Simplifying the Process of Importing 100,000 Sitemap URLs into Excel or Google Sheets

2 responses to “What’s a straightforward method to load 100,000 sitemap URLs into Excel or Sheets?”

1. Certainly! Importing a large number of URLs from a sitemap into Excel or Google Sheets can be challenging due to constraints with built-in features. However, you can achieve this by breaking down the task into a few manageable steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get all the URLs from your sitemap into Excel or Google Sheets:

   Step-by-Step Guide to Import Sitemap URLs into Excel or Sheets

   Step 1: Obtain the Sitemap File

   First, ensure you have access to the sitemap file, which is usually accessible at [your-website]/sitemap.xml. Download this file to your local computer if it’s small enough, or make sure you have the URL ready for use in applications.

   Step 2: Use an XML to CSV Tool

   Since Excel and Google Sheets handle CSV data more comfortably, we can convert the XML sitemap to a CSV format:

   1. Online Tools: Use an online XML to CSV converter.
   2. Upload your sitemap file or provide the URL.

   3. Convert it to a CSV format. Ensure the converter you’re using can handle large files.

   4. Python Script: If you have access to Python, you can use a simple script with the xml module to parse URLs from the sitemap:
      “`python
      import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET

   # Load the sitemap file
   tree = ET.parse(‘sitemap.xml’)
   root = tree.getroot()

   # Open a CSV file to write the URLs
   with open(‘sitemap_urls.csv’, ‘w’) as f:
   f.write(‘URL\n’)
   for url in root.iter(‘{http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9}loc’):
   f.write(f”{url.text}\n”)
   “`
   – Save and run this script in your Python environment to create a CSV file with your URLs.

   Step 3: Import CSV to Excel or Google Sheets

   • Excel:
   • Open Excel and go to File > Open.
   • Select the CSV file you generated.

   • Follow the import wizard to configure the data to appear correctly.

   • Google Sheets:

   • Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet.
   • Go to File > Import > Upload.
   • Upload the CSV file.
   • Choose the import options that suit your

   Reply

2. Great post! Loading a large number of URLs into Excel can indeed be a challenge, especially with such a high volume as 100,000. One alternative approach you might consider is using Google Sheets’ IMPORTXML function, which allows you to retrieve data directly from web pages, including sitemaps.

   To do this, you would simply input your sitemap URL in the function like so: `=IMPORTXML(“URL_OF_YOUR_SITEMAP”, “//loc”)`. This method can help bypass limitations inherent to Excel’s data import feature and can handle large datasets more effortlessly.

   Also, if you’re comfortable with some scripting, you can utilize Google Apps Script to automate the import process. This could be particularly useful if you need to refresh your data regularly.

   Lastly, remember to check the performance, as importing many URLs might slow down your sheet’s responsiveness. But overall, these methods can significantly simplify the workflow for managing extensive sitemap URLs. Hope this helps!

   Reply