Blitapp can take a list of URLs to screenshot from a Google spreadsheet. Optionally, Blitapp can update the spreadsheet with information related to the capture: status, link to the image, and path of the screenshot uploaded through an App.


Prepare your spreadsheet

Your spreadsheet must contain one column with a list of URLs. The first row should include the name of the column. You can choose any column name and column number.


Each URL should start with http:// or https://. If the value is blank, the row will be skipped.


You can include additional columns to be updated by Blitapp. You can choose any name for these columns, and they can appear in any order. These rows should only be updated by Blitapp.


Your spreadsheet can include other columns. These will be ignored and kept as they are.


Here is a simple Google spreadsheet we'll use as an example:


Share your spreadsheet

To give access to the spreadsheet to Blitapp, you must share it with the e-mail browshot-google-spreadsheets@spreadsheet-302000.iam.gserviceaccount.com. 


You can give us Viewer or Editor access:

  • Viewer: Blitapp can read the list of URLs but cannot edit the spreadsheet to add information about the capture.
    Every time the capture runs, all URLs will be captured, even if they were captured earlier already.

  • Editor: Blitapp can read the list of URLs and edit the spreadsheet. Blitapp will add information for the column you have defined.
    Every time the capture runs, Blitapp will check for any existing information and capture only URLs that don't have such information. This means you can add new URLs, and Blitapp will capture these new rows only.


Setup your capture

Create a new capture in Blitapp. Choose spreadsheet as the Web Page Link type. In the URL, enter the spreadsheet URL: click on Copy Link in the share screen, or enter the URL you see in your web browser. The URL should look like this: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V7cHNFM2pdpRSffakk-m6W2XlMpgkHWnnXv1nyWAhC4/...


Define the columns that you want Blitapp to update. Remember that you should have at least one of these columns if you don't want the same URLs to be captured every time the capture runs.


All the regular capture settings can be applied: trackers, Apps, schedules, e-mail, etc.


Please remember to Test Access to ensure Blitapp can read your spreadsheet and find the URL list.


How Blitapp gets the list of URLs to capture

Blitapp checks each row of the spreadsheet:

  • If the cell containing the URL is empty, the row is skipped.
  • If you specify a column for App, status, or image link, and any of these cells contain a value, the row is skipped.
  • If the URL is present, and optional columns are not set or empty, a screenshot is taken


In summary, if you want to take just 1 screenshot of URLs added to the spreadsheet, specify at least 1 optional column: app, status, or image link. If you want to take multiple screenshots of the URLs at the specified schedule, do not set any optional column.


If you want to add URLs to your spreadsheet and capture these new URLs once, ensure you have at least 1 column specified for updates: status (recommended), image link, or App (with at least 1 App added to your capture). You can set your capture schedule to check the spreadsheet every hour or more often to capture new URLs .