Understanding the Google Sheets API v3 to v4 Migration

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 110 views

Introduction

In this article, we will guide you through the process of updating your Datatables + Highcharts code to work with the latest Google Sheets API v4. If you are using the Google Sheets API v3 and want to migrate to v4, this article is for you. We will cover the necessary steps and provide you with a working example to help you get started.

Understanding the Google Sheets API v3 to v4 Migration

The Google Sheets API v3 has been deprecated, and Google recommends using the Google Sheets API v4 for new applications. The main differences between the two versions are:

API endpoint: The API endpoint for v4 is https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/, whereas for v3 it was https://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds/.
Authentication: The authentication mechanism has changed in v4. You need to use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate your requests.
Data retrieval: The way you retrieve data from Google Sheets has changed in v4. You need to use the spreadsheets.values.get method to retrieve values from a spreadsheet.

Step 1: Set up Google Cloud Platform and Enable the Google Sheets API

To use the Google Sheets API v4, you need to set up a Google Cloud Platform project and enable the Google Sheets API. Here's how to do it:

Step 1.1: Create a Google Cloud Platform Project

Go to the Google Cloud Console and create a new project.
Click on the "Select a project" dropdown menu and select "New Project".
Enter a project name and click on the "Create" button.

Step 1.2: Enable the Google Sheets API

Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
Click on the "Navigation menu" (three horizontal lines in the top left corner) and select "APIs & Services" > "Dashboard".
Click on the "Enable APIs and Services" button.
Search for "Google Sheets API" and click on the result.
Click on the "Enable" button.

Step 2: Set up OAuth 2.0 Authentication

To authenticate your requests to the Google Sheets API v4, you need to set up OAuth 2.0 authentication. Here's how to do it:

Step 2.1: Create Credentials

Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
Click on the "Navigation menu" (three horizontal lines in the top left corner) and select "APIs & Services" > "Credentials".
Click on the "Create Credentials" button.
Select "OAuth client ID" and click on the "Create" button.
Select "Web application" and enter a authorized JavaScript origins (e.g., http://localhost:8080).
Click on the "Create" button.

Step 2.2: Get the Client ID and Client Secret

Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
Click on the "Navigation menu" (three horizontal lines in the top left corner) and select "APIs & Services" > "Credentials".
Click on the "OAuth 2.0 client IDs" tab.
Find your client ID and client secret.

Step 3: Update the Datatables + Highcharts Code

Now that you have set up OAuth 2.0 authentication, you can update your Datatables + Highcharts code to work with the Google Sheets API v4. Here's an updated version of the code:

Step 3.1: Update the API Endpoint

Update the API endpoint in your code to https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/.
Update the spreadsheets.get method to spreadsheets.values.get.

Step 3.2: Update the Authentication Mechanism

Update the authentication mechanism to use OAuth 2.0.
Use the client ID and client secret to authenticate your requests.

Step 3.3: Update the Data Retrieval Method

Update the data retrieval method to use the spreadsheets.values.get method.
Use the range parameter to specify the range of cells to retrieve.

Here's an updated version of the code:

// Import the necessary libraries
const $ = require('jquery');
const Highcharts = require('highcharts');
const google = require('googleapis');
// Set up the Google Sheets API v4
const sheets = google.sheets('v4');
// Set up OAuth 2.0 authentication
const auth = new google.auth.GoogleAuth(
// Client ID and client secret
client_id 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
client_secret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
// Scopes
scopes: ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/spreadsheets&#39;]
);
// Set up the API endpoint
const apiEndpoint = 'https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/&#39;;
// Set up the spreadsheet ID
const spreadsheetId = 'YOUR_SPREADSHEET_ID';
// Set up the range of cells to retrieve
const range = 'Sheet1!A1:B10';
// Get the values from the spreadsheet
sheets.spreadsheets.values.get({
auth,
spreadsheetId,
range
}, (err, response) => {
if (err) {
// Handle the error
console.error(err);
} else {
// Get the values from the response
const values = response.data.values;
// Create a Datatables instance
const table = $(&#39;#example&#39;).DataTable({
  data: values,
  columns: [
    { title: &#39;Column 1&#39; },
    { title: &#39;Column 2&#39; }
  ]
});

// Create a Highcharts instance
Highcharts.chart(&#39;chart&#39;, {
  chart: {
    type: &#39;column&#39;
  },
  title: {
    text: &#39;Chart Title&#39;
  },
  xAxis: {
    categories: values[0]
  },
  yAxis: {
    title: {
      text: &#39;Y Axis Title&#39;
    }
  },
  series: [
    {
      name: &#39;Series 1&#39;,
      data: values.map((row) =&gt; row[1])
    }
  ]
});

}
});

Conclusion

Q: What are the main differences between Google Sheets API v3 and v4?

A: The main differences between Google Sheets API v3 and v4 are:

API endpoint: The API endpoint for v4 is https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/, whereas for v3 it was https://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds/.
Authentication: The authentication mechanism has changed in v4. You need to use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate your requests.
Data retrieval: The way you retrieve data from Google Sheets has changed in v4. You need to use the spreadsheets.values.get method to retrieve values from a spreadsheet.

Q: How do I set up OAuth 2.0 authentication for the Google Sheets API v4?

A: To set up OAuth 2.0 authentication for the Google Sheets API v4, you need to:

Create a Google Cloud Platform project.
Enable the Google Sheets API.
Create credentials for your project.
Get the client ID and client secret.
Use the client ID and client secret to authenticate your requests.

Q: How do I update the API endpoint in my code to work with the Google Sheets API v4?

A: To update the API endpoint in your code to work with the Google Sheets API v4, you need to:

Update the API endpoint to https://sheets.googleapis.com/v4/.
Update the spreadsheets.get method to spreadsheets.values.get.

Q: How do I update the authentication mechanism in my code to work with the Google Sheets API v4?

A: To update the authentication mechanism in your code to work with the Google Sheets API v4, you need to:

Use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate your requests.
Use the client ID and client secret to authenticate your requests.

Q: How do I update the data retrieval method in my code to work with the Google Sheets API v4?

A: To update the data retrieval method in your code to work with the Google Sheets API v4, you need to:

Use the spreadsheets.values.get method to retrieve values from a spreadsheet.
Use the range parameter to specify the range of cells to retrieve.

Q: What are the benefits of using the Google Sheets API v4?

A: The benefits of using the Google Sheets API v4 include:

Improved performance: The Google Sheets API v4 is faster and more efficient than the Google Sheets API v3.
Enhanced security: The Google Sheets API v4 uses OAuth 2.0 authentication, which is more secure than the authentication mechanism used in the Google Sheets API v3.
Better support for large datasets: The Google Sheets API v4 is designed to handle large datasets, making it a better choice for applications that require high-performance data retrieval.

Q: What are the limitations of using the Google Sheets API v4?

A: The limitations of using the Google Sheets API v4 include:

Dependence on Google Sheets: The Google Sheets API v4 is dependent on Google Sheets, which means that if Google Sheets is down, your application will not be able to retrieve data.
Limited support for custom formulas: The Google Sheets API v4 does not support custom formulas, which means that you will not be able to retrieve data from cells that contain custom formulas.
Limited support for add-ons: The Google Sheets API v4 does not support add-ons, which means that you will not be able to use add-ons to extend the functionality of your application.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the Google Sheets API v4?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the Google Sheets API v4, you can:

Check the API documentation: The Google Sheets API v4 documentation provides detailed information on how to use the API, including troubleshooting tips.
Check the Google Sheets API v4 community: The Google Sheets API v4 community provides a forum where you can ask questions and get help from other developers.
Check the Google Sheets API v4 issues tracker: The Google Sheets API v4 issues tracker provides a list of known issues and bugs, as well as information on how to report new issues.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided a Q&A guide to help you update your Datatables + Highcharts code to work with the Google Sheets API v4. We have covered the main differences between the Google Sheets API v3 and v4, as well as the benefits and limitations of using the Google Sheets API v4. We have also provided troubleshooting tips and resources to help you resolve issues with the Google Sheets API v4.