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Google Sheets Integration

The new Google Sheets widget is a powerful addition to the CommBox Signage Designer – available for customers with an Advanced or Pro Licence. It allows you to connect a Google Sheets document directly to your content, making updates quick and effortless from Google Sheets. Perfect for menus, pricing, schedules, or any dynamic data.

Key Benefits
  • Update multiple designs simultaneously without re-publishing.
  • Link your Google Sheets data to specific areas on your screens.
  • Fully customisable text and display styles to maintain your branding.
Setup Steps (Outside CommBox Signage)

1. Create a Google Cloud API Project

  1. Visit the Google Cloud APIs & Services.
  2. Click Create Project, give it a name, then click Create.
  3. At the top, click Enable APIs and Services.
  4. Search for Google Sheets API and click Enable.
  5. After it loads, click Create Credentials.
  6. Select Application Data and click Next.
  7. Enter a descriptive Service Account ID (more than 6 characters, starts with lowercase).
  8. Skip optional fields and click Done.

2. Generate an API Key

  1. Go to Credentials under APIs & Services.
  2. Click + Create Credentials > API Key.
  3. Make note of the API Key — you'll need this for CommBox Signage.

3. Create and Share Your Google Sheet

  1. Open Google Sheets and create a new sheet or use an existing one.
  2. Copy the spreadsheet ID from the URL (between /d/ and /edit).
  3. Click Share in the top right.
  4. Change General Access to Anyone with the link and set the role to Editor.
  5. Share the link with relevant team members – they can update data without needing a CommBox Signage login.

Handy Hint: This setup enables multiple users (for example, store managers) to update information such as menus or prices in the shared sheet without editing anything else in the design.

Adding the Google Sheets Widget in CommBox Signage
  1. Log in to the CommBox Signage Portal.
  2. Open your design or create a new one.
  3. In the left toolbar, click Dynamic Widgets > Google Sheets.
  4. Click Google Sheet Config at the top.
  5. Enter your API Key and Spreadsheet ID.
  6. Fill in the Sheet Name, Cell Column, and Row to display that specific cell's data.
  7. Use the font styling and border options in the toolbar to customise the appearance.
Dynamic Content Management
  • Copy and paste the widget to display different cells or sheets.
  • Change the sheet name or cell reference to pull diverse data points.
  • The widget automatically updates every 15 minutes. Use the refresh button for quicker updates.
Adding Images via Google Sheets

You can upload images directly into your Google Sheet. However, these images do not cache on the device once the design is sent to the screen. This means that every time the design loads, it will need to download the images.

If you experience issues with images not loading correctly, you can:

  • Limit the number of images, or reduce image sizes, if you do not have a fast internet connection.
  • Increase the duration of the design when adding it to a playlist to give images time to load.
  • Ensure the screen has a stable network connection so it can download the images in real time.

Alternatively, add the images directly into the design instead of loading them from Google Sheets.

Requirements

  • The image URL must be publicly accessible (hosted on a public image site).
  • It must link directly to the image file (ending in .jpg, .png, .gif, etc.) and not to a webpage.
  • Host your images on trusted platforms (such as Imgur or Google Drive with appropriate sharing permissions) for safety and reliability.

Steps to Add Images

  1. Paste the image URL into a cell in your Google Sheet.
  2. In CommBox Signage, add the Google Sheets Widget.
  3. Enter the API Key and Spreadsheet ID.
  4. Input the Cell Column and Row where your image URL is stored.
  5. Click Image Settings and toggle Display URL as Image to On.
Google Sheets Metadata Update

Our Google Sheets Integration has been upgraded to simplify multi-location designs. Previously, users had to create separate designs for identical layouts with varying data (for example, the same menu with different prices), which was time-consuming.

Overview of Metadata for Google Sheets

Metadata allows users to override the Sheet Name for each screen without duplicating designs.

By creating one design with the Google Sheets widget, you can publish it across hundreds of screens, with each screen displaying unique data based on its assigned metadata (tab name).

Setup Steps

Create Google Sheets

Set up a Google Sheet with multiple tabs for each variation while maintaining consistent cell structures. Name tabs clearly, as these names will be used as metadata.

Design Creation

Use the Google Sheets widget in CommBox Signage. The initial Sheet Name is for preview purposes only; metadata will override it when published.

Add Metadata

Navigate to:

Deploy → Screen Name → Screen Configuration

Enter the exact tab name for each screen. Accuracy is essential for the override to work correctly.

Publish

After configuration, publish your design. Metadata will ensure each screen displays the correct data values.

Benefits of This Update
  • Saves time by allowing one design to serve multiple locations.
  • Reduces errors by eliminating the need for duplicate designs.
  • Improves scalability by enabling deployment to hundreds of screens with unique data.