This means linking separate files and moving data between them in a dynamic, automated workflow. Additionally, you can build a code-free database by learning how to connect two Google Sheets two-way sync.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”27px|0px|27px|0|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oS5ls-gKNAw” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text module_id=”why” _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The main reason to link two Google Sheets is to move data back and forth<\/b>. Moreover, by creating a two-way connection, you can send data in both directions. When a change occurs in spreadsheet A, the data automatically transfers itself to spreadsheet B and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n Connected spreadsheets have several advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n It might seem practical to create one central spreadsheet that everyone can access. But this comes with problems: big spreadsheets are slow, unreliable and even a security risk if they contain sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n By connecting two Google Sheets you can control your data pipeline, allowing staff to share information while ensuring data protection. If you share data with external stakeholders, access control is crucial.<\/span><\/p>\n A workflow of connected sheets allows you to share specific data from your live spreadsheets with clients or customers, without giving them direct access to internal files.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”what” _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n A two-way sync is a bidirectional data transfer between two systems<\/b>. This continuous transfer ensures that changes made in one are reflected in the other. It maintains consistent and up-to-date information across both platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n When you connect two Google Sheets, you can send data from a source to a destination tab in a spreadsheet of your choice. The selected data from spreadsheet A appears in spreadsheet B automatically, leaving spreadsheet A intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A two-way sync is ideal for reporting, sharing information or powering data dashboards. It even allows you to share just one tab of a google spreadsheet, while keeping the rest private.<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes you may want to create a connection in the opposite direction, pulling data from spreadsheet B back to spreadsheet A. This functions like a two-way sync: when data changes in one tab, it is updated in the other.<\/span><\/p>\n A two-way sync is useful for team coordination. For example, a project manager who needs to send tasks to team members while receiving status updates. Both the manager and the team members need information from one another.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”27px|0px|27px|0|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_id=”how” _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n In this example we have a project manager and five team members. The team members work separately, but they need to synchronize their tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n Using Sheetgo, we will create two-way connections between a project management master file and five individual files (one per team member).<\/span><\/p>\n Data from the \u201cProject management\u201d spreadsheet is sent to the \u201cWBS\u201d (work breakdown structure) tab in the spreadsheet belonging to each team member.<\/span><\/p>\n When the team (\u201cPatrick\u201d, \u201cAshley\u201d, \u201cEmanuel\u201d, \u201cStephanie\u201d, and \u201cJoe\u201d) update their progress, data flows back into the \u201cProject management\u201d spreadsheet.<\/span><\/p>\n Follow these steps to get set up \u2014 just add as many team members or spreadsheets as you need.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/two-way-sync.png” alt=”two-way sync ” title_text=”two-way sync” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Install Sheetgo by clicking the blue button below. Log in to the web app to create a two-way sync between your Google Sheets.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/app.sheetgo.com\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”SIGN UP FOR FREE” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#2979ff” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”|700|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”30px||30px||true|false” custom_padding=”15px|20px|15px|20px|true|true” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_bg_color__hover=”rgba(41,121,255,0.7)” button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The first step is to create a split connection from your existing \u201cProject management\u201d master file. This connection sends project tasks to each team member.<\/span><\/p>\n Click\u00a0+Create workflow<\/strong>\u00a0>\u00a0Connect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/two-way-sync-1-1.png” alt=”two-way sync 1″ title_text=”two-way sync 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Under <\/span>Source data<\/b> select your <\/span>Project management<\/b> master sheet. This is the file you want to export data from.<\/span><\/p>\n Under <\/span>Send to<\/b> > <\/span>Destination<\/b>, choose <\/span>Multiple Google Sheets in a folder<\/b> as your data destination.<\/span><\/p>\n Choose between creating a new folder (Sheetgo will do it for you) or using an existing folder in your Drive.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, select the <\/span>source column<\/b> to which spreadsheet the source data splits to. Each unique entry in the selected column will create and populate a different spreadsheet. The criterion here should be <\/span>the column that identifies the task owner. <\/b>In this example, that\u2019s column H.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/two-way-sync-2.png” alt=”two-way sync 2″ title_text=”two-way sync 2″ align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Click <\/span>Finish and save<\/b> to create the split connection.<\/span><\/p>\n Inside the Google Drive folder \u201cTeam projects\u201d, you will now find five different spreadsheets. Share them with your team members using Google Sheets\u2019 share function.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”27px|0px|27px|0|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Each team member now has a to-do list in their personal spreadsheet.<\/span><\/p>\n Use a QUERY formula to copy the source data from the WBS tab into a new tab (here the new tab is called \u201cTask progress\u201d). Make sure that you create this extra tab in every team member\u2019s spreadsheet so they can update their task progress.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/two-way-sync-3.png” alt=”two-way sync 3″ title_text=”two-way sync 3″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Changing the color of the columns A-J to gray to remind users not to alter the data. Because this data is drawn from the QUERY formula and adding values to any of those cells would break it.<\/span><\/p>\n In this example we have added two columns to the right of the data (one for Progress and one for Notes). Here, Emanuel can update his progress on tasks and the data will be sent back to the Project management spreadsheet via another Sheetgo connection.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n To pull back data from the team members spreadsheets to the project manager\u2019s master sheet, add a merge connection to your workflow. Merge pulls data from multiple files into one.<\/span><\/p>\n Open your workflow then click <\/span>+Connect<\/b> on the floating menu button.<\/span><\/p>\n Under <\/span>Data source<\/b> select <\/span>Multiple Google Sheets in a folder.<\/b><\/p>\n The merge connection will pull data from the same tab in every spreadsheet in the folder. For this reason, all source tabs must have the same name (in our example: \u201cTask progress\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n Under <\/span>Destination<\/b>, select your project management master sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n Click <\/span>Finish and save<\/b>. You will see the data from each team member\u2019s spreadsheet flow back into the master file.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/two-way-sync-4.png” alt=”two-way sync 4″ title_text=”two-way sync 4″ align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=”automate” _builder_version=”4.24.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n You created a workflow with two-way connections between your project management master file and your team members\u2019 spreadsheets.<\/span><\/p>\n Filtered data is sent from the master sheet (Project management) to each team member. Data is then merged from your team spreadsheets back into the master sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n To transfer data in both directions, open the workflow and click Run on the floating workflow menu bar. Sheetgo runs the connections sequentially, ensuring everything is synchronized.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also automate the entire workflow by scheduling regular transfers. Just click Automate on the floating workflow menu bar. From once an hour to once a month, choose how frequently you need updates.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”work” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n That\u2019s how to connect two Google Sheets using Sheetgo. This automation platform enables you to build your own custom workflows for any business process. It works with multiple file types stored on different cloud storage platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n Discover more ways to automate with spreadsheets on our <\/span>website<\/span><\/a>. If you want to learn how to track changes in Google Sheets, check out this article on <\/span>how to record historical values<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Google Sheets offers a simple way to manage data and collaborate. Still, it also has limited data syncing functionality and that makes it important to learn how to connect two Google Sheets. In this article we will go over how to do this using Sheetgo. This means linking separate files and moving data between them […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":38693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Google Sheets has changed the way we use spreadsheets. They have become fully collaborative, with multiple people able to contribute to one sheet at the same time\u2014independent of location and device! All we need is a browser with an internet connection and we are good to go. While collaborative web-based tools can certainly make our lives easier, sometimes it can be very difficult to find certain solutions to big problems!<\/span>\n\nFor example, a lot of companies manage and transfer data between spreadsheets manually. <\/span>This might not be a big issue for companies with small amounts of data that is not time sensitive or updated frequently. But as we know, copying and pasting leaves a lot of room for human error and can leave companies at risk of dealing with outdated data.<\/span>\n\nPeople are already loving how Sheetgo allows them to connect their spreadsheets to their colleague's spreadsheets to send data automatically. A lot of people want to know how they can make data transferring a two-way street, but struggle to find an easy solution. Don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ve got you covered! Today we are breaking down a simple way to create two-way connections between separate Google sheets files.<\/span>\nWhy connect two Google Sheets?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
What does it mean to two-way sync Google Sheets?<\/span><\/h2>\n
How to connect two Google Sheets?<\/h3>\n
Step 1: Install Sheetgo<\/h4>\n
Step 2: Create a split connection to distribute tasks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Step 3: Have team members work on their spreadsheets<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Step 4:<\/strong> Create a merge connection to get progress updates<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Automate your workflow<\/span><\/h2>\n
Link Google Sheets together, automate your work<\/span><\/h2>\n
Why Create Two-Way Connections Between Google Sheets?<\/h4>\nLet's use a production facility that manufactures canned tomatoes as an example. To be able to produce the planned output, the facility personnel need to work in separate teams, but their efforts need to be synchronized.<\/span>\n\nEach team has a specific set of tasks they are responsible for. The facility manager needs to monitor each of their activities at regular intervals. We can have that manager look after a centralized database that automatically distributes data to the facility operating teams.<\/span>\n\nThe teams need to have access to the information, but, also be able to edit it. If a team makes edits to their individual spreadsheet information, that <\/span>has<\/span><\/i> to be reflected back in the central database, or the plant manager and the teams will be working with different data. We can all imagine what kind of problems that could create!<\/span>\n\n \n
How to Create a Database With Two-Way Connections<\/h4>\nDepending on your needs you can tailor the below framework to create a customized solution for your company!\u00a0<\/span>For the purpose of this demonstration, we will assume the production facility has two different teams\u2014A and B. To create two-way connections, we will need a master database file and separate, individual files for each team.<\/span>\n\nHave a look at the diagram below. Our \"Master Database\" is made up of four sheets. The \"Initial Database\", the \"Current Database\", \"Team A Database\", and \"Team B Database\". <\/span>\n\nThe initial data is imported into the Current Database. Relevant, filtered data flows from this spreadsheet out to the team database spreadsheets. Finally, that data is updated and flows back into the Current Database. <\/span>\n\nFollow these simple steps to get set up. Add as many teams or spreadsheets as needed!<\/span>\n\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Two-way-connections-between-Google-Sheets-Flow-Illustration-New.png\")
\n1) Create an Initial Database<\/h4>\nIn order for us to create two-way connections between Google sheets, we need to set up a seed database to kickoff the process. Create two tabs in one sheet. Populate your data into the Initial Database<\/strong>\u00a0sheet, and simply copy this information into the Current Database<\/strong>.\n\n \n\n
![\"database\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/frame-39.png\")
\n\nOnce you complete the setup, you will notice that the Initial Database<\/strong>\u00a0will remain pretty much static, while the Current Database<\/strong>\u00a0sheet keeps regularly updating with most recent information.\n2) Transfer Team Data to the Team Databases Using the Sheetgo add-on<\/h4>\nOpen the Team A Database<\/strong> spreadsheet. If the Sheetgo add-on isn't already installed on your Google Sheets application click <\/strong><\/a>here to install Sheetgo.<\/b>\n\nAfter Sheetgo is installed, you can simply click\u00a0Add-ons\u00a0<\/strong>\u2192 Sheetgo\u00a0\u2192\u00a0Start.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>\n\nYou will see the Sheetgo toolbar on the right side of your sheet. Click the\u00a0plus sign<\/strong> on the bottom of the toolbar to create the first connection. You will be prompted to add a source. Your input source should be the\u00a0Current Database\u00a0<\/strong>tab from your\u00a0Master Database<\/strong> file.\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-17-at-3.39.20-PM-164x300.webp\")
\n\n \n\nNext, click\u00a0Settings<\/strong>. I am naming this connection Team A<\/strong>, and filtering the data so that only Team A data flows from the main database into this team database. Users with a free Sheetgo account will need to refresh connection when they want the sheets to update. Premium users can enable automatic updates and set them on a regular schedule. After you customize your settings, click the\u00a0check mark\u00a0<\/strong>on the bottom right side of the toolbar.\n\n \n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-17-at-3.41.35-PM-367x1024.webp\")
\n\n \n\nSheetgo will automatically import the specified data in the Team A Database. Next, repeat this procedure for Team B, in a separate spreadsheet.<\/span>\n\n \n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-17-at-1.52.57-PM-1024x428.webp\")
\n\n \n\n \n3) Send the Data from the Team Databases Back to the Master Database<\/h4>\nThe first set of connections to send data out to the teams are in place. Now, we need a way to send data back to the master database to complete the loop. The process of doing this is pretty similar to step 2!\n\nOpen the\u00a0Master Database,\u00a0<\/strong>start Sheetgo, and click the plus sign<\/strong> on the toolbar to create another connection.\u00a0<\/strong>For this connection, you will choose\u00a0two\u00a0<\/strong>data sources:\u00a0Team A\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Team B.\u00a0<\/strong>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-17-at-4.00.47-PM-1024x484.webp\")
\n\nClick\u00a0Settings,\u00a0<\/strong>and name your connection Current Database<\/strong>. This connection won't need any filtering, but if you are a Premium user, you can schedule your Automatic updates<\/strong> now. If your spreadsheets use any special fonts or colors, be sure to enable Transfer formatting<\/strong>. Click the\u00a0check mark\u00a0<\/strong>on the bottom, rightside of the toolbar to create your connection. As simple as that, you can create two-way connections between Google sheets.\nLet's Test It<\/h3>\nI've made a few changes to both\u00a0of the team\u00a0databases. Then, I manually refreshed the connection in the Master Database<\/strong>.\u00a0The corresponding edits flow back from the Team databases into the Master database file. We have successfully created two-way connections between Google Sheets!\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-17-at-4.20.57-PM-1024x487.webp\")
\n\n \n\n \n\n ","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[43],"class_list":["post-2262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-solve-with-sheetgo","tag-sheetgo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}