Send MKR1000 Data to Google Sheets

This project allows you to transmit DHT environmental data from your MKR1000 to your own customizable Google Sheet for data logging.

Send MKR1000 Data to Google Sheets

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino MKR1000
Arduino MKR1000
× 1
DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor (4 pins)
DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor (4 pins)
× 1
Jumper wires (generic)
Jumper wires (generic)
× 1
Breadboard (generic)
Breadboard (generic)
× 1

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE
Arduino IDE
Google Sheets
Google Sheets

Story

Part 2: Configuring PushingBox

Pushingbox.com serves as as simple, free, and easy API middleman in allowing our DHT data to be palatable to Google Sheets. The need for using the PushingBox API intermediary is to turn our HTTP transmitted data into Google compliant HTTPS encrypted data. We could attempt to make a non-trivial encryption algorithm to satisfy the standard requirement but using PushingBox is easier, and we are given up to 1,000 requests a day for free. In addition we don’t have to deal with any “Black Box” API’s in which we can input our own parameters, but then get little control over customization, and no real idea of how the function actually works. Below are the steps for configuring Pushingbox to work with our data:

1. Create a PushingBox account using your Gmail.

2. At the top click on “My Services”

3. While now in “My Services” go to the “Add a service” box and click on “Add a service”.

4. The service you will want to create is the last item on the list of services and is called: ”CustomURL, Set your own service !”. Now select this CustomUrl service.

5. A box will open up and ask for three items. Fill them out as below, then hit submit

Name of your CustomURL configuration:

Root URL: This url will start with https://script.google.com… as this is your Google Script address saved from Part 1

Method:

6. After submitting your service you must now create a scenario for the service. To do this select “My Scenarios” at the top of the page.

7. Enter an appropriate name for your scenario in the “Create a scenario or add a device” box. After you name your service click the “add” button to the right.

8. Now it will ask to “Add an action for your scenario” You should now choose the “Add an action to this service” button listed next to the service name you created in the previous step. This assigns your new scenario to your new service.

9. A data box will open asking you for your “Get” or “Post” method (we use the Get method although this seems counter-intuitive). For recording all our DHT data (five data points) into your Google sheet you need to link your variable names listed in your Google App Script to the names listed in our Arduino sketch. Formatting the names correctly in the Pushingbox API will accomplish this linking task. Copy and paste the following string into your box.

?humidityData=$humidityData

amp;celData=$celData

amp;fehrData=$fehrData$ &hicData=$hicData

amp;hifData=$hifData$ 

Note: Statement begins with ” ” to indicate “GET”.

The result should look like as follows, but with your own scenario name and Device ID number:

Make sure to copy your “DeviceID” string, you will need it for both preliminary testing in the next step, and later for the Arduino Sketch in Part 4.

3. Testing The API

Before we move on to the last steep, in which we program the MKR1000 to send our DHT’s data through the web, it would be helpful to test that everything we have done thus far is correct. If we wait to complete the hardware portion then the cause of any errors may be more difficult to track down. Fortunately we have a simple method of testing our code so far. We can just directly enter some hard-coded pseudo-data into our web browsers address bar and check that our Google sheet is being updated correctly. Here is an example of what you can copy and paste into your browsers address bar.

http://api.pushingbox.com/pushingbox?devid=(YOUR-DEVID-HERE)&humidityData=33&celData=44&fehrData=111&hicData=22&hifData=77

If you like you can even re-enter new fake data with different values for subsequent rows, however remember, you only have a 1,000 requests per day from Pushingbox so don’t go crazy! If this procedure did not update your spreadsheet then go back and review Parts 1 -3 of this instructional for errors before attempting Part 4.

Part 4

After confirming you were able to push some hard-coded pseudo-data directly from your browser onto your Google Sheet you are now ready for the next step which involves sending data directly from the MKR1000 to Google Sheets via Pushingbox over WiFi. Before you can upload and run the included Arduino sketch to the MKR1000 you must complete the following three steps.

Hardware

1. Wiring the MKR1000 to the DHT: This is a simple task, especially if using the MKR1000. I recommend you power the DHT with 5 volts, which is available on the MKR1000, listed as 5v. Supposedly the DHT can work on 3.3v but I haven’t found the DHT readings reliable at the lower voltage. You have the option of using a number of different pins for inputting the data from the DHT to the MKR1000, but in my sketch I use Pin 5 the which maps to Pin D5 on the MKR1000 on the top of the board.

Software(1)

2. There are a few steps to setting up your Arduino IDE to work with your MKR1000. These steps include downloading two libraries and configuring the Arduino IDE (1.6.4 or later) with the correct MRK1000 Board package (Tools–>Board–>Boards Manager). Many of you will have already installed all the software you need, for those that have not, below are links to retrieve the needed libraries and the MKR1000 board support package. Also note I had to use a previous version of the MKR1000 Board package as the latest MKR1000 board support package did not work correctly. I’m hoping this problem has been resolved by the time you read this.

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/WiFi101

The two required libraries for the sketch:

Software(2)

3. You are now ready for the final step of the project, you need to copy and paste the included Arduino sketch, customize it for your device, and then upload the sketch onto your MKR1000. The sketch also relays serial output at 9600 baud so you can monitor the data getting sent via WiFi. The three fields on the Arduino sketch you must customize are:

A) Your WiFi name

B) Your WiFi Password

C) Your Pushing box Device ID (devid)

That’s it, you’re done! If everything was completed correctly your output will look something like the picture below:

Custom parts and enclosures

other data

A respository of wireless projects for my course on Udemy.com and Hackster.io — Read More

Schematics

Code

MKR1000 to Google Sheets via PushingBox using th DHT

Arduino

This Arduino Sketch pushes data via WiFI to pushing box for encryption then on to PushingBox to log that data to your Google Sheet
//-----------------------------------------------
//This sketch is combined from Adafruit DHT sensor and tdicola for dht.h library
// https://learn.adafruit.com/dht/overview
// https://gist.github.com/teos0009/acad7d1e54b97f4b2a88
//other Authors Arduino and associated Google Script:
//Aditya Riska Putra
//Ahmed Reza Rafsanzani
//Ryan Eko Saputro
//See Also:
//http://jarkomdityaz.appspot.com/
//
//ELINS UGM
//
//Modified for Hackster.io project for the MKR1000 
//by Stephen Borsay(Portland, OR, USA)
//Since Arduino can't https, we need to use Pushingbox API (uses http)to run 
//the Google Script (uses https). Alternatly use Ivan's SecureWifi encryption


#include <WiFi101.h>
#include "DHT.h"

#define DHTPIN 5    // what pin we're connected to, pin1 is 5th pin from end

// Uncomment whatever DHT sensor type you're using!
#define DHTTYPE DHT11  // DHT 11
//#define DHTTYPE DHT21  // DHT 21
//#define DHTTYPE DHT22  // DHT 22

DHT dht(DHTPIN,DHTTYPE);

const char WEBSITE[] = "api.pushingbox.com"; //pushingbox API server
const String devid = "YOUR_DEVICEID"; //device ID on Pushingbox for our Scenario

const char* MY_SSID = "YOUR SSID";
const char* MY_PWD =  "YOUR WiFi PASSWORD";


int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;
// if you don't want to use DNS (and reduce your sketch size)
// use the numeric IP instead of the name for the server:
//IPAddress server(74,125,232,128);  // numeric IP for Google (no DNS)


void setup() {
  //Initialize serial and wait for port to open:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) 
  {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
  }

  // check for the presence of the shield:
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    // don't continue:
    while (true);
  }

  // attempt to connect to Wifi network:
  while (status != WL_CONNECTED) 
  {
    Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
    Serial.println(MY_SSID);
    //Connect to WPA/WPA2 network.Change this line if using open/WEP network
    status = WiFi.begin(MY_SSID, MY_PWD);

    // wait 10 seconds for connection:
    delay(10000);
  }
  
  Serial.println("Connected to wifi");
  printWifiStatus();
  
}

void loop() {

   // Wait between measurements.
  delay(10000);

  //prefer to use float, but package size or float conversion isnt working
  //will revise in future with a string fuction or float conversion function

  int humidityData = dht.readHumidity();
  // Read temperature as Celsius (the default)
  int celData = dht.readTemperature();
  // Read temperature as Fahrenheit (isFahrenheit = true)
  int fehrData = dht.readTemperature(true);

  // Check if any reads failed and exit early (to try again).
  if (isnan(humidityData) || isnan(celData) || isnan(fehrData))
  {
    Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
    return;
  }

  // Compute heat index in Fahrenheit (the default)
  int hifData = dht.computeHeatIndex(fehrData, humidityData);
  // Compute heat index in Celsius (isFahreheit = false)
  int hicData = dht.computeHeatIndex(celData, humidityData, false);

  Serial.print("Humidity: ");
  Serial.print(humidityData);
  Serial.print(" %\t");
  Serial.print("Temperature: ");
  Serial.print(celData);
  Serial.print(" *C ");
  Serial.print(fehrData);
  Serial.print(" *F\t");
  Serial.print("Heat index: ");
  Serial.print(hicData);
  Serial.print(" *C ");
  Serial.print(hifData);
  Serial.println(" *F\n");

Serial.println("\nSending Data to Server..."); 
  // if you get a connection, report back via serial:
WiFiClient client;  //Instantiate WiFi object, can scope from here or Globally

    //API service using WiFi Client through PushingBox then relayed to Google
    if (client.connect(WEBSITE, 80))
      { 
         client.print("GET /pushingbox?devid=" + devid
       + "&humidityData=" + (String) humidityData
       + "&celData="      + (String) celData
       + "&fehrData="     + (String) fehrData
       + "&hicData="      + (String) hicData
       + "&hifData="      + (String) hifData
         );

      // HTTP 1.1 provides a persistent connection, allowing batched requests
      // or pipelined to an output buffer
      client.println(" HTTP/1.1"); 
      client.print("Host: ");
      client.println(WEBSITE);
      client.println("User-Agent: MKR1000/1.0");
      //for MKR1000, unlike esp8266, do not close connection
      client.println();
      Serial.println("\nData Sent"); 
      }
}


void printWifiStatus() {
  // print the SSID of the network you're attached to:
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());

  // print your WiFi shield's IP address:
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);

  // print the received signal strength:
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
}

Google Script for receiving wireless data in HTTPS format

JavaScript

Paste this into the Script Editor of your Google Sheet to receive your Wireless data. Remember it has to be encrypted/security certificate HTTPS format, that’s why I’m using PushingBox
//-----------------------------------------------
//Originally published by Mogsdad@Stackoverflow
//Modified for jarkomdityaz.appspot.com
//Modified for Hackster.io by Stephen Borsay
//-----------------------------------------------
/*

GET request query:

https://script.google.com/macros/s/<gscript id>/exec?celData=data_here
----------------------------------------------------------------------

GScript, PushingBox and Arduino/ESP8266 Variables in order:

humidityDat
celData
fehrData
hicData
hifData
----------------------------------------------------
*/


/* Using spreadsheet API */

function doGet(e) { 
  Logger.log( JSON.stringify(e) );  // view parameters

  var result = 'Ok'; // assume success

  if (e.parameter == undefined) {
    result = 'No Parameters';
  }
  else {
    var id = '<YOUR_SPREADSHEET_URL_HERE';//docs.google.com/spreadsheetURL/d
    var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.openById(id).getActiveSheet();
    var newRow = sheet.getLastRow() + 1;
    var rowData = [];
    //var waktu = new Date();
    rowData[0] = new Date(); // Timestamp in column A
    
    for (var param in e.parameter) {
      Logger.log('In for loop, param='+param);
      var value = stripQuotes(e.parameter[param]);
      //Logger.log(param + ':' + e.parameter[param]);
      switch (param) {
        case 'humidityData': //Parameter
          rowData[1] = value; //Value in column B
          break;
        case 'celData':
          rowData[2] = value;
          break;
        case 'fehrData':
          rowData[3] = value;
          break;
        case 'hicData':
          rowData[4] = value;
          break;
        case 'hifData':
          rowData[5] = value;
          break;
        default:
          result = "unsupported parameter";
      }
    }
    Logger.log(JSON.stringify(rowData));

    // Write new row below
    var newRange = sheet.getRange(newRow, 1, 1, rowData.length);
    newRange.setValues([rowData]);
  }

  // Return result of operation
  return ContentService.createTextOutput(result);
}

/**
* Remove leading and trailing single or double quotes
*/
function stripQuotes( value ) {
  return value.replace(/^["']|['"]$/g, "");
}

PushingBox URL String (for HTTPS glue)

HTML

This is your string to connect your Arduino/MKR1000 variable names being transmitted to Google Sheets with the exact same names. Using PushingBox as a security enabling intermediary RESTfully.
?humidityData=$humidityData$&celData=$celData$&fehrData=$fehrData$&hicData=$hicData$&hifData=$hifData$

About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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