Live Sheets: set up the Versa menu in Google Sheets

Versa Live Sheets exports a Versa report to Google Sheets and adds a Versa menu to the workbook. From that menu, you can refresh the managed report tab, open Live Sheets in Versa, and view information about the connection.

Google requires several permissions before Versa can attach and run the workbook’s menu script. Most personal Gmail users can complete these steps themselves. Google Workspace users may also need help from their Workspace administrator if their organization restricts Apps Script or third-party applications.

What the Versa menu contains

After setup, open the Google workbook in a desktop web browser. The top menu bar includes Versa with these choices:

• Refresh this tab — Requests updated report data for the active Versa-managed tab.
• Authorize refresh access — Opens Google’s authorization step for the signed-in Google user.
• Open in Versa — Opens the Live Sheets screen in Versa.
• About this connection — Explains which tabs Versa manages and where to manage the connection.

Who can set this up?

• In Versa, you need access to the report and the normal Reports permission.
• In Google Sheets, use the Google account connected to Versa and make sure that account can edit the workbook. Google does not run the automatic onOpen menu trigger for a file opened in view-only or comment-only mode.
• For a personal Gmail account, there is no Google Workspace administrator and the “trusted app” step does not apply.
• For a managed Google Workspace account, an administrator may need to allow Apps Script or Versa, depending on the organization’s security policies.

Required setup for the connected Google account

1. Turn on Google Apps Script API access

This is an account-level Google setting. It is separate from the Apps Script API that Versa enables in its own Google Cloud project.

1. Confirm which Google account is connected to Versa. When setup is incomplete, Reports → Live Sheets may show the connected email address in the setup message.
2. In the same browser, sign in to that exact Google account.
3. Open Google Apps Script settings.
4. Turn on Google Apps Script API.
5. Wait a few minutes for Google to apply the change.

This switch is required because Versa creates and updates the script attached to your workbook. Google leaves this access off by default at the account level. Turning it on allows applications you separately authorize to manage Apps Script projects; it does not automatically authorize every application.

2. Let Versa set up the workbook menu

Turning on the Google setting does not automatically repair an export that was created while the setting was off.

1. In Versa, select the same entity used for the report.
2. Go to Reports → Live Sheets.
3. Find the export marked Setup required.
4. Select Set up menu.
5. After Versa confirms setup, return to the Google workbook and reload the browser tab. If necessary, close and reopen the workbook.

If you have not exported a report yet, run the report with the filters you want and select Export to Google Sheet. Complete Google’s consent screen without removing any requested permissions.

3. Authorize refreshing for your Google user

The menu can appear before your Google account has authorized the action that contacts Versa. Each Google user who refreshes from the workbook may need to complete this once.

1. In the Google workbook, select Versa → Authorize refresh access.
2. Select the authorization link shown by Google.
3. Review and allow the requested access.
4. Close the authorization message.
5. Select Versa → Refresh this tab.

If Google says refresh access is already authorized, no further action is needed.

Google Workspace administrator checks

These checks apply only to accounts managed by a Google Workspace organization. They are not required for personal Gmail accounts.

Is marking Versa as a trusted app required?

Not always. Marking Versa as trusted is optional when users can already complete the Google consent screen and the organization allows the Google services requested by Versa.

Administrator action is required when the user sees a message that the app is blocked, access is restricted by the administrator, or the organization does not allow unconfigured third-party apps. In that situation, a Google Workspace administrator must configure Versa under the organization’s API controls.

Google offers two relevant access choices:

• Trusted — Allows the application to request access to all Google Workspace services, including restricted services. This is the simplest option but is broader.
• Specific Google data — A narrower option. The administrator must allow every service requested by Versa, including basic Google sign-in, Google Sheets, selected Google Drive files, and Apps Script project and deployment management.

If your organization uses the narrower option, review all requested services carefully. Omitting one can allow Google sign-in while still preventing workbook creation or menu setup.

How an administrator can allow Versa

1. Sign in to the Google Admin console with an account that can manage Security settings.
2. Go to Security → Access and data control → API controls.
3. Select Manage App Access.
4. Select Configure new app.
5. Search for the Versa Live Sheets application. If more than one result appears, use the OAuth client ID supplied by Versa Support.
6. Select the organizational units or groups that should use Live Sheets.
7. Choose Trusted, or choose Specific Google data and permit all Google services requested by Versa.
8. Review and save the change.

Google notes that administrator changes can take up to 24 hours, although they usually apply sooner. After the policy is active, reconnect or export again in Versa if Google previously blocked the authorization.

Confirm that the Apps Script service is on

Google Workspace includes Apps Script in all editions and normally turns it on by default. It is not usually a plan limitation. However, an administrator can turn it off for an organizational unit or access group. When it is off, script editing and execution—including the onOpen trigger—are blocked.

1. In the Google Admin console, go to Apps → Google Workspace → Drive and Docs.
2. Select Google Apps Script.
3. Confirm that the service is On for the affected user’s organizational unit or access group.
4. Save any change and allow time for it to apply.

This administrator setting is separate from the user’s Google Apps Script API switch at script.google.com/home/usersettings. For a managed account, both must allow access.

Run the onOpen function manually

Normally, Google runs onOpen automatically when an editor opens the workbook. Running it manually is a useful recovery step when the Versa script is present but the menu did not appear. It does not install missing Versa code.

1. Open the affected Google workbook in a desktop web browser using an account with edit access.
2. Select Extensions → Apps Script.
3. In the Apps Script editor, confirm that the project contains Versa code and a function named onOpen.
4. In the function selector near the top of the editor, select onOpen.
5. Select Run.
6. If Google requests authorization, review the account and requested permissions, then complete the authorization. If your organization blocks the request, stop and contact your Google Workspace administrator rather than bypassing the warning.
7. Confirm that the execution completes successfully.
8. Return to the workbook and reload it. The Versa menu should appear in the top menu bar.

If the Apps Script editor does not show the Versa project or Versa code, return to Reports → Live Sheets in Versa and select Set up menu. Running onOpen cannot repair a script that was never attached.

Troubleshooting

• “User has not enabled the Apps Script API” — Sign in to the connected Google account, turn on Google Apps Script API at Apps Script settings, wait a few minutes, then select Set up menu in Versa.
• Google says the app is blocked — A Google Workspace administrator must configure Versa in Security → Access and data control → API controls.
• Extensions → Apps Script is unavailable — Confirm you have edit access and that the Workspace administrator has turned on Google Apps Script for your account.
• The Apps Script project exists, but there is no Versa menu — Reload the workbook, close and reopen it, or run onOpen manually.
• The menu appears, but Refresh this tab asks for permission — Select Versa → Authorize refresh access and complete Google authorization for your user.
• The menu appears, but refresh cannot start — Confirm you selected a tab whose name starts with Versa_, then check the connection under Reports → Live Sheets.
• You are signed into several Google accounts — Confirm that Apps Script settings, the Versa Google connection, and the workbook editor session all use the same account.
• The workbook is view-only or comment-only — Ask the owner for edit access. Google’s automatic onOpen menu trigger requires edit access.
• The workbook is open in the Google Sheets mobile app — Use Google Sheets in a desktop web browser for the custom Versa menu and Apps Script setup.

Before contacting Versa Support

Please include:

• The Google account email connected to Versa.
• Whether the account is personal Gmail or managed by Google Workspace.
• The exact Google or Versa message shown.
• Whether Reports → Live Sheets shows Installed or Setup required.
• Whether Extensions → Apps Script shows the Versa project and onOpen function.
• Whether running onOpen manually succeeds or shows an error.

Google reference information

• Google: Enable script authorization and access
• Google Workspace: Control which apps access Workspace data
• Google Workspace: Turn Apps Script on or off for users
• Google: Apps Script triggers and onOpen