Google Sheets Error: "Exception: Service Timed Out: Spreadsheets" or "Service Spreadsheets timed out when accessing document"

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.

  1. PMA must wait for all formulas in a sheet to calculate before executing its queries.
  2. When there are too many time-consuming formulas, it can lead to a timeout error.
  3. 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:
  1. Try running your report again.
  2. 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. 
  1. Create a new sheet in your spreadsheet for raw PMA data.
  2. Set up your report to load data into this new sheet.
  3. Create another sheet for your formulas.
  4. In the formula sheet, write your formulas referencing the raw data sheet.
  5. Refresh your PMA data in the raw data sheet when needed.

By adopting this two-sheet approach, you can effectively bypass the timeout error.



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