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      Setting Up Google Sheets Integration

      Connect your Google Sheets to automatically populate Marq templates

      Google Sheets integration allows your templates to pull live data directly from your spreadsheets. When you update your sheet, your templates automatically reflect the changes.

      Before You Start

      Requirements

      • Google account with access to your spreadsheet
      • Sharing permissions set to "Anyone with the link can view" (minimum)
      • Clean data format with headers in the first row

      Preparation Checklist

      • Remove empty rows and columns from your sheet
      • Ensure column headers are clear and descriptive
      • Test that your sheet opens in an incognito browser window
      • Have a unique identifier column (like ID numbers or email addresses)

      Estimated setup time: 5 minutes

      Step-by-Step Setup

      1. Access Data Sources

      1. Open any document in Marq
      2. Click the "Data Automation" tab in the left sidebar
      3. Select "Connect Data Source"
      4. Choose "Google Sheets" from the options

      2. Authenticate with Google

      1. Click "Connect with Google"
      2. Sign in to your Google account
      3. Grant Marq permission to access your sheets
      4. You'll be redirected back to Marq automatically

      Privacy Note: You can revoke Marq's access anytime from your Google Account settings

      3. Select Your Spreadsheet

      1. Browse your available Google Sheets
      2. Use the search bar to find specific sheets quickly
      3. Click on the sheet you want to connect
      4. If your sheet has multiple tabs, select the specific worksheet

      4. Configure Data Settings

      Set Your Primary Key

      • Choose a column with unique values for each row
      • Good examples: Employee ID, Email Address, Product SKU
      • Avoid using names or descriptions that might change

      Review Column Mapping

      • Marq automatically detects your column headers
      • Rename any columns that need clearer labels
      • Uncheck columns you don't need to reduce loading time

      5. Test Your Connection

      1. Click "Preview Data" to see the first few rows
      2. Verify all data appears correctly formatted
      3. Check that your primary key column shows unique values
      4. Click "Save Data Source" and give it a descriptive name

      Using Your Connected Data

      Insert Smart Fields

      1. Click on any text box in your template
      2. Select the data icon ] from the toolbar
      3. Choose your Google Sheets data source
      4. Pick the specific field you want to insert

      Navigate Between Records

      • Use the navigation drop-down arrows in the Data panel
      • Jump to specific records using the dropdown
      • Search for records by typing in the search box

      Auto-Generate Multiple Templates

      • Create personalized versions for each row of data
      • Perfect for generating employee profiles, product sheets, or client materials
      • Each generated template can be customized individually

      Best Practices

      Data Organization

      • Keep headers simple: Use "first_name" instead of "First Name (Preferred)"
      • Consistent formatting: Same date format, phone number style, etc.
      • No merged cells: Keep your data in a simple table format

      Performance Tips

      • Limit data size: Under 1,000 rows for optimal performance
      • Remove unused columns: Only include data you'll actually use
      • Regular cleanup: Archive old data to keep sheets responsive

      Sharing Settings

      Your Google Sheet needs proper sharing permissions:

      1. Open your Google Sheet
      2. Click "Share" in the top-right corner
      3. Set to "Anyone with the link can view" (minimum)
      4. For team sheets, add specific Marq users with view access

      Common Issues & Solutions

      "Can't Access Spreadsheet" Error

      Cause: Sharing permissions are too restrictive Solution:

      1. Check your sheet's sharing settings
      2. Ensure "Anyone with the link can view" is enabled
      3. Test by opening the sheet link in an incognito window

      Data Not Updating in Templates

      Cause: Connection may need refreshing Solution:

      1. Go to your Data Sources list
      2. Click the refresh icon next to your Google Sheets connection
      3. Wait 1-2 minutes for sync to complete

      Some Columns Missing

      Cause: Empty headers or special characters in column names Solution:

      1. Check that all columns have headers in row 1
      2. Remove special characters from header names
      3. Reconnect your data source

      Advanced Features

      Multiple Worksheets

      • Connect different worksheets from the same Google Sheets file
      • Each worksheet becomes a separate data source in Marq
      • Useful for organizing different types of data

      Real-Time Sync

      • Changes in Google Sheets appear in Marq within minutes
      • Perfect for live dashboards and frequently updated content
      • No manual refresh needed

      Conditional Formatting

      • Use Google Sheets conditional formatting for data validation
      • Marq will respect text colors and basic formatting
      • Bold and italic text styling carries over to templates

      Security & Privacy

      What Marq Accesses

      • Read-only access to your spreadsheet data
      • No editing capabilities - we never modify your sheets
      • No personal files - only sheets you specifically connect

      Data Protection

      • All connections use encrypted HTTPS
      • Your data stays in Google's servers - we only reference it
      • Disconnect anytime with no impact on your original sheets

      Next Steps

      Still need help? Contact our support team:

      • Live chat: Available 9 AM - 6 PM EST
      • Email: support@marq.com
      • Include: Screenshot of any error messages and your Google Sheets sharing link