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Extend Google Sheets with Basecamp Data
Make calls to the API Server from Google Apps Script.
Interact with Basecamp data from Google Sheets through macros, custom functions, and add-ons. The CData API Server enables connectivity to Basecamp data from cloud-based and mobile applications like Google Sheets. The API Server is a lightweight Web application that produces OData services for Basecamp.
Google Apps Script can consume these OData services in the JSON format. This article shows how to create a simple add-on that populates a Google Spreadsheet with Projects data and, as you make changes, executes updates to Basecamp data.
Set Up the API Server
Follow the steps below to begin producing secure Basecamp OData services:
Deploy
The API Server runs on your own server. On Windows, you can deploy using the stand-alone server or IIS. On a Java servlet container, drop in the API Server WAR file. See the help documentation for more information and how-tos.
The API Server is also easy to deploy on Microsoft Azure, Amazon EC2, and Heroku.
Connect to Basecamp
After you deploy the API Server, provide authentication values and other connection properties needed to connect to Basecamp by clicking Settings -> Connections and adding a new connection in the API Server administration console.
Basecamp uses basic or OAuth 2.0 authentication. To use basic authentication you will need the user and password that you use for logging in to Basecamp. To authenticate to Basecamp via OAuth 2.0, obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties by registering an app with Basecamp.
See the Getting Started section in the help documentation for a connection guide.
Additionally, specify the AccountId connection property. This can be copied from the URL after you log in.
You can then choose the Basecamp entities you want to allow the API Server to access by clicking Settings -> Resources.
Authorize API Server Users
After determining the OData services you want to produce, authorize users by clicking Settings -> Users. The API Server uses authtoken-based authentication and supports the major authentication schemes. Access can also be restricted based on IP address: Connections from all addresses except localhost are blocked by default, so you will need to allow connections from Google's servers for this article. You can authenticate as well as encrypt connections with SSL.
Retrieve Basecamp Data
Open the Script Editor from your spreadsheet by clicking Tools -> Script Editor. In the Script Editor, add the following function to populate a spreadsheet with the results of an OData query:
function retrieve(){
var url = "https://MyUrl/api.rsc/Projects?select=Id,Name,DocumentsCount,Drafts";
var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url,{
headers: {"Authorization": "Basic " + Utilities.base64Encode("MyUser:MyAuthtoken")}
});
var json = response.getContentText();
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
var a1 = sheet.getRange('a1');
var index=1;
var projects = JSON.parse(json).value;
var cols = [["Id","Name","DocumentsCount","Drafts"]];
sheet.getRange(1,1,1,4).setValues(cols);
row=2;
for(var i in projects){
for (var j in projects[i]) {
switch (j) {
case "Id":
a1.offset(row,0).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "Name":
a1.offset(row,1).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "DocumentsCount":
a1.offset(row,2).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "Drafts":
a1.offset(row,3).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
}
}
row++;
}
}
Follow the steps below to add an installable trigger to populate the spreadsheet when opened:
- Click Resources -> Current Project's Triggers -> Add a New Trigger.
- Select retrieve in the Run menu.
- Select From Spreadsheet.
- Select On open.
After closing the dialog, you are prompted to allow access to the application.
Post Changes to Basecamp Data
Add the following function to post changes to cells back to the API Server:
function buildReq(e){
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
var changes = e.range;
var id = sheet.getRange(changes.getRow(),1).getValue();
var col = sheet.getRange(1,changes.getColumn()).getValue();
var url = "http://MyServer/api.rsc/Projects("+id+")";
var putdata = "{\"@odata.type\" : \"CDataAPI.Projects\", \""+col+"\": \""+changes.getValue()+"\"}";;
UrlFetchApp.fetch(url,{
method: "put",
contentType: "application/json",
payload: putdata,
headers: {"Authorization": "Basic " + Utilities.base64Encode("MyUser:MyAuthtoken")}
});
}
Follow the steps below to add the update trigger:
- Click Resources -> Current Project's Triggers.
- Select buildReq in the Run menu.
- Select From Spreadsheet.
- Select On edit.
You can test the script by clicking Publish -> Test as Add-On. Select the version, installation type, and spreadsheet to create a test configuration. You can then select and run the test configuration.
As you make changes to cells, the API Server executes updates to Basecamp data.
