TASK_WEBHOOK

Function Overview

The TASK_WEBHOOK function sends data from your Google Sheets to external webhook URLs, allowing you to integrate your spreadsheet data with other applications and services such as Zapier, Make, Pabbly, n8n etc. This function creates a JSON instruction that, when executed with the Run button, sends all the data from the current row to the specified webhook endpoint.

Uses

1. Enhance your automations by sending row data to webhook-enabled automation tools like Zapier, Make, or Pabbly
2. Create custom notifications when specific conditions are met in your spreadsheet
3. Push spreadsheet data to custom API endpoints for further processing
4. Integrate Google Sheets with your own backend systems
5. Automate record creation in CRM systems like HubSpot or Salesforce
6. Send alerts to notification services like Slack or Discord
7. Trigger email sequences based on spreadsheet data

Syntax and Parameters

=TASK_WEBHOOK(header, url, [celladdress])

Advanced Options

Row Data Structure

The TASK_WEBHOOK function sends all data from the current row (where the formula is placed) in a structured format. Headers from row 1 become the keys, and values from the current row become the values in a JSON object. This JSON is wrapped in a "data" object before being sent to the webhook URL.

Response Handling

When a webhook responds, the complete response is placed in the specified output cell. If the response is JSON, it will be displayed as a string. You can use other Sheet Workflows functions like EXTRACT_JSON to parse specific fields from the response.

Custom Cell Output

By default, the webhook response is placed in the cell to the right of the formula cell. You can override this by specifying a custom cell address in the celladdress parameter. Use a standard cell reference like "D5" or "current" to place the output in the current cell.

Examples

Basic Webhook Integration

Send the current row data to a webhook URL:

=TASK_WEBHOOK("Send to CRM", "https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcdef/")

After clicking Run in the sidebar, all data from the current row will be sent to the webhook, and the response will appear in the cell to the right.

Custom Output Cell

Send data and place the response in cell F10:

=TASK_WEBHOOK("Notify Team", "https://connect.pabbly.com/workflow/sendwebhookdata/IjU3NjUwNTY1MDYzZTA0Mzc1MjYHENzMzUxMzMi_pc", "F10")

After clicking Run, the webhook response will be placed in cell F10 instead of the default location.

Using with httpbin for Testing

Test your webhook integration with httpbin:

=TASK_WEBHOOK("Test Webhook", "https://httpbin.org/post", "D5")

After clicking Run, httpbin will echo back the data you sent, showing the exact payload structure in cell D5.

Best Practices

• Always include meaningful headers in row 1 of your sheet to create well-structured webhook payloads
• Test your webhook integration with a service like httpbin.org before connecting to production systems
• Remember to click the Run button in the Sheet Workflows sidebar after creating the TASK_WEBHOOK formula
• Ensure your webhook URL is correct and publicaly accessible from Google's servers
• Usi EXTRACT_JSON in adjacent cells to parse specific fields from webhook responses (this gets generated automatically when you run the task)
• If your webhook doesn't return a response, you'll see "done" in the output cell

Troubleshooting

Error: Missing URL

Cause: The webhook URL parameter is missing or empty.
Solution: Ensure you provide a valid webhook URL as the second parameter.

Error: Invalid JSON

Cause: The webhook response couldn't be parsed as JSON.
Solution: Check if your webhook is returning properly formatted JSON. This error might also appear if the webhook returns plain text or HTML.

Error: Invalid cell address

Cause: The cell address specified in the third parameter isn't valid.
Solution: Use a standard cell reference format like "A1" or "current".

Error: Webhook response error

Cause: The webhook returned an HTTP error code.
Solution: Check that your webhook URL is correct and the service is operational. Look at the error message for specific HTTP status codes.

Error: HTTP request failed

Cause: The HTTP request to the webhook URL failed to complete.
Solution: Verify your internet connection and the webhook URL. The webhook service might be down or inaccessible from Google's servers.

No Response Showing

Cause: You didn't click the Run button in the Sheet Workflows sidebar.
Solution: TASK_WEBHOOK requires manual execution by clicking Run in the sidebar.

FAQ

How do I run the webhook?

After entering the TASK_WEBHOOK formula in a cell, you must select a cell or cells in the column containing the formula and then click the Run button in the Sheet Workflows sidebar to execute the webhook requests.

What data is sent to the webhook?

All non-empty cells in the current row are sent to the webhook, with column headers from row 1 used as keys. The data is structured in a JSON object wrapped in a "data" object.

Can I send data from multiple rows?

The TASK_WEBHOOK function sends data from a single row at a time. To send multiple rows, you would need to place the formula in each row you want to send and run them individually.

How can I see the exact data being sent?

Use "https://httpbin.org/post" as your webhook URL for testing. It will echo back the exact payload structure that was sent.

Is there a limit to how much data I can send?

There's a practical limit based on Google's URL length limits and execution time limits. For very large datasets, consider using the TASK_API function instead.

Can I include cells with formulas in the webhook data?

Yes, the webhook will send the calculated results of formulas in your current row, not the formula itself.

Can I modify how the data is structured before sending?

The row data structure is fixed (headers as keys, values as values). If you need custom structuring, consider using TASK_API instead which offers more flexibility.