The video tutorial demonstrates how to leverage Google Sheets and Google Apps Script to create a simple API for managing and checking the status of jobs or projects. This is particularly useful for project or product managers who need a straightforward system for tracking job statuses without exposing their entire Google Sheet to external users. The process involves:
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Setting up a Google Sheet as a database: The sheet contains job IDs and their corresponding statuses. This setup acts as a backend where job statuses can be updated.
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Creating an API with Google Apps Script: By writing a custom script, a doGet function is deployed as a web app. This function allows users to query the Google Sheet by job ID via a URL, returning the job's current status.
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Deploying a web app: The script is deployed as a web application, which generates a unique URL. This URL acts as an endpoint for the API, where requests can be sent to check job statuses based on job IDs.
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Front-end form for checking job status: A form is created using an online tool (like CARRD) where users can input a job ID. Upon submission, the form sends a request to the API, retrieves the job status from the Google Sheet, and displays it to the user.
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Securing data visibility: This method ensures that only the relevant job status information is shared with external users, without revealing the entire content of the Google Sheet.
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Integration with other Sheets: The API can also be used in conjunction with other Google Sheets using the IMPORTDATA function, allowing for the automated retrieval of job statuses into other spreadsheets without manual data entry or revealing the original data source.
This approach is valuable for project management, allowing for real-time status checks of various jobs with minimal setup and without the need for complex database systems or advanced coding knowledge.