MetaLocator supports multiple data sources including spreadsheets, text files, SalesForce and now Google Drive.
This integration allows you to import Google Sheets stored in Google Drive just as you would a CSV or spreadsheet from your computer. This allows you easily share access to the Google Sheet that contains your data with multiple contributors via Google Drive's existing sharing facilities.
When importing data, choose the new Google Doc icon as shown below:
Click the "Connect" button and authorize MetaLocator to view your Google Drive Sheets.
Important: If the system displays an Authentication error, simply click the button again, as this indicates the login token has expired.
For Enterprise users and subscribers to our Backgrounding Add-on, the "Keep Google Sheets Data In Sync" box will be available. Check that box to create a Background Process which can be scheduled to run on a regular basis. See below for more detail.
Choose a Google Sheet or CSV file from your Drive account as shown below and the import process will continue as usual.
This feature currently supports Google Sheets and CSV files only. It does not yet support Excel files stored in your Google Drive. This article shows how to convert an Excel file to a Google Sheet.
Background Scheduling
When the "Keep Google Sheets Data In Sync" box is checked, the system will create a background process. That process can be found as shown below:
By default, the job is created but not scheduled. Toggle the Scheduled slider to enable the job. This will replay the same import process performed above on a regular basis. Be sure to consider if that replay will cause duplicates or otherwise overwrite or delete data. For example, if you choose "Replace" during the import, then manually add more records directly to MetaLocator and not your Google Sheet, the background process will delete those records as it replays the import with the "Replace" option.
A summary email will also be delivered to the account owner as shown below. It provides a basic summary of the record operations performed during the import.
Troubleshooting
Missing File (404)
If the file MetaLocator has been downloading is removed from the Google Drive, you'll receive a notice via email indicating a 404 error code as shown below. When the file is removed, MetaLocator loses the connection and associated authorization to download the file contents. To proceed, the job must be deleted and re-created.
In this case, take the following steps to replace or delete the import job.
Login to MetaLocator
Click Background Jobs
Review the settings of the (now defunct) background job as shown below.
Delete the background job, having recorded the necessary details to re-create the import.
Click Locations > Import > Google Drive
Proceed to re-create a new import job, ensuring the "Keep Google Sheets Data In Sync?" checkbox is checked.
Once complete, Click Background Jobs and Schedule and Publish the job.
Expired Token
If your drive token expires, or your Google Password changes, you will receive an email notification with a link to delete your Google Drive Token and sign in. This email will sometimes indicate a 401 or 403 access-denied error message.
Click Login to proceed. You will be prompted to login to MetaLocator and will be presented with this message:
Click "Yes" to delete the Google Drive Token.
Once complete, click the "Connect to your Google Drive Account"
After logging in select Connect to your Google Drive Account and choose a sheet. Make sure that the sheet loads correctly and you see the mapping screen. At this point a new token has been established and you can exit the import process without proceeding.
De-Authorizing MetaLocator
To disable access to Google Drive by MetaLocator you can delete your Google Drive token as follows:
Click the user icon in the upper right
Click My User Profile
Click Integrations
Scroll down to this section and click Delete Google Drive token.
De-Authorizing MetaLocator from your Google Account
Sometimes it is also necessary to de-authorize MetaLocator from your Google Account. Follow these steps if you are able to access Google Drive features from MetaLocator, but that access expires quickly or fails to run during background imports.
Click Third Party Apps & Services
Optionally filter by "Access to > Google Drive"
Click MetaLocator in the list
Scroll down to "Delete all connections you have with MetaLocator" and click.
Click Confirm.
After performing these steps, if you want to re-establish any background imports or access, you can return to Locations > Import > Google Drive to re-authorize the connection.
Running Jobs as Other Users
If running as a job as another user, the job will run with that user's Google Drive token, not the user that established the job. In the below example, John Smith's token. Therefore, he would need access to the Google Drive document and his token would need to be reset if the password changed or access was revoked.
