Google Fusion Table - Geocode... grayed out

Question

I am following a tutorial on Lynda.com. I have imported exercise data from an Excel Spreadsheet into a Google Spreadsheet and now I'm trying to create a fusion table.

The spreadsheet contains only two columns (Gas Station Name and Address).

According to the tutorial, all addresses should be highlighted yellow, because they need to be Geocoded.

But when I follow the exact steps and go to File / Geocode... that option is grayed out.

I've noticed that the tutorial is a little dated and Google Drive has changed a bit but for the most part the functionality is still there. So, how to Geocode now with the latest version?

Answer 1

Using the "hint" I got from geocodezip I deleted everything and started from the beginning, looking for any posibility to change the "Address" column have the type "Location" and I found it. Here are the steps to follow for enabling Geocode from the very beginning:

Step 1) Create a new Google Spreadsheet:

Step 2) Import the Excel Spreadsheet.

Step 3) Upload the Excel Spreadsheet (if you haven't already).

Step 4) Select Replace Spreadsheet to import.

Step 5) Click the Import button.

Now you have a new Google Spreadsheet with imported data.

Step 6) Create a new Google Fusion Table.

Step 7) Select Google Spreadsheets to import the data from the newly created Google Spreadsheet.

Step 8) Select the spreadsheet.

Step 9) Click Select button and WAIT!!!!

Step 10) When the table appears, click the Next button.

Step 11) Accept the defaults and select Finish.

Now, you have a new Google Fusion Table.

------------------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ---------------------------------------------------

This is where you change a column to enable Geocoding!!

Step 12) With the Google Fusion Table opened, click on Edit and select Change columns.

Step 13) From the popup window, select the column to geocode and change its type to Location.

Step 14) Select Save and the Fusion Table will now display with the address column highlighted in yellow indicating they need to be Geocoded.

Step 15) Select File and Geocode...

Step 16) Select the Location column to geocode and click the Begin geocoding button.

The geocoding is in progress.

When complete, click the browser refresh and the yellow will be gone. This means that the column has been geocoded and can now be mapped.

Step 17) If map tab is not there already, click on the + tab and select Add map.

And the map will display: