How to Shorten New Google Docs Links & Save to Google Sheets Using Pabbly Connect

Learn how to automate shortening Google Docs links and saving them to Google Sheets using Pabbly Connect. Step-by-step tutorial included. Explore efficient methods for automating routine tasks with clear, concise instructions suited for both newcomers and experienced professionals.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Setting Up Pabbly Connect for Google Docs and Google Sheets Integration

To start automating the process of shortening Google Docs links and saving them to Google Sheets, you need to set up Pabbly Connect. First, create a free account on Pabbly Connect by clicking the signup link provided. This process takes just a couple of minutes.

Once you are logged into the Pabbly Connect dashboard, click on the ‘Create Workflow’ button. Name your workflow, such as ‘Google Docs to Bitly to Google Sheets,’ and click on the ‘Create’ button to proceed. This sets up your automation workflow.

2. Triggering the Workflow with Google Docs

The next step is to set up the trigger that initiates the workflow. In the trigger window, search for and select ‘Google Docs.’ Choose the trigger event as ‘New Document’ to capture details of every new document created in your Google Docs account.

• Select the ‘Connect’ button and then ‘Add New Connection’.
• Sign in with your Google account and allow access.
• Click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’ to fetch the details of the most recent document.

After successfully connecting your Google Docs account, the details of the latest document will be displayed. This includes the document name, creation time, and various links associated with it, which are essential for the next steps in Pabbly Connect.

3. Shortening the URL Using Bitly

Now that you have the document details, the next step is to shorten the URL using Bitly. In the action window, search for and select ‘Bitly’. Choose the action event as ‘Shorten Link’ to proceed. using Pabbly Connect

• Connect your Bitly account by clicking on ‘Connect with Bitly’.
• Select the group you want to use for shortening links.
• Map the long URL from the Google Docs response to the long URL field in Bitly.

Once you have mapped the long URL, click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’. Bitly will return a shortened URL which you can verify by pasting it into a new tab. This confirms that the shortening process was successful.

4. Formatting Date and Time for Google Sheets

Before adding the details to Google Sheets, you may need to format the creation date and time of the document. In Pabbly Connect, add a new action step and select ‘Date Time Formatter’. Choose the action event as ‘Format Date with Time Zone’.

Map the creation date from the Google Docs response. Select the current format of the date and the desired output format. Choose the appropriate time zones (UTC to Asia/Kolkata).

Click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’ to receive the formatted date and time. This ensures that the date and time are correctly displayed in your Google Sheets.

5. Saving Document Details to Google Sheets

The final step in this automation is to save the details into Google Sheets. In the action window, select ‘Google Sheets’ and choose the action event as ‘Add New Row’. using Pabbly Connect

Connect your Google Sheets account and select the specific spreadsheet where you want to save the data. Map the document name, formatted date and time, long link, and the shortened link into their respective fields in Google Sheets.

After mapping all the required fields, click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’. This will add a new row to your selected Google Sheets with all the details of the newly created document, confirming that the automation is functioning correctly.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you have successfully set up an automation using Pabbly Connect to shorten Google Docs links and save them to Google Sheets. This integration streamlines your workflow, allowing you to manage document links efficiently.