Data storage
Google Sheets
Runway’s Google Sheets integration allows you to pull in additional data that isn’t available through direct integrations.
You may choose to integrate Google Sheets if:
- You need to import historical data that isn’t stored in any other system.
- There’s no direct integration available for a specific data source, and Google Sheets acts as a bridge.
- You have manual inputs that are easier to maintain in a spreadsheet before bringing them into Runway.
Understanding Google Sheets data format
Runway supports two primary formats when importing from Google Sheets: long data and wide data. Understanding these structures will help you choose the right import method.Long data
Long data is structured so that each row represents a specific transaction or balance on a particular date. When preparing your Google Sheets data for Runway, ensure it follows a structure similar to the example below:
Wide data
Wide data is structured in a columnar format, where the first few columns define the type of data (e.g., account, category), and the remaining columns represent month-by-month balances. This format is commonly used for Income Statement or Balance Sheet exports from accounting systems. When preparing your Google Sheets data for Runway, ensure it follows a structure similar to the example below:
Before you start
Before importing your Google Sheet into Runway, ensure it’s clean and correctly formatted to avoid errors. Follow these best practices:- Remove extra blank rows and columns
- No empty rows above, in between, or below your data table.
- Every column should contain at least one data point—empty columns will not be imported.
- Use clear and simple column headers
- Make headers short and readable (e.g., use
"account_name"instead of"Account Name (MAPPED)"). - Use consistent naming for key fields (e.g.,
"is_balance_sheet"instead of"Balance Sheet?").
- Make headers short and readable (e.g., use
- Format date columns properly
- Long data: Use MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Wide data: Ensure month column headers are in one of these supported formats:
"Jan-2006","Jan 2006","Jan_2006","January 2006","01/2006","01/06","01_06","01_2006","01-2006","2006-01". - Here’s a Loom on how to format dates correctly.
- Ensure numerical data is in proper format
- Remove currency symbols ($, €) and percent signs (%)—values should be pure numbers.
- Wide data: Replace blanks with
0to maintain consistency. - Here’s a Loom on how to quickly fill blanks quickly.
Connecting a Google Sheet with wide data
Here’s a video walkthrough of these steps.Ensure your Google Sheet is less than 10,000 rows. If your wide data set has more than 10,000 rows follow this guide.
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Open Runway, navigate to Integrations, and install the Google Sheets integration listed under the Spreadsheets section.
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Click Sign in with Google and leave the other settings as default.
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Once redirected back into Runway, click + next to integration name in the sidebar to create a new query.
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You can then change the default query name, **New query, **to something more descriptive. To do this, click the three-dots button next to the query name in the sidebar and select Rename query.
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In Google Sheets, navigate to the tab you want to import into Runway. Add
#runwayto the tab name to ensure Runway recognizes it.
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Copy the Spreadsheet ID from the URL:
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Example URL:
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The Spreadsheet ID is everything between
/d/and/edit/:
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Example URL:
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Paste the Spreadsheet ID into Runway and click Run Query.
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Verify the data preview:
- If you see a column named month and a column named value, Runway successfully converted your wide data into a long data set.
- If you see separate columns for each month, there may be formatting issues in your Google Sheet. Refer to the video walkthrough at the top of this section for troubleshooting.
- You’re all set! Now configure a new database.
Connecting a Google Sheet with long data
Here’s a video walkthrough of these steps.-
Open Runway, navigate to Integrations, and install the Google Sheets integration listed under the Fivetran section.
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Leave the Schema Name as the default and enter a Table Name that accurately represents the data.
- Do not include spaces or special characters in the table name.
- Click Authorize.
- You’ll be redirected to Fivetran to complete the setup.
- Under Authentication Method, choose Authorize Service Account, then copy the email address provided by Fivetran.
- In Google Sheets, open your spreadsheet in a new tab and share it with that email address as a viewer.
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Select the headers of the data you want to import (they must be side by side—you cannot skip columns) and create a named range. Navigate to Data > Named Range, then give it a unique and descriptive name.
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Copy the entire URL of your Google Sheet. For example:
- Go back to Fivetran and paste this URL into the Sheet URL section.
- Click Find sheet and select the named range you just created.
- Click Save & Test.
- You’ll be redirected back to Runway, where it may take a few minutes for the data sync to complete.
- Once the sync is complete, click into your Google Sheets Integration in Runway.
- Rename New Query to something descriptive by double-clicking its name.
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Copy the suggested commented query, paste it below in the SQL editor, and click Run query.
- You’re done\\! Now configure a new database.
Google sheets FAQs
Can I integrate multiple tabs from a single Google Sheet into Runway?
Can I integrate multiple tabs from a single Google Sheet into Runway?
Yes. Follow the Long data integration instructions and set up multiple integrations—one for each tab you need. Each integration must be configured separately.
Can I integrate long data without using the Fivetran version?
Can I integrate long data without using the Fivetran version?
Yes, but the non-Fivetran version only supports one tab at a time and 10,000 rows per integration. If you need multiple tabs, either **create separate spreadsheets **or specify the tab Runway should pull from by adding #runway to the tab name.
Why is my column not showing up in Runway?
Why is my column not showing up in Runway?
Runway only pulls columns that contain data. If a column is empty, it won’t be imported. To fix this, add some dummy data, run the integration, and then remove the dummy values afterward.
How often does this sheet sync to Runway?
How often does this sheet sync to Runway?
The sync runs automatically every morning (US Pacific Time). You can also manually trigger a sync like this:
Can the Fivetran version also sync wide data?
Can the Fivetran version also sync wide data?
Yes, but it’s a bit trickier because Fivetran sometimes modifies column names. To prevent issues, make sure your date column headers use the format MON_YYYY. Here’s a video walkthrough.