Google Sheets

OverviewCopy Anchor Link

Evo Localization supports importing Google Sheets into project assets in Edit Mode, pulling text updates into memory at runtime, and pushing local keys and translations back to Google Sheets from the editor.

Google Sheets sync handles text and optional key descriptions. Audio clips and sprites remain local Unity asset references.

Setup GuideCopy Anchor Link

Pull into Project AssetsCopy Anchor Link

Outside Play Mode, click Pull in Localization Settings. The pull window provides:

With removal disabled, pulls merge new and existing keys while retaining local keys missing from the sheet. Existing translations for languages without a matching sheet column are retained. An empty cell in a matching language column deliberately replaces its text with an empty string. Audio and sprite references on retained entries are preserved.

All configured tables must download and validate successfully before project assets change. Changes support Unity Undo. Cancel Sync cancels an editor sync in progress.

Runtime UpdatesCopy Anchor Link

For Continuous mode, Update Interval (sec) defaults to 300 seconds and has a minimum of 30 seconds. The delay uses unscaled time.

Runtime pulls keep data in memory and do not modify language or table assets. Bundled content is available while downloading. Each successful table is applied independently; failures or cancellation retain previously valid data. Missing keys and language columns retain their existing values, while empty cells overwrite text. With fallback enabled, an empty translation can still display the default language's value.

Localized Objects refresh automatically when pulled data changes, except those using OnDemand. Custom integrations listening to LocalizationManager.OnLanguageSet also receive a refresh notification even when the selected language has not changed.

Scripting APICopy Anchor Link

The handler is an instance property: LocalizationManager.Instance.GoogleSheets. It exists when Google Sheets was enabled during manager initialization.

using UnityEngine;
using Evo.Localization;

public class PullTranslations : MonoBehaviour
{
    public void PullNow()
    {
        // Initialize the manager if it has not been used yet.
        if (!LocalizationManager.IsLocalizationAvailable())
            return;

        var sheets = LocalizationManager.Instance.GoogleSheets;
        if (sheets != null)
            sheets.Pull();
    }
}

For normal lookups, use LocalizedObject.GetString("UI", "menu_play") or the manager's content methods so bundled and downloaded data are resolved together.

CachingCopy Anchor Link

The runtime cache lasts for the current session and is not saved to disk. Each new pull makes fresh requests; unchanged CSV does not trigger a redundant content refresh. In Continuous mode, pulling resumes after the update interval when the cache is cleared.

Push to Google SheetsCopy Anchor Link

Push is available outside Play Mode and writes local project data to the configured sheet tabs.

1. Click Push in Localization Settings.
2. Use the window's OAuth Playground link to obtain a short-lived access token with the https://www.googleapis.com/auth/spreadsheets scope. The account must have edit access, and the Sheets API must be enabled for the token's project.
3. Paste the token into Access Token. It stays in editor memory and is not saved in assets or builds.
4. Choose Include Descriptions to write the description column. The push window enables this by default.
5. Click Review and Push, check the listed spreadsheet and tables, then confirm Push.

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

• Pull is disabled: Check the integration toggle, spreadsheet value, registered languages, and at least one valid table GID. Duplicate table IDs or GIDs also prevent sync.
• CSV/header error: Check sharing permissions and that the first row begins with Key and contains a registered language ID. A sign-in page is not valid CSV.
• Pull failed: Check the handler's Last Error in Play Mode or the editor sync status. Requests time out after 30 seconds, reject responses above 8 MiB, and retry transient network/server failures up to twice.
• Push failed: Check the token, its write scope, account edit access, and Sheets API configuration. Obtain a new token if it expired.
• Values appear unchanged: Check for empty cells triggering language fallback, missing language columns retaining existing data, or an OnDemand object needing UpdateContent().