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Table of Contents

How it works

When exporting a CSV file with chart data for use in external tools or data storage, users often want these numbers to be automatically updated. To address this need, we have developed the Live Data Link feature.

After configuring your chart correctly, you can generate a Live Data Link in the Export section:

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Upon request, the link provides access to the same CSV file as the Export feature. This link facilitates automation by allowing users to obtain real-time updates directly from the chart.

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For instance, if you've set up the chart to display the velocity of the last 5 closed sprints, the data will automatically refresh with updated information when an active sprint finishes and the chart is updated.

Info

It's important to note that reconfiguring the chart might alter the CSV file's structure, potentially affecting the number of columns and rows. This change can impact any fields that depend on specific data within the file.

The link is secure and specifically designed to transmit chart values without including extraneous data, such as issue summaries or sprint goals.

Consider the link as a token to access chart data, dependent on user permissions. For example, if a user's access to a specific board is restricted, the link previously used for accessing chart data related to that board will no longer display the data. Keep this in mind when sharing the link with others.

The UI indicates when the link has been generated and is active:

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Options are available to deactivate, regenerate, or delete the link at any time:

  • Deactivating the link stops it from responding to calls, but reactivation restores its functionality.

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  • Regenerating the link creates a new one, thereby discontinuing any prior integrations.

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  • Deleting the link removes it permanently without the option for recovery.

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Tech limits

Certain limits have been established to prevent infrastructure overload and ensure proper usage.

Rate Limits: The link can be called upon a maximum of 3 times every 5 minutes.

Deleting Unused Links: If the chart for which the link was generated is deleted or if the link remains unused for 30 days, it automatically deactivates, but there is an option to reactivate it. If the link is not used within 30 days after deactivation, it will be permanently deleted.

Application

Utilizing the Live Data Link with Google Spreadsheets is straightforward:

  1. Insert the IMPORTDATA("URL") function with the generated link into a cell in your target spreadsheet to import data from the CSV file.

  2. The imported table will automatically refresh every hour as long as the document is open, per the documentation.

However, there is a limitation: simply opening and refreshing the document does not prompt a refresh of the functions. To initiate a refresh, you must delete, re-add, or overwrite the cells with the same formula.

For those seeking a more seamless and robust integration, consider utilizing Apps Scripts. For example, you can set time-driven triggers with background refresh. More information on this can be found [here].

You can use Excel's "Get & Transform Data" feature (formerly known as Power Query) to achieve this. Here are the steps:

  1. Open a New Excel Workbook: Start by opening Microsoft Excel and creating a new workbook.

  2. Access the Get & Transform Data Feature:

    1. In Excel 2016 and later, go to the "Data" tab on the Ribbon.

    2. Click on "Get Data," then choose "From Other Sources," and select "From Web."

  3. Enter the CSV File URL:

    1. A new window will pop up asking for the URL.

    2. Enter the URL with the CSV file.

  4. Import and Transform the Data (if necessary):

    1. Once the data is loaded, you can use the Power Query Editor to transform or filter the data as needed.

    2. After finishing your transformations, click "Close & Load" to load the data into your workbook.

  5. Refreshing Data:

    1. The data connection will remain in your Excel workbook. You can refresh the data whenever needed by right-clicking on the data table and selecting "Refresh."

  6. Automate Refreshing:

    1. You can set the data to refresh automatically at regular intervals. Go to the "Data" tab, click on "Queries & Connections", right-click your query, and choose "Properties".

    2. Under the "Refresh Control" section, you can set how often Excel should refresh the data.

Read more about Power Query in Excel here.

More about Importing .csv files - read here.

We have compiled a list of links that will assist you in configuring the integration with popular BI tools.

Power BI

Tableau

Looker Studio

The Looker Studio app does not directly support linking to CSV files by URL for live updates, so you can create a spreadsheet to use as a data source. How to use it is explained above.