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Google Sheets

Our Gsheets connector enables you to add custom data directly from a spreadsheet into Polar.

Abby Garland avatar
Written by Abby Garland
Updated this week

Overview

The Google Sheets connector allows you to seamlessly add custom data from spreadsheets into Polar Analytics. Whether it’s external supplier sales, marketing campaign spend, or subscription data from tools outside Shopify, this feature ensures you can enhance your insights effortlessly.

Common Use Cases

  • Supplier Sales Data: Add sales data from a supplier not integrated with Shopify.

  • Influencer Campaign Spend: Track spend by adding a "Campaign" column for influencer names.

  • Subscription Data: Add subscription details from tools not yet supported on Polar.

  • Manual Expenses: Log operational expenses for better cost tracking.

How to Connect Google Sheets to Polar:

Step 1: Access the Connectors Tab

  1. Go to the Connectors tab in Polar Analytics.

  2. Scroll to the Other Datasources section.

  3. Click Connect to Polar Analytics under the Google Sheets icon.

Step 2: Authorize Google Access

  • Sign in and authorize Polar Analytics to access your Google Account.

Step 3: Select a Template

  1. Choose a template below that matches your data type:

  2. Go to File > Make a Copy of the template. Name it something identifiable (e.g., “Your Company Name - Polar Import”).

Template-Specific Instructions

General Instructions:

  • Do not remove columns from any sheet. Ensure all required columns contain data.

  • For dimension (text-based) cells, leave them empty if unused.

  • For metric (numerical-based) cells, input "0.00" if unused—do not leave them blank.

  • Do not change sheet names. Only include rows you want to integrate (remove example rows).

  • Ensure proper formatting:

    • Date columns: Format as DD/MM/YYYY.

    • Currency columns: Use ISO 4217 codes.

    • Numeric data: Use a period (.) as the decimal separator (e.g., 10.2). Do not use commas (,) even for thousand separators.

    • Do not leave spaces in cells.

Spend Report

  • Required columns: date, currency, store, and channel.

  • Optional granularity (campaign and device): Leave empty if unused.

  • If not providing conversion or conversion_value, input "0.00" in their cells.

  • Named Ranges:

    • Go to Data > Named ranges, and copy the default name: "polar_test_range" or re-name the range and copy the new name.

    • Ensure the range remains "spend_report!A:I".

Expense Report

  • Required columns: date, currency, store, and expenses_type.

  • Optional granularity (sales_channel, shipping_country, billing_country): Leave empty if unused.

  • Formatting:

    • Ensure spend, conversion, and conversion_value columns are numeric.

  • Named Ranges:

    • Go to Data > Named ranges, and copy the default name: "polar_test_range" or re-name the range and copy the new name.

    • Ensure the range remains "expenses_report!A:H".

Cost of Goods Report

  • Required columns: start_date, end_date, currency, platform_identifier (e.g., Shopify URL or Amazon Merchant ID), shipping_country, SKU, and cost_type.

  • Key Notes:

    • Start/End Dates:

      • Leave start_date empty for “forever in the past.”

      • Leave end_date empty for “forever in the future.”

    • Cost Type: Must be one of the following: cogs, ops_cogs, fulfillment, or opex.

  • Formatting:

    • Columns A-B (start_date, end_date): Format as YYYY-MM-DD.

    • Columns C-G: Format as plain text.

    • Column H: Format as a number.

  • Named Ranges:

    • Go to Data > Named ranges, and copy the default name: "polar_test_range" or re-name the range and copy the new name.

    • Ensure the range remains "cost_of_products_report!A:H".

Exchange Rate Report

  • Required columns: date, currency, and value.

  • Key Notes:

    • Provide only specific day/currency pairs to customize. Polar fills in historical exchange rates automatically.

    • Target currency goes in the currency column (e.g., GBP for USD → GBP rates).

    • Fill values for future or past dates as needed. Contact Polar for a full data refresh if adding past data.

  • Formatting:

    • date: Format as DD/MM/YYYY.

    • currency: Use ISO 4217 codes.

    • value: Ensure numeric format.

  • Named Ranges:

    • Go to Data > Named ranges, and copy the default name: "polar_test_range" or re-name the range and copy the new name

    • Ensure the range remains "exchange_report!A:I".

Custom Report

  • Date Column:

    • Must exist and be formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.

    • Every row must be linked to a date.

  • Dimension Columns:

    • Format as plain text.

    • Use existing Polar dimension names (e.g., replace spaces with underscores: Order_Id).

    • Delete unused dimension columns if needed.

  • Metric Columns:

    • Format as numbers.

    • Use one currency (your account’s default). Convert other currencies before importing.

    • Input 0.00 for empty cells.

  • Named Ranges:

    • Go to Data > Named ranges, and copy the default name: "polar_test_range" or re-name the range and copy the new name.

    • Ensure the range covers all data (e.g., A1:LastCell).

Step 4: Upload and Configure Your Google Sheet

  1. Copy your spreadsheet URL from your browser and paste it into Polar's Sheet URL field.

    • Make sure to copy the url entirely with the "/edit#gid="

  2. Select the appropriate Report Type (e.g., Marketing Spend for spend data).

  3. Paste the Named Range from your sheet into the corresponding field in Polar.

  4. Follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Step 5: Verify the Connection

  • Wait up to 24 hours for the first sync.

  • Go to the Connectors tab and click Configure under Google Sheets. Ensure the status says Connected with a green toggle.

  • Use the Preview Data feature to verify imported data.

  • You can navigate to Custom Reports to ensure that "Google Sheets" is pulling through as an option for metrics that you can pull into a report.

  • If you've connected a Spend sheet, you can navigate to the Acquisition tab to verify that the dimensions from your Google Sheet are pulling through as options on your tables. Note that marketing spend added to your Google Sheet will be automatically added to blended marketing metrics in Polar (such a Total Marketing Spend).

  • If you've connected an Expenses sheet, you can use a Custom Report to ensure the metrics are pulling through. Note that you can also choose whether you'd like to deduct Google Sheet expenses from Total Sales in your Data Settings.

How to trigger a sync

At the top right of the Google Sheet click reload and preview, at the bottom you will find the Start sync button:

How to Remove or Update a Google Sheet

  1. Navigate to the Connectors tab.

  2. Click the trash icon next to the connected Google Sheet to remove it.

  3. To add a new sheet, repeat the connection process.

Best Practices for Using Google Sheets

  • Use One Date Column: All data must tie to a single date column.

  • Add Data Daily: Avoid aggregating by month or year.

  • Match Dimensions: Use exact names from Polar (e.g., "Campaign_Id").

  • Separate Reports: Create multiple connectors for different datasets if needed.

  • Trigger Manual Syncs: Use Reload and Preview in Polar to refresh data instantly.

Troubleshooting

Data Not Showing After 24 Hours

  • Confirm the sheet is correctly connected in the Connectors tab.

  • Ensure the date range in your report includes your data.

  • Add Google Sheets as a data source if using a View.

Errors When Importing Data

  • Ensure your sheet follows the template’s format.

  • Re-add the sheet if its URL changes.

Need Assistance?

For additional help, please reach out via the In App Live Chat.

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