. If you have 50 URLs with slight variations you can create virtual tables with just URL as Parameter setting.
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Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Table:
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Enter the desired Table name and click on OK:
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And it will open the New Query Window Click on Cancel to close that window and go to Custom Objects Tab.
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Select the created table, Select Text Type AS SQL and write the your desired SQL Query and Save it and it will create the custom table in the ZappySys Driver:
Here is an example SQL query for ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders also. Read more about placeholders here
SELECT
"ShipCountry",
"OrderID",
"CustomerID",
"EmployeeID",
"OrderDate",
"RequiredDate",
"ShippedDate",
"ShipVia",
"Freight",
"ShipName",
"ShipAddress",
"ShipCity",
"ShipRegion",
"ShipPostalCode"
FROM "Orders"
Where "ShipCountry"='USA'
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That's it now go to Preview Tab and Execute your custom virtual table query. In this example it will extract the orders for the USA Shipping Country only:
SELECT * FROM "vt__usa_orders_only"
Import Google Sheets data into Power BI from SQL Query
If you wish to import Google Sheets data from SQL query rather than selecting table name then you can use advanced options during import steps (as below). After selecting DSN you can click on advanced options to see SQL Query editor.
Edit Query / Using Parameters in Power BI (Dynamic Query)

let vKey=paraAPIKey, Source = Odbc.Query( "dsn=ZS-OData Customers", "SELECT * FROM $ WITH (SRC='http://httpbin.org/post'," & "METHOD='POST'," & "HEADER='Content-Type:application/json'," & "BODY=@'{""CallerId"":1111, ""ApiKey"":""" & vKey & """}')") in Source
Edit Query Settings after Import
There will be a time you need to change initial Query after dataset import in Power BI. Not to worry, just follow these steps to edit your SQL.
Using DirectQuery Option rather than Import
So far we have seen how to Import REST API data into Power BI but what if you have too much data and you dont want to import but link it. Power BI Offers very useful feature for this scenario. Its called DirectQuery Option. In this section we will explore how to use DirectQuery along with ZappySys Drivers. Out of the box ZappySys Drivers wont work in ODBC Connection Mode so you have to use SQL Server Connection rather than ODBC if you wish to use Live data using DirectQuery option. See below step by step instructions to enable DirectQuery mode in Power BI for REST API data. Basically we will use ZappySys Data Gateway its part of ODBC PowerPack. We will then use Linked Server in SQL Server to Link API Service and then we will issue OPENROWSET queries from Power BI to SQL Server and it will then call REST API via ZappySys Data Gateway.Step-By-Step
- First read this article carefully, How to query Google Sheets API in SQL Server.
- Once linked server is configured we are ready to issue API query in Power BI.
- Click Get Data in Power BI, select SQL Server Database
- Enter your server name and any database name
- Select Mode as DirectQuery
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Click on Advanced and enter query like below (we are assuming you have created JSON Data Source in Data Gateway and defined linked server (Change name below).
Select * from OPENQUERY(GOOGLE SHEETS_LINKED_SERVER,'SELECT * FROM Customers')
Select * from OPENQUERY(
GOOGLE SHEETS_LINKED_SERVER,
'SELECT * FROM Customers'
)
DirectQuery option for Power BI (Read REST API Data Example using SQL Server Linked Server and ZappySys Data Gateway) - Click OK and Load data ... That's it. Now your Google Sheets API data is linked rather than imported.
Working with Gateways in Power BI (Schedule Import)
If the data needs to be updated, it is necessary to create a gateway on-premises. In this new section, we will install a Power BI Gateway and in the next section schedule it to update the REST API information.- In the last section, we Published the report. Power BI may ask you to SIGN IN.
- Select the Workspace and select Datasets
- Right-click the report and select Settings.
- The system will ask for a Gateway. Stay here.
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Use the following link to install a Data Gateway:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-gateway-onprem
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Run the installer and press Next
Gateway installer
- Select the option On-premises data gateway (recommended). This option allows access to multiple users and can be used by more applications than Power BI.
- The installer will show a warning message.
- Select the path to install and check the I accept the terms.
- Specify the email address to use the gateway.
- After entering the email, write the gateway name and a recovery key. Make sure to confirm the recovery key.
Manage gateways and configure the schedule
Once that the gateway is installed we will configure it and add the connection strings.- The next step is to go to manage gateway
- In order to get the connection string, we will need the connection string of the ZappySys JSON Driver. In the first section of this post, we explained how to configure it. Press Copy Connection String
- Once that the data is copied, add a New data Source. In Data Source Name, enter the Data Source Name of the ZappySys JSON driver in step 13 and in Data Source Type, select ODBC. In connection string copy and paste from the clipboard of the step 13 and press Add.
- Once added the gateway. You can see the schedule refresh to On and Add another time to add the time where you want to refresh the data.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed how to connect to Google Sheets in Power BI and integrate data without any coding. Click here to Download Google Sheets Connector for Power BI and try yourself see how easy it is. If you still have any question(s) then ask here or simply click on live chat icon below and ask our expert (see bottom-right corner of this page).Actions supported by Google Sheets Connector
Google Sheets Connectors support following actions for REST API integration. If some actions are not listed below then you can easily edit Connector file and enhance out of the box functionality.Parameter | Description |
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Range |
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Parameter | Description |
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Range |
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Parameter | Description | ||||||
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Range Type |
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Range Start Index (starts from 0) |
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Range End Index (starts from 0) |
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TabId |
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Parameter | Description |
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TabId |
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Parameter | Description |
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NewTabName |
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InitialRowCount |
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InitialColumnCount |
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TabColorRedValue |
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TabColorGreenValue |
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TabColorBlueValue |
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Parameter | Description |
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Request Body |
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TabId |
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Parameter | Description |
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Range for Table Boundary (Including Header) |
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Range for Data Cells |
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Parameter | Description |
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Start Range |
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Parameter | Description | ||||||
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SpreadSheetId |
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Parameter | Description |
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Url |
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Body |
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IsMultiPart |
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Filter |
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Headers |
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