Transportation planning can be a time-consuming task. The Route Matrix Google Sheets add-on simplifies this process. Input your starting and ending locations, and the add-on automatically creates a comprehensive distance or time matrix. This tool saves time by automating calculations, allowing for efficient route and schedule optimization.
Getting Started
Creating a Route Matrix
The Route Matrix add-on generates a matrix of distances or times between locations in Google Sheets, following these steps:
Step 1: Enter your starting locations in a column.
Step 2: Enter your ending locations in a row.
Step 3: Click RUN.
Understanding the Route Matrix Output
The add-on provides the distance or time for all route combinations between the specified starting and ending locations.
Configuring Output Options
The Route Matrix add-on allows you to tailor the output to your specific needs:
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Calculate distances in miles or kilometers.
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Choose between distance or time in minutes.
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Specify a departure day and time to factor in expected traffic conditions.
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Select a specific mode of transportation.
- Options include driving, biking, and transit.
The add-on uses the addresses from your Google Sheet and sends them to Google MapsTM to retrieve calculated data, ensuring your data is handled confidentially.
Accepted Location Formats
The add-on accepts a variety of location formats, provided that Google MapsTM can interpret them:
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Latitude / Longitude
- These will be snapped to the nearest road.
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Street address
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Plus Code
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City / Country / Other political boundary
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Point of interest
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Airport
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Park
Using the Run Fast Feature (Premium)
The RUN FAST button provides faster route calculations and can handle matrices with up to 625 values, compared to the standard limit of 20. Additionally, it cleans addresses before returning results. The RUN FAST button is not subject to the same usage limitations as the standard RUN button.
Pricing
Basic use of the add-on is free for searches of up to 10 simultaneous routes. More extensive searches utilize a faster API and are available for $7 per 1,000 searches. Purchase faster searches here or via the RUN FAST button within the add-on. Ensure that the email used for purchase matches your Google account.
Alternative Travel Add-Ons
Consider using TripTally to find the time or distance between pairs of locations or Travel Formulas to access Google Maps with custom functions.
FAQ
How many routes can Route Matrix process?
Route Matrices created with the free RUN button are subject to daily quotas imposed by Google on all add-ons and apps. This can limit run time to 30 seconds per request, as well as the number of free route requests per day, depending on your Google account type.
If you also use Travel Formulas or TripTally, these add-ons share the same Google Maps free quota.
You can purchase additional daily route requests to access the RUN FAST button, which bypasses these limits.
Does TripTally work with Place Chips?
Yes, any locations recognized by Google Maps will work in TripTally. The formatting of the chip does not affect location validity.
How do I solve the Permission Denied error code?
The error message “We’re sorry, a server error occurred while reading from storage. Error code PERMISSION_DENIED.” appears when a user is logged into multiple Google accounts. To resolve this, log out of all Google accounts except one, restart your browser, and relaunch the add-on.
How do I use the add-on with my iPad?
Open your Google Sheet in the Safari web browser instead of Chrome or the Sheets mobile app. If you still do not see the full version of Google Sheets, go to Settings, then Safari, and select Request desktop website. Toggle this setting to on.
Video Tutorials
The Route Matrix add-on offers a streamlined solution for transportation planning directly within Google Sheets.