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IMPORTXML

The IMPORTXML function in Google Sheets allows you to import data from various structured data types, including XML, HTML, CSV, TSV, RSS, and ATOM XML feeds. This powerful function simplifies the process of extracting specific data from a given webpage or dataset. Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more about its syntax and usage.

Function Syntax and Parameters

Syntax: IMPORTXML(url, xpath_query)

Parameters:

  • url: The URL of the webpage or dataset from which you want to import data.
  • xpath_query: The XPath query used to specify the data elements you want to extract.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

  1. Importing data from a webpage:

    • Example: `=IMPORTXML("https://example.com", "//div[@class='content']")
    • Result: The function will extract the content of all HTML div elements with the class "content" from the specified webpage.

  2. Importing data from an XML feed:

    • Example: `=IMPORTXML("https://example.com/feed.xml", "//item/title")
    • Result: The function will extract the title of all items in the specified XML feed.

Use Cases and Scenarios

  1. Web Scraping: Extract specific data from a webpage for further analysis.
  2. Data Integration: Import data from external sources into your Google Sheets for reporting or processing purposes.
  3. Automated Data Updates: Retrieve and refresh data from live feeds or webpages automatically.

Related Functions

  • IMPORTHTML: Import data from HTML tables or lists.
  • IMPORTDATA: Import data from a CSV or TSV file.
  • IMPORTFEED: Import data from an RSS or ATOM XML feed.

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