Smartsheet Connection & OAuth Revocation

GeoMap relies on a secure OAuth 2.0 connection to pull data from your Smartsheet account. Occasionally, this connection can be severed, resulting in "401 Unauthorized" errors or maps that suddenly stop refreshing. Understanding why these disconnections happen is the key to maintaining a permanent, reliable mapping dashboard for your organization.

Why Connections Fail

The most common reasons for an authentication failure include:
- **Manual Revocation:** A user or IT administrator has manually revoked the SmartSyncApp permissions within the Smartsheet account settings.
- **Password Changes:** In some configurations, changing your master Smartsheet password can invalidate existing application tokens for security reasons.
- **Permission Downgrades:** If the user who originally authorized the map is removed from the sheet or their permissions are downgraded (from Admin to Viewer), GeoMap will no longer be able to "Read" the data required to plot the pins.

The 60-Second Reconnection Fix

If you encounter a connection error, do not panic. Your map configuration, custom icons, and filters are all saved. You simply need to "Re-Authorize" the pipeline.
1. **Visit the Dashboard:** Go to the GeoMap administration page for the affected map.
2. **Click Reconnect:** You will see a "Connection Error" alert. Click the "Update Authorization" button.
3. **Authenticate:** Log in to Smartsheet via the secure popup and grant the necessary permissions. The map will immediately begin syncing again.
*Note: We recommend using a "Service Account" for critical enterprise maps. By authorizing the map with a non-person-specific account (e.g., smartsheet-admin@yourcompany.com), you ensure the connection remains active even if individual employees leave the organization.*

SME Strategy: Proactive Connection Monitoring

For high-availability maps used in operations centers, we recommend a weekly "Health Check." Simply open the map once a week to ensure the "Live" data is pulling correctly. If you are using GeoMap webhooks, our system will automatically email the account owner if it encounters consecutive authentication failures, allowing you to fix the connection before anyone in the field notices an issue. This "Early Warning System" is a hallmark of enterprise-grade integration management.