Automate Google Sheets: Search for Existing Rows

Carlin Sack
Carlin Sack / April 8, 2016
Find or Create a Google Sheets row

The worst part about a spreadsheet is keeping it updated with new data. That's why so many users plug Google Sheets in with Zapier: their spreadsheets are automatically updated. These are just a few favorite ways Zapier and Google Sheets users automate their spreadsheets:

Thanks to new updates to Zapier's Google Sheets integration, you can now take Google Sheets automation another step forward. Use a Search Action to search for a Google Sheets row based on data from the previous step in your Multi-Step Zap. If the Zap finds the row you are looking for, then it will update it. If the Zap doesn't find the row you are looking for, it will create it.

Does that mean I won't have to manually scroll through a spreadsheet to find and update a particular row in order to keep my spreadsheet current? Yes. Yes, it does.

Here are just a few cool combinations for using the "Find or Create Row" and "Update Row" functionalities of Google Sheets Zaps:

Track customer feedback

When customer submit Typeform entries, automatically search for more information about them in FullContact. Then search for an existing Google Sheets row with the customer name and update the row. If a row isn't found, create one.

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Log important emails

When you star a Gmail message, automatically search for an existing Google Sheets row containing the sender's name and update the row. If a row isn't found, create one.

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Track frequent buyers

When you receive a new Shopify order, automatically search for an existing Google Sheets row containing the buyer's name and update the row with the order information. If a row isn't found, create one.

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Track and fix bugs

When you receive a new Zendesk ticket about a bug, automatically search for an existing Google Sheets row containing the bug name and update the row with the ticket number. If a row isn't found, create one. Then update the Zendesk ticket with a link to the Google Sheet.

Build a Workflow

How To Use This Integration:

  1. Sign up for a Google Sheets account, and also make sure you have a Zapier account.
  2. Connect your Google Sheets account to Zapier.
  3. Check out pre-made Google Sheets integrations.
  4. Or create your own from scratch in the Zap Editor.