How to Use the =getSelector("URL", "SELECTOR") Function in SheetMagic

The =getSelector("URL", "SELECTOR") function in SheetMagic lets you easily scrape specific data from any webpage. By providing a URL and a selector, you can pull precise information directly into your Google Sheets—perfect for automating data collection.

When to Use This Function

You’d use =getSelector() when you need to extract specific data from a webpage, such as:

• E-commerce Tracking: Scrape product prices, stock status, or reviews.
• News Monitoring: Pull headlines, authors, or publication dates from articles.
• Custom Data Needs: Extract any structured data, like table rows or specific page sections.

By targeting the exact selector for the data you want, you avoid downloading unnecessary information, making your workflows more efficient.

How to Find and Copy a Selector for =getSelector()

To use the =getSelector() function, you need the selector for the element you want to scrape. Here’s how to get it:

1. Open the Webpage:
   • Go to the URL of the webpage you want to scrape.
2. Open the Inspect Tool:
   • Right-click anywhere on the webpage and choose “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element”).
   • This will open the Developer Tools in your browser.
3. Locate the Desired Element:
   • In the “Elements” panel, hover over the HTML lines. This will highlight the corresponding element on the page.
   • Click the element you want to scrape (e.g., product price, headline, or image).
4. Copy the Selector:
   • Right-click the highlighted line of code in the “Elements” panel.
   • Hover over “Copy” in the context menu.
   • Select “Copy Selector” (or “Copy XPath” if needed).
5. Use the Selector with SheetMagic:
   • Paste the copied selector into the =getSelector() function. For example:plaintextCopy code=getSelector("https://example.com", ".product-price span.value")
   • SheetMagic will fetch and display the data in your spreadsheet.

Example Use Case

Imagine you want to track the price of a product:

• URL: https://example.com/product-page
• Selector: .price span.value

Enter the following in your Google Sheet:

plaintextCopy code=getSelector("https://example.com/product-page", ".price span.value")

SheetMagic will retrieve the current price and display it in the cell!

By combining =getSelector() with the ability to copy selectors, SheetMagic gives you complete control over the data you pull into your spreadsheets—saving time and streamlining your workflows.