How to configure Webhooks

What is a Webhook?

Think of a webhook as a doorbell for your apps. When something happens in XLPrompt (like converting Excel data to JSON), it can automatically "ring the doorbell" of another app by sending the data there instantly.

Why Use Webhooks with XLPrompt?

XLPrompt's webhook feature lets you automate what happens after you convert your Excel data to JSON. Instead of manually copying and pasting data into other tools, webhooks send it automatically.

Common Use Cases

✅ Send data to AI tools - Automatically process your Excel data with ChatGPT, Claude, or custom AI models ✅ Update databases - Push converted data directly into Airtable, Google Sheets, or your database ✅ Trigger workflows - Start automated processes in your business tools ✅ Log and track - Keep records of all data conversions in your CRM or project management tool ✅ Notify teams - Send Slack/Teams messages when data is processed

Webhook Integration with No-Code Tools

The best part? You don't need to be a programmer! Popular no-code automation platforms make it easy to receive data from XLPrompt:

Popular No-Code Platforms

All of these platforms provide a webhook URL that you can paste into XLPrompt's settings.

How to Set Up Webhooks in XLPrompt

Step 1: Get Your Webhook URL

First, create a webhook in your automation platform:

Example: Pabbly Connect

Create a new workflow
Select "Webhook" as the trigger
Copy the webhook URL

Step 2: Configure XLPrompt

Open XLPrompt settings
Go to the "Webhook" tab
Check "Enable Webhook Integration"
Paste your webhook URL
Click "Save & Close"

Step 3: Test the Connection

Click the "Test Webhook" button in settings
Check your automation platform - you should see a test message arrive
If successful, you're ready to go!

Advanced Configuration

Authentication (Optional)

Some webhooks require authentication for security:

Header Name: The authentication header (e.g., Authorization, X-API-Key)
Header Value: Your secret token or API key (e.g., Bearer abc123xyz)

Example:

Header Name: X-API-KeyHeader Value: your-secret-key-here

Response Output Options

Choose where XLPrompt shows the webhook response:

Show in MessageBox: Simple popup with success/error message (default)
Create New Sheet: Response appears in a new Excel worksheet
Output to Selected Cell: Response goes into the cell you selected

Timeout Settings

Timeout (seconds): How long to wait for a response (default: 30 seconds)

Increase for slow APIs or complex processing
Range: 1-300 seconds (5 minutes max)

Understanding the Data Format

XLPrompt sends your Excel data as JSON (a universal data format that all modern tools understand).

Example: What Gets Sent

When you select this Excel data:

Name

Age

City

Alice

NYC

Bob

XLPrompt sends this JSON:

json{  "data": [    {"Name": "Alice", "Age": 28, "City": "NYC"},    {"Name": "Bob", "Age": 35, "City": "LA"}  ]}

You can also include:

Custom prompts: Instructions for AI processing
Context: Additional information about the data
Metadata: Workbook name, sheet name, timestamp, etc.

Troubleshooting

❌ "Webhook request failed"

Possible causes:

Invalid webhook URL - double-check you copied it correctly
Webhook expired - some platforms have temporary URLs
Network connection issue - check your internet

Solution: Click "Test Webhook" to verify the URL works

❌ Timeout Error

Possible causes:

Webhook endpoint is slow to respond
Complex processing taking too long

Solution: Increase timeout in settings (30-60 seconds usually works)

❌ Authentication Failed

Possible causes:

Wrong header name or value
Expired API key

Solution: Verify authentication details with your platform's documentation

Security Best Practices

Keep your webhook URLs private - They're like passwords for your automations
Use authentication when available - Adds an extra security layer
Monitor usage - Check your automation platform for unexpected activity

Last updated 25 days ago