For any number of reasons, you may want to customize visibility of your spreadsheets. Here are some options with Google Sheets.
Method 1:
Use the IMPORTRANGE Formula - this formula replicates and updates data from one spreadsheet to another as you add, delete, and make any other changes to the original spreadsheet.
This option is useful if you don't want your client, department head, or various other individual to have access to your original spreadsheet.
Think of
IMPORTRANGEas a mirror casting the same reflection of your own spreadsheet where no one can make any edits.To learn how to use the
IMPORTRANGEformula, read this guide or follow along in the video below.
Method 2:
Use Protect Sheets and Ranges - this option will protect content (complicated formulas, raw data resources, a series of calculations) in your spreadsheet by preventing intentional edits and unintentional changes by those who have access to your Google Sheet.
This option is useful is your client, department head, or various other individual needs access to a certain portion of a spreadsheet to collaborate, but doesn't need access to all tabs or cells.
Think of Protect Sheets and Ranges as a child-lock to formulas you don't want being altered or for certain tabs that have no use to your spreadsheet collaborator.
To learn how to use Protect Sheets and Ranges, read this guide or follow along in the video below.
Method 3:
Publish to Web - this option allows you to send a new URL to a client or stakeholder, and allows them to see specific or all of the contents of your spreadsheet - without being able to edit it.
This option is useful if you want to turn your spreadsheet into a live dashboard with only the metrics that matter to your client
To learn how to Publish to Web, read this guide or follow along in the video below