Editing Integration documentation (section)

= Use the ActiveCampaign Google Sheets Integration =

== Overview ==
The ActiveCampaign Google Sheets integration allows users to import data to ActiveCampaign or push contacts to a Google Sheet. This integration is available for the following ActiveCampaign plans:
* Starter
* Plus
* Pro
* Enterprise

== Important Notes ==
* Ensure that the Google Sheet you are connecting has the appropriate permissions set to edit the sheet as owned or shared directly with a group.
* Do not include a question mark (?) in the Google Sheet name.

== About the Google Sheets Integration ==
This integration offers two separate sync options:
* **Inbound Sync**: Imports data from a Google Sheet to ActiveCampaign.
* **Outbound Sync**: Pushes contacts to a Google Sheet through an automation action.

You can choose to use either one or both options, but they function separately.

=== Inbound Sync ===
The inbound sync imports data to your ActiveCampaign account. You can map your columns in your Google Sheet to Contacts, Deals, Accounts, and private Custom Objects in ActiveCampaign. If you choose to map contacts, they will receive integration-specific tags that will appear on their records.

==== How Syncing Works ====
* The sync runs every hour.
* When configuring the integration, choose one of the following options:
  * Import data and auto-import new data in the future.
  * Import data and not auto-import new data.
* The sync does not automatically push updates made to the data in your sheet if they've already been synced. To sync updates, use the "Restart" button available on the Google Sheets app page when the integration is connected.

==== About Field Mapping ====
This integration does not import new custom fields. Ensure all custom fields are created in ActiveCampaign before starting the integration.

==== Contact Tags ====
The inbound sync will add the following tags to contacts:
* google-sheets-integration
* google-sheets-integration-document_name-sheet_name (provides the document name and sheet name from which the contact was imported)

=== Preparing Your Google Sheet for an Inbound Sync ===
* Remove any punctuation from your Google Sheet name and spreadsheet name to ensure data is imported correctly.
* Ensure that your spreadsheet has the appropriate permissions set to edit the sheet.
* The first row in your sheet should be a header row, which will be read during the mapping step.
* All columns with data will be imported; ensure your columns are filled out correctly.

==== Date and Time Formats ====
* **Date Fields**: Allowed formats are YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY/MM/DD, or MM/DD/YYYY.
* **Custom Objects**: Only allowed format is YYYY-MM-DD.
* **Datetime Fields**: Allowed format is ISO only: yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss-hh:mm or yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss+hh:mm.
* **Multi-Select Fields**: Use double-pipes as a delimiter "||". E.g., ||Option 1||Option 2||.
* **Currency Fields**: Use text, number, automatic on the Google Sheet. Currency and currency rounded are not allowed.

=== Syncing Data from a Google Sheet to ActiveCampaign ===
1. From your ActiveCampaign account, click "Apps."
2. Search for "Google Sheets" and click the option to open it.
3. Click the "Import Data" button.
4. Click the "Connect" button in the modal window.
5. Log into your Google account and click "Allow" to permit access.
6. Click the "Continue" button on the Google Sheets setup page.
7. Select the spreadsheet and sheet you want to sync to ActiveCampaign.
8. Map each field you want to sync.
9. Choose the import option and type the sync name.
10. Click the "Finish" button.

The connected sheet will be added to the "Imports" section of the Google Sheets app page.

=== Outbound Sync ===
The outbound sync requires an active automation that uses the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" action. As contacts move through this action, their mapped data will sync in real-time to the next available row in your connected spreadsheet.

==== About the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" Automation Action ====
* Only one Google spreadsheet can be used per "Add a Row in Google Sheets" action.
* Only contact fields can be synced, including standard and custom contact fields.

=== Disconnecting the Inbound and Outbound Syncs ===
There are several options to disconnect the integration. Once disconnected, information will no longer sync, but previously synced data will remain.

==== Stop Importing Contacts from Google Sheets ====
1. Click "Apps" on the left menu.
2. Click "Connected Apps."
3. Click the Google Sheets option.
4. Click the "Imports" tab.
5. Select the import you wish to disconnect and click "Delete Import."

==== Stop Adding Contacts to Google Sheets ====
Remove the "Add to a Google Sheet" action from your automation.

==== Disconnect Your Google Account from ActiveCampaign ====
1. Click "Apps" in the left menu.
2. Click "Connected Apps."
3. Click the "Google Sheets" app.
4. Click the "Disconnect" button in the modal window.

Your Google account will be disconnected from ActiveCampaign.

== See Also ==
[https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001388224-Use-the-ActiveCampaign-Google-Sheets-integration Original Article]
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