API calls from Excel (2024)

API calls from Excel (2)

Nobody can deny that Microsoft Excel is still a powerful tool even if you know Python, SQL, Javascript… It provides a super-friendly interface, has many functionalities and is a very popular software.

On the other hand, being able to make API calls and process the response provides a new world of endless possibilities. Nowadays many companies give access to their data via certain endpoints.

Why not put these 2 tools together? In this article we’ll explain how to do it.

There are 2 main ways in Excel to do it:

  • Via Visual Basic script
  • Via making a “query” from the data menu

API Call from Visual Basic script

The first thing is enable the “developer” menu. This can be done in File → Options → Customize Ribbon:

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Once this is done we have to open the VBA editor.

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In order to process the JSON response of the API call, we need to add the JsonConverter module, which can be found in the following url: https://github.com/VBA-tools/VBA-JSON/releases, then import JsonConverter.bas into the project. In the VBA Editor, go to File → Import.

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Then we also need to import 2 references into the project from the “Tools” menu.

  • Microsoft XML, v6.0
  • Microsoft Scripting Runtime
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Next we have to create a new module to write the code that will make the api call. Here I present 2 examples:

If you want to save the excel file, remember to use the “xlsm” extension, which allows macros.

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API Call from “New Query”, in “Data” tab

Excel 2016 has a built-in feature that allows to make API calls. Previous versions can also make it, but installing the PowerQuery plugin. To make an API call we must go to the “Data” tab and click on “New Query” → “From Other Sources” → “From Web”.

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Then we click on “Advanced”. Here we put the url, and if credentials are needed, they can be entered as a header.

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API calls from Excel (10)

Hope it was helpful!

API calls from Excel (2024)

FAQs

Can Excel make API calls? ›

In this tutorial, though, we'll just show you the basics to make an API call and display the results in your Excel sheet. We use the collection endpoint to retrieve the complete periodic table. To get started, go to the Data ribbon, click the Get Data button, choose From Other Sources, and From Web.

How to get API response in Excel? ›

Steps
  1. Query the API request of your choice in the tool of your choice. ...
  2. Save the response. ...
  3. Inside Excel, create a new project or sheet, Navigate to 'Data > Get Data'
  4. Select 'Get Data > From File > From JSON' (or file of choice)
  5. Select your file you saved from (2)
  6. The query editor wizard will appear.
Nov 1, 2023

Can Excel pull API data? ›

An API is a 'bridge' through which one app obtains/sends information from/to another app. This means that you can load miscellaneous data from your source app to your Excel workbook using the REST API.

How do you handle a large number of API calls? ›

If you try to make more API calls than allowed, your requests may be throttled, which can slow down the processing. Adjust your code to respect the rate limits and spread the calls over a longer period if necessary. Also, consider implementing retries with exponential backoff for handling temporary issues with the API.

Can API calls be automated? ›

You can automate any API calls. E.g. tests to help QA continuously check a product's quality. Or you can simply create light orchestrations that involve several API calls to perform a particular task on a microservice backend.

Are all API calls in JSON? ›

Not always. API's are methods of communicating between softwares. An APIs that return JSON objects is RESTful API which is type of Web API. There are a lot of APIs for example Microsoft Windows API, HTML5 Web APIs e.t.c With respect to JSON, some APIs return XML (mostly SOAP architecture).

How do I get responses from API? ›

We use the fetch() function to make a POST request to the specified URL (https://api.example.com/users) with the request options. We handle the response using . then() and check if it's successful by accessing the response.

How to use JSON API in Excel? ›

JSON API Tutorial: Excel
  1. Get data from web. In “Data” tab, click on “Get Data” → “From Other Sources” → “From Web”
  2. Paste the API address in URL.
  3. Transform JSON dataset to Table. 3-1. After the dataset in JSON format is loaded in the Power Query Editor, click To Table under the Transform tab. 3-2. ...
  4. View data.

How do I get API response fast? ›

  1. #1. Cache Requests.
  2. #2. Prevent Abuse.
  3. #3. Use PATCH.
  4. #4. Limit Payloads.
  5. #5. Faster Network.
  6. Ensuring Performance With LoadNinja.
  7. Small Steps to Reliable Performance.

How to extract data through API? ›

How to use data extraction API?
  1. Step 1 - Kickstart your journey by signing up! ...
  2. Step 2 - Go through API documentation. ...
  3. Step 3 - Set up the platform. ...
  4. Step 4 - Send an API request. ...
  5. Step 5 - API authentication. ...
  6. Step 6 - Parameterizing requests. ...
  7. Step 7 - Errors handling. ...
  8. Step 8 - Extraction and integration.

What is API key in Excel? ›

API keys let your Spreadsheet.com account exchange information with third-party data sources and applications. Spreadsheet.com allows you to generate API keys for two different use cases: connecting with the REST API, and connecting with Zapier.

How much data can API handle? ›

There is no limit to amount of data that those APIs can return: the bigger query, the longer response time. Add $select= to the URL to return the data for UP TO 1 million rows. Use $top=N to return a sample of the first N rows.

Is there a limit to API calls? ›

An API owner will include a limit on the number of requests or amount of total data a client can consume. This limit is described as an API rate limit. An example of an API rate limit could be the total number of API calls per month or a set metric of calls or requests during another period of time.

Why are API calls limited? ›

API rate limiting is, in a nutshell, limiting access for people (and bots) to access the API based on the rules/policies set by the API's operator or owner. We can think of rate limiting as a form of both security and quality control. This is why rate limiting is integral for any API product's growth and scalability.

Can power automate make API calls? ›

In Power Automate workflows you can call an API using two different ways: HTTP request or Custom Connector. After checking all the connectors, second question you should do: Is my API REST or SOAP? If your API is SOAP you must create a custom connect and you can't use the HTTP request task.

Can you make API calls in VBA? ›

In the latter case, we can have the VBA code send a column of data (ISSN) to an API, pull records related to that data, and populate the other columns with the related metadata. If you don't have the Developer's tab in Excel, you need to use it so you can work with VBA.

What is the difference between VBA and API in Excel? ›

What's the difference between VBA and API? VBA applications process from within the program shell. API applications process while the program shell is closed.

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