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Create a Connection

A connection maps a spreadsheet to an API URL of the form https://api.sheetbest.com/sheets/<id>. There are three ways to create one:

  1. From a Google Sheets URL (the sheet must be shared by link).
  2. From a Google Drive folder — every sheet in the folder is exposed.
  3. By uploading a spreadsheet file to Sheet Best.

A fourth option, Connect with Drive (beta), connects a private sheet without making it public.

Open the Sheet Best dashboard and click + CONNECTION to start.

Add Connection

From a Google Sheets URL​

  1. In Google Sheets, click Share and grant Anyone with the link → Viewer (or Editor if you need writes). See Prepare your Sheet for screenshots.

  2. Copy the sheet URL from the browser address bar.

  3. In the Sheet Best dashboard, name the connection, choose Google Sheets as the Connection Origin, paste the URL, and click CONNECT.

    Connection Form

  4. Click DETAILS on the new connection and copy the Connection URL.

    Copy Connection URL

From a Google Drive folder​

Use this when you want every sheet in a folder to be exposed at once.

  1. In Google Drive, right-click the folder and select Get Link.

    Right Click to Share

  2. Set the folder permission to Anyone with the link and copy the link.

    Google Drive Share

  3. In the dashboard, choose Google Drive Folder as the Connection Origin, paste the folder link, and click CONNECT.

By uploading a file​

Use this for one-off spreadsheets that don't live in Google Drive.

  1. In the dashboard, choose File Upload as the Connection Origin.

  2. Pick the spreadsheet file from your computer in the File field, then click CONNECT.

    Upload Sheet

  3. Open DETAILS and copy the Connection URL.

    Upload Sheet URL

Test your connection​

curl https://api.sheetbest.com/sheets/YOUR_SHEET_ID

You should get back an array of objects, one per row.

Permissions and writes​

Whether write methods (POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE) work depends on the underlying spreadsheet's access:

  • Google Sheets URL: needs Editor sharing.
  • Google Drive folder: needs Editor access on the folder.
  • File upload and Connect with Drive: writable by default once the connection exists.

If a write call fails because the underlying sheet isn't editable, the API returns the write_error code. See Error Codes.

Protect the API with a key​

By default, the connection URL is reachable by anyone who has it. To require an X-Api-Key header, click Edit on the connection, open Advanced Settings, and enable the API key.

Edit Connection

Protect Your API

Full details in Authentication.

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