Google Sheets Integration

Display your Google Sheets spreadsheets on your FamilyCast display with automatic updates. Perfect for chore charts, allowance tracking, meal planning calendars, homework trackers, and any family data that needs organization.

What is Google Sheets Integration?

The Google Sheets integration lets you create and display spreadsheet tables on your FamilyCast display. Sheets automatically update when you edit them, making it perfect for dynamic family information that changes regularly like chores, schedules, and tracking systems.

Why Use Google Sheets for Family Displays?

Visual Organization:

• Tables make information clear
• See everything at a glance
• Easy to compare (who did what, when)
• Color coding for quick understanding

Automatically Updates:

• Make changes from anywhere
• Updates appear within minutes
• No manual uploads
• Always shows current information

Powerful Features:

• Track progress over time
• Add up totals automatically
• Calculate averages and percentages
• Count completions

Great for Families:

• Perfect for chore charts
• Track allowances and rewards
• Schedule coordination
• Homework and study tracking
• Game and competition scoreboards

Family Use Cases

Chore Chart with Tracking

Weekly Chore Assignments:

| Name  | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Points |
|-------|--------|---------|-----------|----------|--------|--------|
| Emma  | ✓      | ✓       | —         | ✓        | ✓      | 4      |
| Jake  | ✓      | —       | ✓         | ✓        | ✓      | 4      |
| Mom   | ✓      | ✓       | ✓         | ✓        | ✓      | 5      |
| Dad   | ✓      | ✓       | ✓         | —        | ✓      | 4      |

Why Sheets Work:

• Everyone can see who's done what
• Track completions with checkmarks
• Auto-calculate points earned
• Color code by completion status
• Update daily as chores get done

Allowance and Rewards Tracker

Money Management:

| Name  | Starting | Earned This Week | Spent | Current Balance |
|-------|----------|------------------|-------|-----------------|
| Emma  | $25.00   | $8.00            | -$5.00| $28.00          |
| Jake  | $18.00   | $6.00            | -$3.00| $21.00          |

Earnings Breakdown:

| Name  | Chores | Bonus Tasks | Extra Credit | Total |
|-------|--------|-------------|--------------|-------|
| Emma  | $5.00  | $2.00       | $1.00        | $8.00 |
| Jake  | $4.00  | $1.00       | $1.00        | $6.00 |

Why Sheets Work:

• Automatic totals
• Track earnings and spending
• Teach money management
• Transparent and fair
• Kids can see progress

Family Meal Plan Calendar

Week's Meals:

| Day       | Breakfast       | Lunch           | Dinner         | Cook  |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|-------|
| Monday    | Cereal          | Sandwiches      | Spaghetti      | Mom   |
| Tuesday   | Eggs & Toast    | Leftovers       | Tacos          | Dad   |
| Wednesday | Oatmeal         | School Lunch    | Chicken & Rice | Mom   |
| Thursday  | Pancakes        | Pizza           | Stir-fry       | Emma  |
| Friday    | Yogurt Parfait  | Sandwiches      | Pizza Night    | Order |
| Saturday  | Big Breakfast   | Lunch Out       | Grilled Burgers| Dad   |
| Sunday    | Brunch at Home  | Leftovers       | Roast Chicken  | Mom   |

Why Sheets Work:

• See whole week at once
• Know who's cooking
• Plan grocery shopping
• Reduce "what's for dinner" questions
• Everyone can add preferences

Homework and Assignment Tracker

Current Homework:

| Student | Subject | Assignment            | Due Date | Status      |
|---------|---------|----------------------|----------|-------------|
| Emma    | Math    | Chapter 5 Problems   | Friday   | In Progress |
| Emma    | English | Book Report          | Monday   | Not Started |
| Jake    | Science | Solar System Project | Wed      | Done ✓      |
| Jake    | Math    | Worksheet Pages 20-22| Tomorrow | Done ✓      |

Why Sheets Work:

• See all assignments
• Track due dates
• Mark completion status
• Color code by urgency
• Parents can monitor progress

Screen Time Tracker

Daily Screen Time Log:

| Name  | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Weekly Total | Limit |
|-------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------|
| Emma  | 45  | 60  | 30  | 60  | 45  | 90  | 75  | 405 min      | 420   |
| Jake  | 60  | 45  | 60  | 30  | 60  | 105 | 90  | 450 min      | 420   |

Why Sheets Work:

• Track actual usage
• Auto-calculate weekly totals
• Compare to limits
• Fair and transparent
• Easy to update daily

Family Game Leaderboard

Competition Tracker:

| Name  | Games Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | Points | Rank |
|-------|--------------|------|--------|-------|--------|------|
| Dad   | 12           | 8    | 4      | 67%   | 245    | 🥇 1 |
| Emma  | 10           | 6    | 4      | 60%   | 198    | 🥈 2 |
| Mom   | 11           | 5    | 6      | 45%   | 187    | 🥉 3 |
| Jake  | 9            | 3    | 6      | 33%   | 145    | 4    |

Why Sheets Work:

• Auto-calculate win percentages
• Track total points
• Rank automatically
• Fun competition
• Everyone can see standings

Reading Challenge Tracker

Summer Reading Goals:

| Name  | Goal | Books Read | Pages | Progress | Reward    |
|-------|------|------------|-------|----------|-----------|
| Emma  | 15   | 8          | 1,245 | 53% ⬜⬜⬛ | Earned $5 |
| Jake  | 12   | 5          | 892   | 42% ⬜⬜⬛ | $3 so far |

Books Completed:

| Name  | Book Title              | Pages | Date Finished |
|-------|------------------------|-------|---------------|
| Emma  | Harry Potter #1        | 309   | June 15       |
| Emma  | Percy Jackson          | 377   | June 22       |
| Jake  | Diary of Wimpy Kid     | 217   | June 18       |

Why Sheets Work:

• Track progress to goal
• Visualize completion
• List accomplishments
• Auto-calculate rewards
• Motivating to see progress

Setting Up Google Sheets Integration

Step 1: Create Your Spreadsheet

1. Go to Google Sheets
2. Click Blank to start new sheet
3. Design your family table:
   • First Row = Headers: Bold column names
   • One Row Per Person/Item: Clear data entry
   • Keep It Simple: 4-7 columns work best
   • Use Colors: Highlight headers or important cells
   • Add Formulas: Auto-calculate totals, averages, etc.

Family Design Tips:

• Bold the header row
• Use family member names in first column
• Add a "Total" or "Points" column
• Color code by status or person
• Keep it readable from distance

Step 2: Share Your Spreadsheet

Make Accessible to Your Display:

1. Click Share button (top-right corner)
2. Click Change under "General access"
3. Select Anyone with the link
4. Keep permissions as Viewer
5. Click Done
6. Click Copy link

Why "Anyone with the link"?

• Your FamilyCast display needs access
• You're not publishing it publicly
• Only people with the link can see it
• Link stays private unless you share it

For Family Editing:

• Share with specific family member emails
• Set to "Editor" so they can update
• Everyone can add checkmarks or update their rows
• Collaborative tracking

Step 3: Add to FamilyCast

1. Open FamilyCast app or dashboard
2. Go to Content Sources → Integrations
3. Tap/click Add Integration
4. Select Google Sheets
5. Paste your spreadsheet link
6. Configure settings:

Required:

• Spreadsheet URL: The link you copied
• Name: Friendly name (e.g., "Chore Chart")

Optional:

• Sheet Name: Specific tab (if you have multiple sheets)
• Show Title: Show spreadsheet name (default: yes)
• Data Range: Specific cells (e.g., A1:F10) or leave blank for all

7. Tap Test Connection to verify
8. Tap Save

Step 4: Add to Your Display

1. Open Layout Editor in FamilyCast app
2. Create new layout or edit existing
3. Add a content area
4. Set Content Type to "Google Sheets"
5. Select your spreadsheet from dropdown
6. Position and resize the area
7. Save layout
8. Activate layout on your display

Layout Ideas:

• Full-screen chore chart
• Chore chart + family photos
• Split-screen: schedule + weather
• Rotating with other content

Configuration Options

Sheet Selection

Show Specific Sheet Tab:

• Enter exact tab name (e.g., "June Chores")
• Good for multi-sheet workbooks
• Display different sheets at different times

Show First Sheet (Default):

• Leave sheet name blank
• Shows leftmost tab
• Simpler setup

Data Range

Show All Data (Default):

• Leave blank
• Shows entire sheet
• Auto-adjusts when you add rows

Show Specific Range:

• Enter cell range (e.g., "A1:F15")
• Good for large sheets
• Focus on just the relevant data

Examples:

• A1:F10 - First 6 columns, 10 rows
• B2:E20 - Skip first column, show rows 2-20

Title Display

Show Title (Recommended):

• Shows spreadsheet name
• Shows sheet tab name
• Helps identify content
• Good when rotating multiple sheets

Hide Title:

• More space for data
• Cleaner look

Creating Effective Family Spreadsheets

Design Principles

Keep It Simple:

• 4-7 columns maximum
• 10-20 rows visible (not too crowded)
• Clear column headers
• One table per sheet

Make It Readable:

• Bold header row
• Larger fonts (12-14pt)
• High contrast (dark text on white)
• Not too much data crammed in

Make It Visual:

• Color code by person
• Use symbols (✓, ✗, ★, 😊)
• Highlight important cells
• Alternating row colors for easier reading

Make It Functional:

• Use formulas for totals
• Auto-calculate percentages
• Count checkmarks
• Show progress bars

Formatting Tips

Header Row:

• Bold text
• Slightly larger font
• Background color (light gray, light blue)
• Centered or left-aligned

Data Cells:

• Clear fonts (Arial, Roboto)
• Left-align text
• Right-align numbers
• Center checkmarks/symbols

Color Coding:

• One color per family member
• Green = complete, Red = incomplete
• Yellow = in progress
• Keep colors simple and consistent

Symbols to Use:

• ✓ (checkmark) - completed
• ✗ (x) - not done
• — (dash) - not applicable
• ★ (star) - bonus/special
• 😊 (emoji) - fun feedback

Useful Formulas

Count Checkmarks:

=COUNTIF(B2:F2,"✓")

Count how many checkmarks in a row (completed chores)

Calculate Total:

=SUM(B2:F2)

Add up numbers in a row (total points, allowance, etc.)

Calculate Percentage:

=B2/B1*100

Show progress as percentage (reading goal, chore completion)

Average:

=AVERAGE(B2:F2)

Average of numbers (average score, average time)

Current Date:

=TODAY()

Shows today's date (automatically updates)

Conditional Formatting:

• Format → Conditional formatting
• Highlight cells based on values
• Green if > 80%, Red if < 50%
• Visual progress indicators

Updating Your Spreadsheets

Making Changes

Easy Updates:

1. Open spreadsheet in Google Sheets
2. Edit cells:
   • Add checkmarks
   • Update numbers
   • Change text
   • Add/remove rows
3. Changes save automatically
4. Display updates within 5-10 minutes

No Extra Steps Needed:

• Don't re-upload
• Don't change settings in FamilyCast
• Don't restart display
• Just edit and it updates!

Daily Updates

Chore Charts:

• Add checkmarks as chores get done
• Update daily
• Clear at start of new week
• Track completion

Allowance Trackers:

• Add earnings when earned
• Subtract spending when spent
• Update balances
• Show current totals

Homework Trackers:

• Add new assignments
• Mark completed
• Remove old assignments
• Keep current week visible

Family Collaboration

Multiple People Can Edit:

1. Share spreadsheet with family members
2. Everyone can update their own rows
3. Kids can add their own checkmarks
4. Parents monitor and verify
5. Teaches responsibility

Editing Tips:

• Assign each person their row
• Use different colors per person
• Set ground rules for editing
• Review changes regularly

Troubleshooting

Spreadsheet Not Showing

Symptoms:

• Blank screen where table should appear
• Error message
• Loading forever

Solutions:

1. Check Sharing Settings:

   • Open spreadsheet in Google Sheets
   • Click Share → Change to "Anyone with link"
   • Ensure set to "Viewer" permissions
   • Copy new link if changed

2. Verify Link in FamilyCast:

   • Go to Content Sources → Your sheet
   • Check URL is correct
   • Click "Test Connection"
   • Update if link changed

3. Check Sheet Name:

   • Verify exact tab name (case-sensitive)
   • Must match exactly
   • Or leave blank for first sheet

4. Check Display Internet:

   • Verify display is online
   • Test other content
   • Restart display if needed

Data Not Updating

Symptoms:

• Old data still showing
• Recent changes not appearing
• Checkmarks not updating

Solutions:

1. Verify Changes Saved:

   • Open spreadsheet in Google Sheets
   • Confirm edits are there
   • Check for "Saving..." indicator
   • Wait for "All changes saved"

2. Wait for Refresh:

   • FamilyCast checks every 5-10 minutes
   • Give it time to update
   • Can take up to 15 minutes

3. Force Manual Refresh:

   • Open FamilyCast app
   • Go to Content Sources
   • Select your spreadsheet
   • Click "Force Refresh"
   • Wait 2-3 minutes

Table Too Small or Hard to Read

Symptoms:

• Text too tiny
• Can't read from couch
• Kids complain they can't see

Solutions:

1. Increase Font Size:

   • Select cells in Google Sheets
   • Increase font size (14-16pt)
   • Bold headers (16-18pt)
   • Test from display distance

2. Make Columns Wider:

   • Double-click column border to auto-fit
   • Manually drag columns wider
   • Remove unnecessary columns
   • Give content room to breathe

3. Reduce Amount of Data:

   • Show fewer rows (top 10-15)
   • Remove columns not needed
   • Use data range to limit
   • Focus on current week only

4. Make Content Area Larger:

   • Edit layout in FamilyCast
   • Increase size of content area
   • Test on actual display

Advanced Family Tips

Mobile Updates

Edit from Phone:

1. Install Google Sheets app
2. Open your spreadsheet
3. Add checkmarks on the go
4. Quick updates anytime

Great For:

• Kids marking chores done
• Quick allowance updates
• On-the-go tracking
• Instant updates

Templates for Common Uses

Chore Chart Template:

| Name | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Total |

Add checkmarks, auto-count with =COUNTIF()

Allowance Template:

| Name | Starting | + Earned | - Spent | = Balance |

Use =SUM() to calculate balances

Schedule Template:

| Time  | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |

Fill in activities, color code by person

Charts and Graphs

Visual Progress:

1. Select data in sheet
2. Insert → Chart
3. Choose chart type (bar, line, pie)
4. Chart updates automatically with data

Great For:

• Progress toward goals
• Comparing family members
• Showing trends over time
• Making data fun and visual

Data Validation

Dropdown Lists:

1. Select cells
2. Data → Data validation
3. Create list (e.g., "Done, In Progress, Not Started")
4. Family picks from dropdown

Benefits:

• Consistent data entry
• Easier to update
• Prevents typos
• Professional look

Conditional Formatting

Auto-Color by Status:

1. Select cells
2. Format → Conditional formatting
3. Set rules:
   • Green if complete
   • Yellow if in progress
   • Red if overdue

Visual Feedback:

• Instant status visualization
• Motivating for kids
• Clear at a glance
• Professional appearance

Privacy and Safety

Family Information

Safe to Display:

• First names only
• Chores and tasks
• Points and rewards
• Schedules (general)
• Games and competitions

Avoid Displaying:

• Full names with last names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Social security numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Passwords or PINs

Sharing Settings

Spreadsheet Sharing:

• Use "Anyone with link" for display access
• Share with family emails for editing
• Don't post link publicly
• Can always revoke access

Display Location:

• Consider if visible through windows
• Think about guests seeing
• Position away from street view
• Keep sensitive info private

Example Family Spreadsheets

Simple Chore Chart

Create this in Google Sheets:

1. Column A: Names (Emma, Jake, Mom, Dad)
2. Columns B-H: Days of week
3. Add ✓ when chore done
4. Last column: =COUNTIF(B2:H2,"✓") for total

Allowance Tracker

1. Column A: Names
2. Column B: Starting balance
3. Column C: Earned this week
4. Column D: Spent
5. Column E: =B2+C2-D2 (new balance)

Weekly Meal Plan

1. Column A: Days of week
2. Column B: Breakfast
3. Column C: Lunch
4. Column D: Dinner
5. Column E: Who's cooking

Next Steps

Related Documentation:

• Google Docs - Display documents
• Google Slides - Show presentations
• Content Library - Organize content
• Layouts - Design your display
• Playlists - Rotate content

Getting Started:

1. Create your first spreadsheet (try a simple chore chart)
2. Add to FamilyCast following steps above
3. Test on your display
4. Teach family how to update
5. Make it a family habit

Free Templates: Download ready-made family spreadsheet templates:

• Chore Chart Template
• Allowance Tracker Template
• Meal Planner Template
• Homework Tracker Template

Need Help?

• Visit FamilyCast Community
• Check Video Tutorials
• Contact Support