---
title: "Connect CodeREADr to Third-Party Tools with CSV Web Links"
description: "#### **Table of Contents** - [1. Excel Desktop](#excel-desktop) - [2. Google Sheets](#google-sheets) - [3. Power BI Desktop](#power-bi-desktop) - [4. Top 25 Platforms That Support CSV Web Links](#top-25-csv-web-links) ## **Connect Barcode Scans to Google Sheets, Excel, Power BI, and More** ###…"
url: "https://www.codereadr.com/knowledgebase/connect-third-party-tools-csv-web-links/"
updated: "2026-08-04"
category: Scans
---

# Connect CodeREADr to Third-Party Tools with CSV Web Links

#### **Table of Contents**

- [1. Excel Desktop](#excel-desktop)
- [2. Google Sheets](#google-sheets)
- [3. Power BI Desktop](#power-bi-desktop)
- [4. Top 25 Platforms That Support CSV Web Links](#top-25-csv-web-links)

## **Connect Barcode Scans to Google Sheets, Excel, Power BI, and More**

### Scan records automatically transferred from CodeREADr servers to third-party spreadsheets, tables, and dashboards supporting CSV Web Links.

[Example of a popular use case: Inventory Audits](https://www.codereadr.com/blog/sync-barcode-scans-to-excel-or-sheets-for-inventory-audits/).

**Notes**:
 1. Scan data associated with each link is updated on our servers every 10 minutes, subject to a load-management system during peak times.
 2. To work as a transfer mechanism, these CSV Web Links are not password-protected by design. You should share URLs only with authorized individuals as needed.

## Generate CSV Download Link

1. Navigate to the **Scans** page after logging into the CodeREADr website.
2. Click **Export Scans** in the top right hand corner.
3. Choose to either generate a fixed (one-time) or On-Demand (repeatedly updated) export.
4. Check the box to Save Share Link.

 ![CSVsharelink](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2026-05-22-154828.png)

## **Excel Desktop **

1. Data tab.
2. Click **Get Data → From Web**.

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Data-fron-web.jpg)

3. Paste the CodeREADr CSV URL into the input box.

4. Click **OK**.

---

#### Load and Transform the Data (Optional)

1. Excel will open **Power Query Editor**.
2. If prompted, choose **Anonymous Access**.
3. Power Query will display a table preview of your CSV.

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/use_show-csv-preview.jpg)

4. Click to insert the scan records into your Excel sheet.

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/use-load_csv.jpg)

#### Enable Auto-Refresh (Optional)

To keep your Excel file updated:

1. Right-click on the imported table.
2. Click **Table > External Data Properties**.

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/use-open-query.jpg)

3. Check:
 - Refresh every \[X\] minutes
 - Refresh data when opening the file

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/use-refresh_2.jpg)

## **Google Sheets**

Create the formula:

=IMPORTDATA("CSV_DOWNLOAD_LINK")

 ![](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/use_sheets_importdata.jpg)

**Note**: The standard auto-refresh for a sheet is 60 minutes based on Google’s settings.

**Alternative: CodeREADr Connector Add-On**
 1. Sync scans to sheets in real-time with the sidebar open.
 2. Sync sheet data to databases on CodeREADr's servers.

- [CodeREADr Connector for Google Sheets Instructions](https://www.codereadr.com/knowledgebase/codereadr-connector-add-on/)
- [CodeREADr Connector on Google Workspace](https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/codereadr_connector/395807542553)

## Power BI Desktop

- ✅ **You can import a CSV Web Link** using:
  - **Home > Get Data > Web**
  - Paste the **CSV URL**
- Power BI Desktop will fetch the data from the URL and let you transform it with Power Query.
- ⚠️ However, **scheduled refreshes will not run** unless the file is published to Power BI Service.

### 🔹 Power BI Service (Web)

- ✅ **Supports automatic/scheduled refresh**, but only **after publishing the report** from Power BI Desktop.
- The web version (PowerBI.com) **relies on the data source being accessible from the cloud**. If the CSV Web Link is publicly accessible (e.g., HTTPS and no login required), scheduled refresh will work.
- To set up:
  1. Create the report in Power BI Desktop using the CSV Web Link.
  2. Publish it to **Power BI Service**.
  3. Configure **Scheduled Refresh** in the **Dataset Settings**.

## **Top 25 Third-Party Platforms That Support CSV Web Links**

- [Here's an AI-generated list of platforms that support CSV Web Links](https://www.codereadr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Top-25-Third-Party-Platforms-That-Support-CSV-Web-Links.pdf). Use AI to help you connect.
- Many other platforms also support CSV Web Links. You can use search or AI to check how to use CSV Web Links with the platform of your choice.