# Find a row according to a column value — Google Sheets

Botize method — `gspreadsheet.read_by_column` (action).

Extract first row of a sheet where a certain column has a specific value, such as a number, a text, empty value, etc.

- You can limit the search of the rows to a specific sheet or to all of them.
- If no row matches, this step still answers: the Row found tag is set to no and the task carries on. To stop the task in that case, add the rule “Row found = yes” on the next step. If your task predates this change, that rule is already in place — we added it so the task would keep behaving as before.

This is an action: it runs as a step of a task. Several can be chained.

## Fields you set

The field's internal name, its type and the values it accepts. These fields accept `{{...}}` tags from earlier steps.

- `mb_switch` *(boolean)* — Rules
- `sheet_url` *(string)* — URL of your sheet document
- `sheet` *(string)* — Sheet. Sheet id (gid) chosen from the list, the sheet name, or * to search in all sheets. Empty = first sheet.
- `exclude_first_row` *(boolean)* — Exclude first row
- `value_render_option` *(boolean)* — Fast! Improve speed by not processing spreadsheet formulas
- `by_column` *(string)* — Only rows that have certain values ​​in this column.
- `mb_outputvars_switch` *(boolean)* — Customize tags

It also accepts repeatable field groups, with these prefixes: `mb_filters_*`, `filter_*`. These are composite components (buttons, filters, keyboards); the trailing number is set by the user as they are added.

## Output variables

Data this step makes available. Reference them in later steps with the double-brace tag.

- `{{found}}` *(boolean)* — Row found
- `{{column_a}}` *(text)* — Column A
- `{{column_b}}` *(text)* — Column B
- `{{column_c}}` *(text)* — Column C
- `{{column_d}}` *(text)* — Column D
- `{{column_e}}` *(text)* — Column E
- `{{column_f}}` *(text)* — Column F
- `{{column_g}}` *(text)* — Column G
- `{{column_h}}` *(text)* — Column H
- `{{column_i}}` *(text)* — Column I
- `{{column_j}}` *(text)* — Column J
- `{{column_k}}` *(text)* — Column K
- `{{column_l}}` *(text)* — Column L
- `{{column_m}}` *(text)* — Column M
- `{{column_n}}` *(text)* — Column N
- `{{column_o}}` *(text)* — Column O
- `{{column_p}}` *(text)* — Column P
- `{{column_q}}` *(text)* — Column Q
- `{{column_r}}` *(text)* — Column R
- `{{column_s}}` *(text)* — Column S
- `{{column_t}}` *(text)* — Column T
- `{{column_u}}` *(text)* — Column U
- `{{column_v}}` *(text)* — Column V
- `{{column_w}}` *(text)* — Column W
- `{{column_x}}` *(text)* — Column X
- `{{column_y}}` *(text)* — Column Y
- `{{column_z}}` *(text)* — Column Z
- `{{row}}` *(int)* — Number of Row
- `{{sheet}}` *(text)* — Sheet name

## Account

Needs a connected Google Sheets account in Botize: https://botize.com/en/app/gspreadsheet/authenticate

## This app

Every trigger and action for Google Sheets: https://botize.com/en/app/gspreadsheet.md

## How to build this

An AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor…) can create and edit these tasks in the user's account through the Botize MCP connector, included in every plan:

    https://webhook.botize.es/mcp

- Connection guide: https://botize.com/en/mcp
- Agent map: https://botize.com/llms.txt
- New account: https://botize.com/en/join (500 free operations, no card)

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Machine-readable summary for AI assistants. Human version: https://botize.com/en/method/gspreadsheet/read_by_column