Connect a service to Zapier

How to run a calculation of your service as a step in a Zap: the service URL, the Calculate action, the input fields, and what comes back.

What you get

The SpreadAPI app for Zapier has one action, Calculate. It sends values from earlier steps of your Zap to your service and returns the calculated results as named fields that later steps can use: in an email, a CRM record, a document or a spreadsheet row.

The input fields are built from your service. Each input becomes a field with its title, its type and, where set, its list of allowed values.

Before you start

• The service must be published. Until then the setup page says "Publish the service before you connect it to Zapier."
• If the service requires a token, have a token ready. A token is shown only once, when it is created; if you no longer have it, create a new one under API → Access (Zugriff). See Tokens and access.

Get the service URL

1. Open your service and open API → Automation → Zapier (Automatisierung).
2. Under Service URL for Zapier (Service-URL für Zapier), click Copy (Kopieren).

The address looks like this:

https://spreadapi.io/d/YOUR_SERVICE_ID

If the service requires a token, add it to the copied address before you paste it into Zapier:

https://spreadapi.io/d/YOUR_SERVICE_ID?token=YOUR_TOKEN_HERE

Set up in Zapier

The names of Zapier's own menus are given as Zapier shows them.

1. Add a SpreadAPI action to your Zap. In the Zap editor add an action step, search for SpreadAPI and choose the event *Calculate*.
2. Connect with the service URL. When Zapier asks for an account, choose *Connect a new account* and paste the address into Service URL. Zapier tests it and shows the name of your service.
3. Fill in the fields. The service's inputs appear as fields: lists for allowed values, number fields, yes/no fields. Enter values or map them from earlier steps.
4. Test and turn on. Run the test: the results come back as named fields for later steps. Then publish the Zap.

If you cannot find the SpreadAPI app in Zapier, write to support@spreadapi.io; see Contact support.

Good to know

• One connection, one service. Each Zapier connection points at one published service. Add a connection for every further service.
• Percentages are decimals. Send 5% as 0.05. Percentage fields carry a hint. See Percentages and formats.
• Results are named fields. They come back under the names of your outputs, with the output's title as label, ready to map into any later step.
• Required and optional. Required inputs are marked as required in Zapier. A field you leave empty is not sent, so the service uses the input's default.
• After changes to the service. When you add, rename or remove inputs or outputs and publish again, open the Zap step and refresh its fields, then test the step again.

When something goes wrong

Limits

• The app offers an action. It does not offer a trigger: a Zap cannot start because something happened in SpreadAPI.
• Each run of the action is one call of your service. It counts toward the calls of your plan, and a service takes at most 1,000 calls per minute. See Call limits.
• An output that is a cell range comes back as one field that holds the whole range.

Related topics

• n8n and Power Automate
• Other tools over HTTP — for Webhooks by Zapier or any tool with an HTTP step
• The discovery address

For developers and agents

How the action works:

• The input fields are read from the service's discovery address. Field key = input name, label = input title, type = number, boolean or string, choices = the input's allowed values, default = the input's default.
• On run, the action calls the service with {"inputs": {…}} and sends the token from the service URL as Authorization: Bearer.
• The result is one flat object: { "<output name>": <value>, … }.
• If the service refuses the call, the step fails with the service's message.

FAQ

How do I use my service in a Zap?

Add an action step, search for SpreadAPI, choose *Calculate* and connect with the address from API → Automation → Zapier. Then fill in the input fields and test the step.

Where do I find the service URL for Zapier?

In your service under API → Automation → Zapier, in the field Service URL for Zapier. It has the form https://spreadapi.io/d/YOUR_SERVICE_ID.

My service needs a token. Where do I enter it in Zapier?

Add it to the service URL before you paste it into the connection: https://spreadapi.io/d/YOUR_SERVICE_ID?token=YOUR_TOKEN_HERE. Zapier has no separate token field for SpreadAPI.

I cannot find SpreadAPI in Zapier. What now?

Write to support@spreadapi.io and say that you want to connect a service to Zapier. Until then you can call the service with an HTTP step; see Other tools over HTTP.

Zapier says "Service not found or not published". Why?

The service behind the URL is not published, or the address is incomplete. Publish the service, copy the address again and reconnect.

Zapier says the token was rejected. What do I do?

The token in the service URL is wrong, expired or revoked. Create a new token under API → Access and reconnect with the new address.

How do I use the results in later steps?

After a successful test, every output of your service is available as a field with the output's title. Map these fields into later steps like any other Zapier data.

I added an input to my service. Why is it missing in Zapier?

Zapier reads the published version. Publish the service again, then refresh the fields of the Zap step and test it again.

Can I connect several services to Zapier?

Yes. Each connection points at one service, so add one connection per service, each with its own service URL.

Can a Zap start when my spreadsheet result changes?

No. The SpreadAPI app has the action Calculate and no trigger. Start the Zap with another app or a schedule and let SpreadAPI calculate in a later step.

As an agent, what does the Calculate action return?

One flat object keyed by output name, for example {"total": 1190, "vat": 190}. Input keys are the input names; percentages are decimals.