Sync Google Sheets rows to WordPress posts safely and automatically.

Description

Sheets to Posts lets you manage content in Google Sheets and publish or update posts in WordPress with one click or on a schedule.

No APIs. No complex setup. Just paste your Sheet link and sync.

Features

• Sync Google Sheets to WordPress posts
• Multiple sheets support
• Simple Mode (Markdown formatting)
• Developer Mode (Template with {{tokens}})
• Scheduled sync (15 minutes, hourly, daily)
• Safe updates (never overwrites manual posts)
• Featured image support
• Categories and tags support
• Status control (draft, publish, private, pending, future)

Safety

Sheets to Posts matches posts by exact title.

For safety, the plugin only updates posts it originally created.
It adds a hidden post meta tag:

_s2p_source = sheets_to_posts

If a sheet row matches a post that was NOT created by this plugin, it will be skipped.

Your manual posts will never be overwritten.

Installation

1. Upload the plugin ZIP file through Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
2. Activate the plugin.
3. Go to “Sheets to Posts” in the WordPress admin menu.
4. Add your Google Sheet link.
5. Click Sync.

Quick Start

1. Open your Google Sheet.
2. Click Share and set to: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
3. In WordPress, go to Sheets to Posts.
4. Paste your Google Sheet link.
5. Click Sync.

Required Sheet Columns

Minimum required:

• title
• content (required in Simple Mode)

Optional columns:

• category
• tags (comma separated)
• featured_image (direct image URL)
• status (draft, publish, private, pending, future)
• post_date (or date) for scheduled posts

Example header row:

title | content | category | tags | featured_image | status | post_date

Simple Mode (Markdown)

Use formatting directly inside the content cell:

Heading

Bold text Italic text

• Bullet
• Bullet

Developer Mode

Use tokens in your template:

{{title}}

{{content}}

Price: {{price}}

Any column name can be used as:

{{column_name}}

Status Rules

New posts: If the sheet provides a status, it is used. If blank, the plugin uses your “Default status for NEW posts” setting.

Existing posts: By default, the plugin preserves the current WordPress status. Published posts stay published.

Optional: Enable “Force status from sheet” if you want the sheet to control status on updates.

Scheduled Sync

You can enable automatic syncing:

• Every 15 minutes
• Hourly
• Daily

WordPress scheduled tasks run when your site receives visits, so low-traffic sites may run slightly late.

Sheets to Posts includes a catch-up watchdog to reduce delays.

For exact timing, enable Real Cron (instructions available inside the plugin settings).

Troubleshooting

Posts did not import:

• Check that your sheet is shared as “Anyone with the link → Viewer”.
• Make sure required columns exist.

Posts did not update:

• Titles must match exactly.
• Only posts created by this plugin will update.

Images did not set:

• Ensure the image URL is a direct link to the image file.

Changelog

0.4.1

• Status preservation improvements
• Safe update system with _s2p_source meta tag
• Scheduled sync support
• Catch-up watchdog for low-traffic sites
• Multi-sheet support