What is connection only in Google Sheets?
In Power Query, connection only loads a query without landing a table. Google Sheets always materializes data in cells or Connected Sheets extracts. Keep source formulas on a hidden tab or use Named ranges to mimic staging without duplicate tables.
When to use it
Use hidden staging tabs when Excel kept connection-only queries for reuse.
When to skip it
Skip extra tabs when one IMPORTRANGE feed is already the single source of truth.
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Guides that explain Connection only in more depth.
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Power Query
Power Query is Excel's click-and-refresh ETL engine. Google Sheets combines IMPORT functions, QUERY, Apps Script, Connected Sheets, and add-ons for the same jobs: pull web or file data, reshape tables, and refresh on a schedule. There is no Power Query UI inside Sheets.
Read guide →IMPORTRANGE
IMPORTRANGE loads values from a range in another Google spreadsheet into your current file. You pass the spreadsheet URL or key plus a range string with an optional sheet name. After you grant access once, the link stays live and updates when the source changes.
Read guide →Connected Sheets
Connected Sheets lets you explore very large datasets from BigQuery (and related Google Cloud sources) through a Sheets interface with extracts, pivot-style analysis, and scheduled refresh. You work with a connected tab instead of pasting millions of rows into the grid. It targets analysts who outgrow IMPORTRANGE but still want a spreadsheet UX.
Read guide →Done reading about Connection only?
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