Is it possible to send HTTP request from inside Google docs?

Question

I want to send an HTTP request to some REST service from Google drive spreadsheet.

Is this possible?

I'm not an expert, but that sounds like it would have massive security implications. — Mr. Llama
– Mr. Llama, Commented May 28, 2014 at 16:33
Yes, it should be possible, check out Google Apps Scripts, developers.google.com/apps-script — bamblack
– bamblack, Commented May 28, 2014 at 16:36

pherris · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-28 15:12:58Z

42

Using Google Apps Script, you can make HTTP requests to external APIs from inside Google Docs/Sheets/etc. using the UrlFetchApp class:

var url = 'https://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/videos?'
    + 'q=skateboarding+dog'
    + '&start-index=21'
    + '&max-results=10'
    + '&v=2';
var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
Logger.log(response);

Note that:

This service requires the https://www.googleapis.com/auth/script.external_request scope. In most cases Apps Script automatically detects and includes the scopes a script needs, but if you are setting your scopes explicitly you must manually add this scope to use UrlFetchApp.

ref: https://developers.google.com/apps-script/reference/url-fetch/url-fetch-app

edited Apr 28, 2020 at 15:12

answered May 28, 2014 at 16:46

pherris

17.8k8 gold badges47 silver badges58 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

kolobok_ua Over a year ago

Looks like function in your Sheet doesn't work anymore.

pherris Over a year ago

The script was added by someone else - it looks like Google now requires that permissions be granted but also the Facebook API he was using is now deprecated. I'll update the answer.

Matt · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-01 16:30:14Z

41

Yes, you can use IMPORTDATA. It's designed to work with CSV data but will load any URL you throw at it:

=IMPORTDATA("https://stackoverflow.com/q/23917189/209828")

New line characters start a new row in the spreadsheet and the values shown in the cells are referenceable. Put this formula in A1 of its own sheet and reference cells from different sheets.

answered Jan 1, 2018 at 16:30

Matt

9,51112 gold badges70 silver badges87 bronze badges

1 Comment

ImtiazeA Over a year ago

Works great for simple GET request.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Is it possible to send HTTP request from inside Google docs?

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related