How to automate data input from a Google sheet into a webform
This guide shows you how to start creating a simple bot to input data into any web form. It's a great starting point for learning how to automate form filling using bots and a Google Sheet. After adding the initial steps, simply use the builder and customise the bot to your use case.
We also have a data entry template to get you started fast.
Design pattern: Data entry into web form
# Prepare your Google Sheet
Create a Google sheet with some test data to run your automation with.
| Col A | Col B |
|---|---|
| Name | Surname |
| Name | Surname |
| Name | Surname |
# Start from blank, adding the following steps
In the Axiom.ai Chrome extension dashboard, click "New Automation" and then select "Add first step". Use the step finder to add the steps outlined below.
# Add a ‘Read data from a Google Sheet’ step
First we want to our test data from the Google Sheet.
- Spreadsheet - Search for the Google Sheet you created in the "Spreadsheet" field. Once found, click to select.
- Sheet name - Choose a sheet tab or leave blank to use the first tab.
- First cell - Start from a specified column and row, for example, "A1".
- Last cell - End at a specified column and row, for example, "AB1".
Tip
💡 To read a single row of data set a First and Last cell. This can be useful when you want to run a quick test run.
# Add a ‘Go to page’ step to load the web form
Next we instruct the bot to load our webform in Chrome.
- Enter URL - Insert the url to your webform.
# Add an ‘Enter text’ step to input data
Next, we use an ‘Enter text’ step to input our data into a field.
- Text - Click ‘Insert data’ select ‘google-sheet-data’ to pass the message from the Sheet. Select column ‘A’ in the preview.
# Add a ‘Click element’ to click the submit button
Our next step is to set up the click action for the form's 'submit' button.
- Select - Click "Select" highlight the ‘submit’ button click on it and press complete.
# Continue adding your steps as needed
Now just use the step finder to continue adding steps and complete your data entry bot.
# Wrapping up
Data can be easily passed into steps and input into form elements by adding the "Enter text" step. A "Click element" step can be used to submit the form. However, these steps alone will most likely not be enough to complete data entry into most forms. To do so, use the step finder to add additional steps to build out your automation. You will find that Axiom.ai comes with steps to automate many different web actions performed when filling in forms, such as selecting lists, date pickers, and key presses.