Connecting to Multiple Data Sources

You can connect to multiple data sources from the same spreadsheet.

Using multiple connections, you can do the following:

  • Connect to different data sources from different sheets within the same spreadsheet.

    For example, you can connect to a form from Planning in one sheet and to an ad hoc grid from Financial Consolidation and Close in another sheet in the same spreadsheet.

  • Place multiple grids from multiple connections in the same sheet.

    You can work with multiple ad hoc grids from different data sources in the same sheet by establishing connections to multiple data sources. For more information, see Creating Multiple-Grid Sheets.

  • Create and work on multiple functions from different data sources in the same sheet.

    You can create a function sheet by adding functions from different cubes and data sources. For more information, see Creating Functions from Multiple Connections.

To connect to multiple connections:

  1. Sign in to Google Sheets using your Google Workspace credentials and open a new spreadsheet. Sheet 1 opens by default.
  2. In the Extensions menu, select Smart View for Google Workspace, and then select Connect under Start.
  3. Connect to your first data source and open the Smart View Home panel.

    In the Smart View Home panel, you can view the library and open the required form or ad hoc grid present in the business application.

  4. At the bottom of the sheet next to the Sheet1, click Add New Sheet icon to open a new sheet, say Sheet2, to connect to a different data source.
  5. In the Extensions menu, select Smart View for Google Workspace, and then select Connect under Start.
  6. Connect to your second data source and open the Smart View Home panel.

    In the Smart View Home panel, you can now view the library of the second data source and open any form or ad hoc grid present in the business application.

    Note:

    After connecting to the second data source, the Smart View Home panel, if open, continues to display the library from the previously open sheet, that is the Home panel of the data source connected in Sheet1. You need to close the Home panel and launch it again to view the library for the second data source.
  7. Optional: Use Active Connections to view a list of servers that you have already connected to in the Server URL list and select the required one to set as an active connection for a sheet. For more information, see Setting Active Connection for a Sheet

    This option is also useful while placing grids from multiple connections on the same sheet. For more information, see Creating Multiple-Grid Sheets.

  8. Optional: Use Locate Sheet Connection to open the Home panel for the connection that is set on the currently active sheet. In the Extensions menu, select Smart View for Google Workspace, and then select Locate Sheet Connection under Start.

Guidelines on Working with Multiple Connections

Consider the following guidelines when working with multiple connections.

  • Every time you switch between sheets connected to different data sources, the Smart View Home panel and the Smart View for Google Workspace menu works in the following ways:
    • Smart View Home panel: The Smart View Home panel does not reload automatically. If you switch sheets or open a new sheet, the last opened Smart View Home panel continues to display in the new sheet. You must launch the Home panel again from the Smart View for Google Workspace menu to view the library contents relevant to the sheet's connected data source.
    • Smart View for Google Workspace menu: Unlike the Home panel, the Smart View for Google Workspace menu is always in sync with the active sheet. The operations you perform using this menu are performed on the active sheet in context.

  • The actions in the Smart View for Google Workspace menu apply only to the active sheet that is currently open.

    For example, if you are submitting or refreshing data, only the data from the currently active sheet is submitted or refreshed. If you want to submit or refresh the data from another sheet having the same or a different connection, open that sheet and use the Submit or Refresh option from the Smart View for Google Workspace menu to submit or refresh data on that sheet.

  • To know about the connection for a particular sheet, you can open Sheet Info and view the server and URL details. For more information, see Sheet Information.