How to update Google Spreadsheets using Altair SmartWorks & IFTTT
- 0. Introduction
- 1. Steps to Connect with IFTTT
- 2. Send data from Altair SmartWorks to IFTTT using a listener
- 3. From here on: Enhancing the project
0. Introduction
If you are a IFTTT user, you can send data from Altair SmartWorks to your IFTTT account and do a variety of things.
This easy tutorial helps you to send streams to your IFTTT account and using a Recipe update a Google Spreadsheet.
In this project you will learn how to:
- Connect Altair SmartWorks with IFTTT to send data streams using a listener
- Update a Google Spreadsheet with data received in Altair SmartWorks
Difficulty:
1. Steps to Connect with IFTTT
Before starting, you need to take some previous steps on IFTTT.
Create account
You should have a valid IFTTT account to use the platform. If you don't have one, visit the following URL: (create IFTTT account) and create an account.
Connect to a Maker Channel
You will also need to connect to a Maker Channel. You can do it by clicking on the Channels tab in the menu, once logged into your account.
IFTTT Channels Tab
Then click on the Marker Channel and connect to it.
IFTTT Maker Channel
IFTTT Maker Channel Connect
You will need the Key of the Maker Channel.
IFTTT Maker Channel Connected
Connect to a Google Drive Channel
You also need to connect with Google Drive Channel.
IFTTT Google Drive Channel Connect
IFTTT Google Drive Channel Connected
Create a Recipe
The next step is create a Recipe to do an action when Maker Channel receives information from Altair SmartWorks. To do this click in My Recipes in the menu.
IFTTT My Recipes Tab
Then select Create a Recipe.
IFTTT Create a Recipe
Click on the word “This” and select Maker Channel. Then select Receive a web request.
IFTTT This Condition
Enter a name for the event, for example, Tutorial.
IFTTT Event name
Click on the word “That” and select Google Drive Channel. Then select Add row to spreadsheet.
IFTTT That Consequence
Enter the Spreadsheet name and customize the format of the row (The Spreadsheet will be modified on your Google Drive account specified in the IFTTT account).
IFTTT Form Add row to Spreadsheet
Verify the Recipe data and finish the creation.
IFTTT Finish creation
2. Send data from Altair SmartWorks to IFTTT using a listener
We have enhanced the listener creation process with our Flow Tool.
Now we will build a listener in Altair SmartWorks to send data to IFTTT everytime we receive a Stream with the values “temperature” and “humidity” in the data.
In the Flow editor we'll only need drag & drop a "function" node and add our custom code since this tutorial is not intended to explain the details of the Flow Tool. For a deeper vision of the tool please read its documentation or our "How to create a listener" tutorial.
Flow designer: function node
After saving it, your listener will look something like this.
Resulting listener
The listener will "listen" to the "data_received" event.
Stream list of sent data
Spreasheet results
3. From here on: Enhancing the project
Now you know how to connect Altair SmartWorks with IFTTT to send data streams using a listener and how to update a Google Spreadsheet with that data. But you can enhance this project in many ways:
- Make a calculation of aggregate data (average, maximum, minimum)
- Connect with other website like Weather.com and compare your values with his data