Integrating Excel Calculations into Parabola.io with SpreadsheetWeb API

by | Oct 25, 2024

Parabola.io is a powerful tool for automating workflows, pulling data from various sources, and pushing the results into a central repository. One exciting use case is integrating SpreadsheetWeb API to perform Excel-based calculations dynamically. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of setting up this integration step-by-step, from pulling API data to transforming and saving it in Parabola tables.

 

Transforming Your Excel File into an API with SpreadsheetWeb

Before diving into the technical details of integrating the SpreadsheetWeb API with Parabola.io, it’s essential to understand the core component: your Excel file. This file forms the foundation of your API, as it contains the input fields, calculations, and output results that the API will use.

Preparing Your Excel File

For the purpose of this guide, let’s assume you have an Excel file structured as follows:

  • Three individual input fields: originZIP, destinationZIP, and weight.
  • An output field: cost, which is generated based on the input values through pre-configured Excel formulas.

Essentially, this Excel file acts as a standard spreadsheet calculator. Once transformed into an API, it allows you to programmatically submit inputs and retrieve calculated results—just as if you were using the Excel file manually.

Uploading Your Excel File to SpreadsheetWeb Hub

To convert your Excel file into an API, follow these steps to upload it to the SpreadsheetWeb Hub. The Hub enables you to create an application based on your Excel file, effectively turning it into a web-based API. During this process, your Excel formulas and calculations are converted into a format that can be accessed programmatically via API calls.

Once uploaded, you will receive essential details required for making API requests from Parabola.io. These include:

  1. API Endpoint URL: The unique URL where your API requests will be directed.
  2. Workspace ID: The identifier for your workspace within SpreadsheetWeb.
  3. Application ID: The specific ID associated with your application (i.e., your Excel file).
  4. Authentication settings (if applicable): Whether your API requires token-based authentication or not.

These details are crucial for configuring your HTTP requests in Parabola.io to interact with the API effectively.

For a comprehensive guide on creating an API from a SpreadsheetWeb application, refer to the documentation provided by SpreadsheetWeb. The documentation will walk you through each step of the process, ensuring that your Excel file is successfully converted into an API.

SpreadsheetWeb API Authentication Options

When setting up the API, you have two main authentication options:

  1. Token-Based Authentication: This more secure option requires sending a Bearer token in the request headers to authenticate and authorize API calls. It ensures that only authorized users have access to the API.
  2. No Authentication: A simpler option, often used during development or internal testing phases, where security is not a primary concern.

For this guide, we will use the No Authentication option to keep the setup straightforward when integrating with Parabola.io. By skipping authentication, you won’t need to configure authorization headers, simplifying the integration process. However, for production environments, it’s strongly recommended to enable token-based authentication to protect your API from unauthorized access.

If your use case requires additional security, you can enable token-based authentication through SpreadsheetWeb. When using this option, you will need to set up Parabola.io to include the Bearer token in the Authorization header of your HTTP request, ensuring that your API calls are authenticated.

Step 1: Creating a New Flow in Parabola.io

After setting up your Parabola.io account, the first thing you’ll need to do is create a new flow. To get started:

  • Click on the New flow button from your dashboard.
  • You’ll be directed to a blank canvas where your flow will take shape.

Step 2: Adding the Pull From API Step

To integrate SpreadsheetWeb API, we'll need to add the Pull From API step, which will serve as the trigger to pull data.

  • On the left-hand side, you’ll find a control bar. Click on Integration at the top.
  • From the Triggers/API section, find and select Pull From API.

This step will allow you to configure API request settings and link to the SpreadsheetWeb API.

Step 3: Configuring API Request Settings

Now that you've added the Pull From API step, it's time to configure the request settings for the SpreadsheetWeb API.

  1. Select Request Type:
    • Under Request Settings, choose POST as the HTTP method.
  2. Enter API Endpoint:
  3. Add Request Body & Request Headers:
    • In the request body, you’ll need to send the appropriate JSON payload. Here’s an example of a body for making a calculation: 
      {

  "request": {

    "workspaceId": "3bae377c-12fb-4b5e-90d2-a29aa12a6d79",

    "applicationId": "f8da5ff3-26dd-473c-9331-e43322e923ed",

    "inputs": {

      "originZIP": "10001",

      "destinationZIP": "90001",

      "weight": "1"

    },

    "outputs": [

      "cost"

    ]

  }

}
    • Manually add the following request header:
      • Content-Type: application/json

This step ensures that the API request is properly formatted for SpreadsheetWeb’s service to process the data.

Step 4: Refreshing Data and Viewing the Response

Once your API settings are configured, you can test the connection to verify that everything is working correctly.

  • In the bottom-left corner, click the Refresh data button.
  • Parabola will pull data from the SpreadsheetWeb API and display the results in a preview.

If the response data is not showing in the table, you can easily customize the output.

Step 5: Adding and Modifying Columns in Parabola.io

In some cases, the response may not display all necessary columns. You can modify and organize the output using Parabola’s tools:

  1. Adding a Column:
    • On the left-hand side menu, click on Add column to manually add a response column.
  2. Removing Unnecessary Columns:
    • If you have columns you don’t need, you can remove them to clean up the data.

Additionally, you can rename any column that might not align with your preferred naming convention. To rename a column:

  • Go to the Transform section, where Parabola offers a variety of tools. Use the renaming tool to change your column names to something more meaningful or aligned with your data structure.

Step 6: Saving Data to Parabola Table

Once you've configured your columns and ensured that all data looks correct, the next step is to save it into a Parabola table.

  • Head over to the Integration section once more.
  • Select Send to Parabola Table to push your processed data into a table for further use or analysis.

Bonus Tip: Using Dynamic Data Sources

If you are working with an external data source, Parabola allows you to dynamically pull that data and integrate it into your flow.

  • Simply add a Pull data from... step at the beginning of your flow to pull dynamic data inputs that can be routed into your SpreadsheetWeb calculations.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate SpreadsheetWeb API into Parabola.io and automate complex Excel-based calculations. This process not only streamlines your workflow but also enables powerful data handling and transformation in an automated environment.

With Parabola.io’s flexibility and SpreadsheetWeb API’s powerful calculation engine, you can dynamically manage your data in just a few steps. Whether you need to run bulk calculations or pull real-time data, this integration opens up a world of possibilities for your automation needs.