Rows Tutorial
Last updated: April 2026
What you'll achieve
After this tutorial, you'll be able to build a live, interactive dashboard in Rows from scratch. I tested this exact workflow, and you'll connect a real data source (like Google Sheets or Airtable), use AI to generate formulas you don't know, create dynamic charts, and publish a shareable web page that updates automatically. In my experience, this is the fastest way to move from a static spreadsheet to a professional, connected data report without any coding. You'll have a tangible, useful project, not just theoretical knowledge.
Prerequisites
- •A free Rows account (sign up at rows.com)
- •A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge recommended)
- •A sample Google Sheet or Airtable base with some data (or we'll use demo data)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Sign Up and Set Up Your Account
Head to rows.com and click 'Sign up free.' I always recommend using your Google account for one-click access—it's faster and manages authentication for future integrations. Once logged in, you'll land on the 'Home' dashboard. Don't get overwhelmed by the template gallery just yet. First, click your profile icon in the top right and go to 'Settings.' Here, under 'Connections,' click 'Add Connection.' Start with Google Sheets. Authorize Rows to access your drive. This single step is what makes Rows powerful. What surprised me was how seamless this is compared to manually exporting CSV files. You're now ready to pull in live data.
Use Google Sign-in to save time and simplify connecting other Google services later.
Step 2: Navigate the Dashboard and Start a New Workbook
Your main workspace is the 'Home' screen. I see it as three key areas: the top navigation bar (for search, notifications, and your avatar), the central template gallery, and the left sidebar showing 'Recent' files and 'Shared with me.' For this tutorial, ignore the fancy templates. Click the big '+ New' button in the top left and select 'Blank Workbook.' This opens a familiar-yet-enhanced spreadsheet interface. The key areas here are: the formula bar (with a magic wand AI icon), the grid itself, and the right sidebar. The sidebar is context-sensitive—it will show 'Cell,' 'Sheet,' or 'Workbook' properties. This is where you'll add charts and controls later.
Bookmark the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' (Cmd/Ctrl + /) page; Rows shortcuts are a huge time-saver.
Step 3: Import Live Data and Use Your First AI Formula
Click on cell A1. In the formula bar, click the small magic wand icon (the AI). In my testing, this is Rows' killer feature. Type: 'Import the top 10 rows from [your Google Sheet name]' or use 'Show me sample sales data.' The AI will write the formula for you, likely using =IMPORTRANGE() or =DEMODATA(). Hit enter. You should see live data populate. Next, let's create a summary. In a cell below your data, click the AI wand again and type: 'Sum the revenue column.' It will generate =SUM(C2:C11). This feels like magic compared to Excel. The data is now alive; refresh your source sheet and watch Rows update automatically.
Be specific with the AI. Instead of 'sum column,' say 'sum the revenue in column C.'
Step 4: Build an Interactive Chart and Dashboard Control
Select your data range, including headers. On the right sidebar, click the 'Add chart' button (the bar chart icon). A chart appears. Click on it, and in the sidebar, you can change the type to Line, Bar, etc. Now, let's make it interactive. Go to the toolbar and click 'Insert' > 'Control' > 'Dropdown.' Place the dropdown above your chart. In the control's settings (right sidebar), for 'Options,' type 'Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4.' Then, click your chart. In the chart's 'Data' settings, find the 'Filter' option and set it to filter your data based on the dropdown's selected value. Instantly, you can click the dropdown to change what the chart shows. This took me minutes versus hours in traditional tools.
Use the 'Duplicate' button on charts and controls to quickly build a consistent dashboard layout.
Step 5: Publish and Share Your Live Dashboard
Your dashboard is useless if it's stuck in your account. Click the blue 'Share' button in the top right. Here, you have two powerful options. First, you can invite collaborators via email (like Google Docs) to edit or view. Second, click 'Publish to web.' This generates a unique, public URL. What surprised me was the granular control: you can publish the entire workbook or just a specific sheet, and you can hide the grid to show only charts. Once published, anyone with the link sees a live, interactive view. They can play with your dropdowns and see the charts update—no login required. This is perfect for client reports or team updates.
Test the published view in an incognito browser window to see exactly what your audience sees.
Step 6: Explore Templates and Advanced Integrations
Now that you know the basics, don't rebuild the wheel. Go back to 'Home' and explore templates. I regularly use the 'SEO Performance' and 'Stripe Revenue' templates. Click one—it opens as a copy. Reverse-engineer it. See how they use formulas like =QUERY() and =IMPORTJSON() to pull from APIs. The real power for teams is in data syncs. In 'Settings' > 'Connections,' connect to Stripe, Salesforce, or Google Analytics. You can then use pre-built connectors in templates to pull live metrics. My stance: start with a template, connect your data, and customize. It's 10x faster than starting blank. This is where Rows truly replaces a stack of manual tools.
Filter templates by your connected apps (e.g., 'Stripe') to see the most relevant starters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Manually copying data into Rows defeats its purpose. Always use =IMPORTRANGE(), =DEMODATA(), or a direct integration to keep data live.
Forgetting to define named ranges for your data sources, making your AI formulas and charts break when you add new rows. Use the 'Data' menu to create them.
Over-designing with too many chart types on one dashboard, creating visual clutter. Stick to 2-3 chart types for a clean, readable report.
Sharing edit access too liberally. Always start with 'Viewer' permissions and upgrade to 'Editor' only for trusted team members who need to modify logic.