Google Sheets Error: "Exception: Service Timed Out: Spreadsheets" or "Service Spreadsheets timed out when accessing document"
When using the Power My Analytics spreadsheets add-on in Google Sheets, you may encounter a timeout error that prevents your reports from refreshing. This guide will help you understand the cause of this error and provide a straightforward solution to get your reports running smoothly again.
Error
"Exception: Service Timed Out: Spreadsheets"
"Exception: Service Spreadsheets timed out when accessing document with id"
Cause
This error may occur when your spreadsheet contains a large number of complex formulas.
- PMA must wait for all formulas in a sheet to calculate before executing its queries.
- When there are too many time-consuming formulas, it can lead to a timeout error.
- This issue originates from Google Sheets limitations, not from the PMA add-on itself.
Solution
First, go to the "PMA Configuration" tab of your spreadsheet and look at the "Error" column.
If there is any error message present:
- Try running your report again.
- If the error remains, please contact us by submitting a support ticket.
If no error messages are present, the timeout error may be caused by a spreadsheet using a large number of complex formulas. If you're using many formulas in your spreadsheet, we recommend implementing a two-sheet strategy: Load your report data into a raw data sheet that doesn't use any formulas, then create a second sheet with your formulas, making sure that the formulas reference the data from the first sheet.
- Create a new sheet in your spreadsheet for raw PMA data.
- Set up your report to load data into this new sheet.
- Create another sheet for your formulas.
- In the formula sheet, write your formulas referencing the raw data sheet.
- Refresh your PMA data in the raw data sheet when needed.
By adopting this two-sheet approach, you can effectively bypass the timeout error.
Still having issues?
Send us a ticket and we will get back to you.
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