The Google Sheets function IMPORTFEED is a powerful tool designed for users who want to integrate real-time data from various RSS or ATOM feeds directly into their spreadsheets. This function facilitates content updates and can be especially useful for tracking blogs, news sites, or any online platform that provides feeds. By leveraging IMPORTFEED, users can dynamically pull in information without manual updates, streamlining data management and analysis.

Syntax

IMPORTFEED(url, [query], [headers], [numItems])

• url – The URL of the RSS or ATOM feed you wish to import.
• query – (Optional) A specific query that targets certain elements of the feed.
• headers – (Optional) A boolean indicating whether to include the header row. TRUE includes headers, while FALSE omits them.
• numItems – (Optional) A number indicating how many feed items to return. If omitted, all items are imported.

Example #1

=IMPORTFEED("https://news.ycombinator.com/rss")

This function fetches the RSS feed from Hacker News, pulling in recent articles. The result will display the titles, links, and publication dates of the most recent posts.

Example #2

=IMPORTFEED("https://techcrunch.com/feed/", "items title")

Here, the function requests the titles specifically from the TechCrunch RSS feed. The result will present a list of the most recent article titles published on TechCrunch.

Example #3

=IMPORTFEED("https://blog.example.com/feed", "items", TRUE, 5)

This function imports the last 5 items from a specified blog feed, including headers. It will display the feed items along with the column headers, enhancing readability.

Error handling

• N/A – Occurs when the feed URL is invalid or unreachable.
• REF! – Indicates a problem with the parameters supplied, often due to incorrect formatting or unsupported queries.
• VALUE! – This error signifies that one or more arguments are of an inappropriate datatype, such as a non-numeric value for numItems.

Conclusion

Incorporating the IMPORTFEED function in Google Sheets presents a unique opportunity to harness real-time data effortlessly. Whether tracking news, blogs, or updates from various sources, this function allows users to create dynamic spreadsheets enriched with up-to-date information. Understanding its syntax and handling potential errors will enhance users’ ability to effectively use this powerful tool, fostering a more efficient workflow.