If you want to follow along with the sheet I used, you can access it here. The link will prompt you to create a copy of the spreadsheet and accompanying Apps Script file.

What is an Image Lightbox?

image thumbnails in a spreadsheet

An image lightbox is what we call it when we hover over or click on an image and it pops up into a bigger version on-screen.

It’s something we’re used to seeing on websites, and it gives things a nice, professional touch when done well.

What about in a spreadsheet, though? 🤔

Well, we’ve got two versions of a solution:

1. Using built-in functions to display a larger version in a larger cell.
2. Using Apps Script to actually create a popup box on top of our spreadsheet.

As a bonus to the first solution, we’ll also include optional Apps Script to make things a little smoother. More on that below 😉.

As usual, here's a walkthrough video where I go through the whole process:

Image Popup With Built-In Functions

First, we need images in cells. From the top menu, Insert - Image - Insert image in cell will do the trick for this.

inserting image in spreadsheet cell

Next, we need to merge some cells together so that there’s a larger container that will hold our larger picture after the next step.

You can use one cell and change the width and height of it, but in my example sheet, the “lightbox” area is sharing rows with the rest of the data so I didn’t want to do that.

a large range of merged cells

In the column next to my image thumbnails, I’ve put checkboxes by selecting Data - Data validation - Criteria: Checkboxes from the top menu.

This will let us select which image to popup in our lightbox area.

data validation in google sheets

I’ve named the range A2:A11 as pics and the range B2:B11 as checkboxes to allow for easier readability in the function we’ll write next.

named ranges in google sheets

Now all that remains is one XLOOKUP() function to put inside our lightbox range.

=XLOOKUP(TRUE,checkboxes,pics,"") is the function that searches for a check and then displays the corresponding image. By putting this in a big cell or range of merged cells, we can display whichever small image we select in the bigger area.

xlookup function in google sheets

Remember, all a checkbox is doing is storing either a TRUE (checked) or a FALSE (unchecked) value.

checkboxes and image thumbnails in google sheets

⚠️WARNING⚠️

This does have one issue, though. Do you know what it is?

XLOOKUP() is going to return whichever checkboxes it comes to first with a TRUE value. So if you have multiple images checked, it’s only going to display the first one it gets to, not the most recently clicked one.

To get around this, let’s write some code.

Apps Script Improvement

Open up Apps Script by selecting Extensions - Apps Script from the top menu.

opening apps script in google sheets

Delete the built-in function in the code editor that opens. We'll start from scratch with an onEdit function:

function onEdit(e) {

We need to grab the range that we are currently editing.

var range = e.range

Then the checkboxes range.

var checkboxes = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getRangeByName("checkboxes")

Then we need to check whether what we just edited is in that checkbox range.

if (range.getColumn() == 2 && range.getRow() >= 2 && range.getRow() <= 10)

If it was a checkbox, then we want to uncheck all the checkboxes and re-check the one we just checked.

// Uncheck all other checkboxes in the range
checkboxes.uncheck();
// Check the edited cell
range.check();

Now, there is a slight delay when you run the code. After clicking a checkbox, all of them are cleared right before the one you checked gets checked again.

Here’s what the full code looks like:

function onEdit(e) {
  var range = e.range;
  var checkboxes = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getRangeByName("checkboxes")

  // Check if the edited cell is a checkbox in the desired range
  if (range.getColumn() == 2 && range.getRow() >= 2 && range.getRow() <= 10) {
    // Uncheck all other checkboxes in the range
    checkboxes.uncheck();
    // Check the edited cell
    range.check();
  }
}

A Real Popup Box with HTML

modal dialog box in google sheets

Okay, that’s all fine and dandy. What about the real thing, though?

This takes more Apps Script, but it’s doable thanks to the built-in howModalDialog method.

This is basically a popup window that can hold HTML. And since the internet is built with HTML, all we need to do is use a little bit to plug in an image.

This method requires an image live on the internet somewhere. So, we cannot reference the image that we've embedded in our sheet and use it in the HTML we're going to write.

Weird, I know.

Let’s find an image URL we can use. I’ve grabbed an eagle off of unsplash.

We’ll hold this in a variable.

var imageURL = "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1715002383611-63488b956401?q=80&w=1887&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D"

Then we need to build our HTML. In our case, all we want is one element, so we won’t worry ourself with constructing a full, semantically correct page (although we certainly could 😉)

Another variable will hold this img element:

var html = '<img src="' + imageURL + '" style="max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%;">';

We have access to Class Ui in Apps Script where we can “…add features like menus, dialogs, and sidebars.”

  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();

And finally, by calling the showModalDialog() method, we can generate HTML from our html variable using the Class HtmlService.

ui.showModalDialog(HtmlService.createHtmlOutput(html).setWidth(700).setHeight(1000), 'Eagle 🦅');

A final touch is to add a thumbnail version of our eagle image into our spreadsheet so that it is inserted on top of our cells (this next bit won’t work if it’s embedded in a cell itself).

Once it’s in our sheet, we can click the three black dots in the top right corner and assign a script directly to the image.

assigning a script to image in google sheets

We named our script displayImagePopup, so this is what we enter. Make sure to leave off the parentheses when typing it into the image's script form.

assigning script

Now, anytime we click the small image of the eagle, a popup box opens with the full image.

Here’s what the full code looks like:

function displayImagePopup() {
  // Get the active sheet
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  var imageURL = "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1715002383611-63488b956401?q=80&w=1887&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D"
  // Create an HTML string for the popup
  var html = '<img src="' + imageURL + '" style="max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%;">';

  // Show the dialog
  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();
  ui.showModalDialog(HtmlService.createHtmlOutput(html).setWidth(700).setHeight(1000), 'Eagle 🦅');
}

Thank you so much!

I hope this was helpful for you.

Check out my YouTube channel and free newsletter to get good at spreadsheets!

In this hands-on guide, we'll craft a search tool that seamlessly integrates with your spreadsheet, allowing you to:

• Search across multiple tabs: Effortlessly query data from different sections of your spreadsheet with dedicated input fields.
• Master AND & OR searches: Find exactly what you need with both AND and OR search functionalities, ensuring precise or flexible matching based on your requirements.
• Boost your productivity: Save valuable time by eliminating manual searches and filtering through only the relevant data points.

Ready to transform your spreadsheet into a dynamic search hub? Follow along as we explore the world of Google Apps Script and empower you to become a spreadsheet search master!

You can find all the code and related assets in this GitHub repo.

Table Of Contents

• Understanding The Spreadsheet Structure
• How To Build The Search Form – Dynamic Dropdowns And Logic
• AND Vs OR Search
• How To The Create Search Function With Google Apps Script
• How To Create The andsearch Function
• How To Match All Criteria with And Search
• Bringing Search Results To Life
• How To Deduplicate Data To Ensure Accuracy
• Putting It All Together – Displaying Your Search Results
• How To Use Or Search To Find Data that Matches Any Term
• Keeping Users Informed – Toast Messages for Seamless Search
• Putting It All Together – Testing Your Search Form
• Congratulations! You've Built a Powerful Search Engine in Google Sheets!
• Exploring Customization Options

Understanding the Spreadsheet Structure

Structure Of The Spreadsheet

Different Tabs In Spreadsheets

As portrayed in the image above, there are five tabs in the spreadsheet. The data is divided into three tabs by year: 2021, 2022 & 2023.

Columns in 2021, 2022 & 2023 in Spreadsheet

All the columns are the same in these three tabs.

Let's look at the structure of your dedicated search tab. It's divided into two key sections:

1. Search Form (Rows 1-7): This is where you interact with your data. Each input field corresponds to a specific column in your other spreadsheet tabs, allowing you to tailor your search queries. Think of them as filters, helping you hone in on the information you need.
2. Search Results (Rows 8+): This is where you'll find the data you sought. Each result includes the relevant information you specified in your search, along with an additional column named "Sprd Name - Row Index." This acts as a convenient map, pinpointing the exact spreadsheet tab and row where each result originates from. No more hunting through endless rows – you'll be laser-focused on the data you need.

By understanding this organized layout, you can navigate your search experience efficiently and retrieve the information you require swiftly.

Search Form

###

How to Build the Search Form – Dynamic Dropdowns and Logic

The search form has three input fields: Client, Quantity, and Description. Each utilizes a dropdown menu automatically populated with unique values from the Config spreadsheet tab. But how does this magic happen?

Data Validation Of Dropdown Inputs

Here's what happens behind the scenes:

1. Data Source: Values for the dropdowns are meticulously collected from three separate tabs: 2021, 2022, and 2023.
2. Combining Forces: A clever formula merges these values into a single, consolidated list.
3. Splitting it Up: This combined list is then transformed into an array, allowing individual values to be accessed.
4. Rearranging the Data: Transposition magic turns the row of values into a column, making them easier to work with.
5. Duplicate Removal: The UNIQUE function eliminates any repeated values, ensuring a concise and organized list.
6. Sorting it Out: Finally, the remaining values are sorted alphabetically for your browsing convenience.

Here's the formula used: SORT(UNIQUE(TRANSPOSE(split(TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,'2021'!A2:A1001)&","&TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,'2022'!A2:A1001)&","&TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,'2023'!A2:A1001),","))))

Config Sheets

AND vs OR Search

A dedicated checkbox (located in G4:G5) serves as the control center for your search logic. When checked, it activates the AND search, requiring all specified criteria to be present in the results.

Leaving it unchecked switches to the OR search, providing more flexible results as long as any criterion matches.

Remember, the downloadable spreadsheet retains all the pre-configured formulas and data validation rules, making setup a breeze. We'll dive into crafting the magical search function in the next step!

How to the Create Search Function With Google Apps Script

Open script editor from Extensions>Apps Script

Open Apps Script From Sheets

For this project, you'll create two files search.gs and utils.gs in the editor.

Inside the search.gs file, let's first fetch our spreadsheet and input terms.

var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var searchSheet = ss.getSheetByName("search");
var _2023Sheet = ss.getSheetByName("2023");
var _2022Sheet = ss.getSheetByName("2022");
var _2021Sheet = ss.getSheetByName("2021");
// ranges for name, description and quantity columns for each tab
var nameRangeNotation = 'A2:A'
var descriptionRangeNotation = 'F2:F'
var quantityRangeNotation = 'E2:E'
// value for input boxes
var clientName = searchSheet.getRange('B2:C2').getValue();
var quantity = searchSheet.getRange('E2').getValue();
var description = searchSheet.getRange('G2:H2').getValue();
var hasIncludeAllSelected = searchSheet.getRange('G4:G5').getValue();

Now below this code, we'll create the function search, which will orchestrate everything from the top.

/**
 * The main function assigned to search button in the spreadsheet. It orchestrates search opearaion.
 */
function search() {
  try {

    let status;

    if (hasIncludeAllSelected) {
      //perform AND search
      const newData = andSearch(clientName, description, quantity);

    }
    else {
         }



  } catch (e) {
    console.log(e)

  }
}

In this project, we'll build our functions one step at a time. Let's start by determining the search type based on the checkbox in G4:G5.

If the box is checked, we'll activate the AND search functionality. This means all specified criteria in the input fields must be present in the results. To handle this, we'll call a dedicated function named andSearch().

We'll create this function next, directly below the existing search function.

This approach ensures our script adapts to the user's chosen search type, providing accurate and relevant results based on their needs.

How to Create the andSearch() Function

/**
 * Performs "AND" search for the given keywords in their respective columns Last Name, Descroption and Quantity for 
 * tabs 2021, 2022, 2023. Returns new nested arrays for search results to be filled in search spreadsheet.
 * @param {String} name 
 * @param {String} description 
 * @param {String} quantity 
 * @returns {Array<Array<String>>?} - [[],[],[]]
 */
function andSearch(name = null, description = null, quantity = null) {

  // get matching index for each sheet.
  const _2021SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);


  const _2022SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);

  const _2023SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);


 //.... continue

}

This function takes three parameters, each corresponding to a user-defined search term: name, description and quantity.

If any of these search terms are blank, we simply assign an empty array as the result. This efficiently handles scenarios where users leave certain fields unfilled.

The core logic relies on the searchSheetByColumn function. Think of it as a data detective that checks specific columns within spreadsheet tabs. It takes three crucial arguments:

• sheet: The specific tab to search within (for example: "2021").
• rangeNotation: The column range to target (for example: "A2:A").
• searchVal: The value to match within the chosen column (for example: "Khadka").

Using this information, searchSheetByColumn scans the designated column and returns an array containing the row indexes where the searchVal is found in that sheet.

Searching Input Value In a Column

Let's create the function searchSheetByColumn in the utils.gs file now.

/**
 * Searches the given keyword in the given column inside the given spreadsheet tab.
 * It returns all the matching indexes of data. Indexes are index from array not row.
 * @param {Spreadsheet} sheet - sheet to search from
 * @param {String} rangeNotation - range of the column in the given spreadsheet
 * @param {String} searchVal - keyword to search
 * @returns {Array<number>} - [1,23,12,45,12] 
 */
function searchSheetByColumn(sheet, rangeNotation, searchVal) {
  const data = sheet.getRange(rangeNotation).getValues().flat().filter(String); // get data
  if (data.length < 1) return [];
  // filter only matching rows indexes
  // got from https://stackoverflow.com/a/58980987/6163929
  const allIndexes = data.map((val, index) => ({ val, index }))
    .filter(({ val, index }) => rangeNotation === quantityRangeNotation ? Number(val) === Number(searchVal) : val.toLowerCase().includes(searchVal.toLowerCase())
    )
    .map(({ val, index }) =>
      index + 1
    ) // +1 because we extract data from second row in notation later on have to match with whole data array
  return allIndexes;
}

The code above does the following:

• Retrieves data from the specified range and sheet using sheet.getRange(rangeNotation).getValues().flat().
• Removes empty values by filtering with filter(String).
• Iterates through data and indexes and applies map to create an array of objects with both values and their corresponding indexes.
• Converts both search term and data values to numbers using Number().
• Filters for exact matches using rangeNotation === quantityRangeNotation ? Number(val) === Number(searchVal)
• Converts both search term and data values to lowercase.
• Filters for matches using val.toLowerCase().includes(searchVal.toLowerCase())
• Extracts matching indexes using map(({ val, index }) => index + 1).
• Adds 1 to correct for starting extraction from the second row.

How to Match All Criteria with AND Search

Add the following piece of code in andSearch function.

function andSearch(name = null, description = null, quantity = null) {

// ..... continuing on from previous codes
  // matching indexes of rows in AND search
  const _2021SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2021SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);
  const _2022SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2022SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);
  const _2023SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2023SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);
//..........
}

Remember the AND search? Its goal is to unearth data points that tick every box you've specified. To achieve this, we need to filter only rows that contain all your search terms – name, quantity, and description – across all three spreadsheets.

Enter the filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms function, to be created in the utils.gs file. This handy tool combs through each row and ensures it matches every criterion you've laid out. So, how does it work its magic? We'll explore the code next!

/**
 * Function filters only rows that consist all three keywords provided by user input
 * @param {Array<String>} arr1 
 * @param {Array<String>} arr2 
 * @param {Array<String>} arr3 
 * @returns {Array<String>?} 
 */
function filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(arr1, arr2, arr3) {
  // create a nested array
  const arr = [arr1.length > 0 ? [...arr1] : "", arr2.length > 0 ? [...arr2] : "", arr3.length > 0 ? [...arr3] : ""].filter(String);

  // return empty if the master arrays length is lesser than number of search terms
  if (arr.length < 1 || arr.length < numberOfInputFieldEntered) return [];

  const matchingIndexes = [];

  if (arr.length === 3) {

    arr[0].forEach((val) => {
      if (arr[1].includes(val) && arr[2].includes(val)) {
        matchingIndexes.push(val)
      }

    });

  }
  else if (arr.length === 2) {
    arr[0].forEach((val) => {
      if (arr[1].includes(val)) {
        matchingIndexes.push(val)
      }

    });


  }
  else {

    matchingIndexes.push(arr[0]) //just push the array thats not empty
  }
  return matchingIndexes.flat();

}

Here's what the code does:

The function takes three arrays as input, each representing matching indexes from one spreadsheet based on your search terms. However, we understand users might not fill in every search field.

To handle this, the function first creates a "master array" containing only non-empty arrays from the three inputs. Think of it as filtering out any blank search results. const arr = [arr1.length > 0 ? [...arr1] : "", arr2.length > 0 ? [...arr2] : "", arr3.length > 0 ? [...arr3] : ""].filter(String);

If the master array ends up being empty, it means no rows matched any of your search terms – the function simply returns an empty array, indicating no results found.

Similarly, if the master array has fewer elements than the total search terms you entered, it signifies an incomplete AND search. In this case, the function returns an empty array, letting you know that no results match all criteria. arr.length < numberOfInputFieldEntered

But when all three arrays have matches, the function begins its work, it iterates through the first array, meticulously checking if each index value exists in both the second and third arrays. If it does, that index is considered a match and added to a separate "matchingIndexes" array. This guarantees that only rows containing all your search terms are included: arr[0].forEach((val) => { if (arr[1].includes(val) && arr[2].includes(val)) { matchingIndexes.push(val)}

If only two arrays have matches, the function performs a simpler check, verifying if each value in the first array exists in the second. Any match is added to "matchingIndexes." arr[0].forEach((val) => if (arr[1].includes(val)) { matchingIndexes.push(val)}.

Else if only one array is present, the function simply uses that array directly.

In summary, the function ensures that only rows containing all your chosen search terms survive – a powerful tool for precise data retrieval!

Next, in your search.gs file right after you declared the variable hasIncludeAllSelected for the checkbox, create input value counter.

var numberOfInputFieldEntered = [clientName, description, quantity].filter(String).length;

With this, we now have indexes for the rows from the AND search. Now, continue with your andSearch function and get data from those indexes.

Bringing Search Results to Life

function andSearch(name = null, description = null, quantity = null) {
//.... contnung from above
  // get data from row indexes
  const _2021SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2021Sheet, _2021SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)
  const _2022SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2022Sheet, _2022SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)
  const _2023SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2023Sheet, _2023SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)
}

Now that we have the matching row indexes, it's time to retrieve the actual data. Enter the fetchDataByRowIndexes function, residing in the utils file. This handy tool serves as your data retriever, fetching information based on the provided indexes.

/**
 * Funciton extracts the rows of provided indexes+1, from the given spreadsheet tab.
 * @param {Spreadsheet} sheet - sheet to search from
 * @param {Array<number>} indexes - indexes of row to extract values.
 * @returns {Array<Array<Srting>>} - Arrays of nested rows in the indexes from the given sheet.
 */
function fetchDataByRowIndexes(sheet = _2021Sheet, indexes = []) {
  // console.log("Inside fetchDataByRowIndexes() provided indexes are:" + indexes)

  if (indexes.length < 1) return [];

  const data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
  const newData = [];

  for (let i = 0; i < indexes.length; i++) {
    newData.push([...data[indexes[i]], `${sheet.getName()} - ${indexes[i] + 1}`])
  }
  // console.log("Inside fetchDataByRowIndexes() data from procvided indexes:" + newData)
  return newData;
}

The retrieved data isn't just dumped onto the search sheet – it gets a special touch. The function adds an extra value for the column named Sprd Name - Row Indexes with ${sheet.getName()} - ${indexes[i] + 1} .

This column acts like a roadmap, displaying both the originating spreadsheet name and the corresponding row index for each result. So, at a glance, you know exactly where each piece of data came from.

Remember, this additional information is added as the last column in the search sheet. With this valuable context, search results become even more informative and easier to navigate.

How to Deduplicate Data to Ensure Accuracy

The next step is to ensure that our search results are free of duplicates, no matter from the sheet they originated. After all, who wants to see the same item twice? So, append this code in the andSearch function:

//.. continue inside andSearch Function
 // filter duplicate rows
  const _2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2021SheetMatchingRows);
  const _2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2022SheetMatchingRows);
  const _2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2023SheetMatchingRows);

To create this function let's jump back to the file utils.gs again.

/**
 * Takes Duplicate data that might have resulted from different individual column searches and only returns unique rows 
 * in each column from the serach results.
 * @param {Array<String>} arr 
 * @returns {Array<String>}- [[],[]]
 */
function filterDuplicateRows(arr) {
  if (arr.length < 1) return [];
  const delimiter = "*---*--*";
  // console.log("Inside filterDuplicateRows() arr to check:" + arr)

  const strArr = arr.map(row => row.join(delimiter)).flat();
  // console.log("Inside filterDuplicateRows() strArr:" + strArr)

  const uniqueArrays = [...new Set(strArr)].map(str => str.split(delimiter))
  // console.log("Inside filterDuplicateRows() uniqueArrays:" + uniqueArrays)

  return uniqueArrays;

}

Here's what we did:

• Creating a Unique Fingerprint: We began by crafting a special "delimiter," a combination of characters highly unlikely to appear within your actual data. Think of it as a unique tag for each row.const delimiter = "*---*--*";
• Joining Forces: Next, we mapped through each row, joining its elements with this delimiter to create a single string. This allows us to compare strings for uniqueness instead of individual data points.const strArr = arr.map(row => row.join(delimiter)).flat();
• Duplicate Detective: We leveraged the power of JavaScript's Set object, renowned for its ability to hold only unique values. By converting our string array into a Set, we effectively remove any identical entries: [...new Set(strArr)]
• Back to Our Roots: Finally, we converted the unique strings back into an array of arrays, splitting them using the same delimiter we used earlier. This gives us a clean, deduplicated set of results. map(str => str.split(delimiter))

Note: This uniqueness is based on the combined "Sprd Name - Row Indexes" value, ensuring true uniqueness across spreadsheets. Without this, duplicates can exist naturally.

With this final step, we've achieved accurate and streamlined search results, ready to be combined and presented from the andSearch function.

// inside andSearch function append at last

  const andSearchResult = [..._2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows]

  if (andSearchResult.length < 0) return;
  return andSearchResult;
}

Find the completed andSearch function below.

/**
 * Performs "AND" search for the given keywords in their respective columns Last Name, Descroption and Quantity for 
 * tabs 2021, 2022, 2023. Returns new nested arrays for search results to be filled in search spreadsheet.
 * @param {String} name 
 * @param {String} description 
 * @param {String} quantity 
 * @returns {Array<Array<String>>?} - [[],[],[]]
 */
function andSearch(name = null, description = null, quantity = null) {

  // get matching index for each sheet.
  const _2021SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);


  const _2022SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);

  const _2023SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);


  // matching indexes of rows in AND search
  const _2021SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2021SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);
  const _2022SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2022SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);
  const _2023SheetMatchingRowsIndexes = filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms(_2023SheetNameSearchIndexes, _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes, _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);

  // get data from row indexes
  const _2021SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2021Sheet, _2021SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)
  const _2022SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2022Sheet, _2022SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)
  const _2023SheetMatchingRows = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2023Sheet, _2023SheetMatchingRowsIndexes)

  // filter duplicate rows
  const _2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2021SheetMatchingRows);
  const _2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2022SheetMatchingRows);
  const _2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows(_2023SheetMatchingRows);


  const andSearchResult = [..._2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows]

  if (andSearchResult.length < 0) return;

  return andSearchResult;

}

Putting It All Together – Displaying Your Search Results

Now that we can retrieve search results based on your "AND" criteria, it's time to integrate them into your search function.

We'll continue from where we left off. In the if block, add the following code.

 if (hasIncludeAllSelected) {
      //perform AND search
      const newData = andSearch(clientName, description, quantity);
      // ..........................
      // new peice of code 
       status = fillSearchWithResults(searchSheet.getDataRange().getValues(), newData)
       // ................................................
}

Let's create a new function, fillSearchWithResults, residing in the utils.gs file:

/**
 * To Fill search sheet with values
 * @param {Array<Array<Srting>>}  oldData - previous search results data
 * @param {Array<Array<Srting>>}  newData - new search result to fill
 */
function fillSearchWithResults(oldData, newData) {
  // console.log("Inside fillSearchWithResults() old data:", oldData.length);
  if (oldData.length >= 8) {
    searchSheet.getRange(8, 1, oldData.length - 7, 9).clear(); // clear until last filled data
  }
  SpreadsheetApp.flush();
  Utilities.sleep(1000);
  // console.log("Inside fillSearchWithResults() new Data:", newData);
  if (newData.length < 1) return 400;
  searchSheet.getRange(8, 1, newData.length, 9).setValues(newData);
  return 200;
}

The function takes two key inputs:

• Current Search Sheet Data: This represents the existing information displayed in your search sheet.
• New Search Results: This is the fresh data retrieved using the previously explained functions.

Here's what happens step-by-step:

1. Clearing the Decks: If a previous search result exists (starting from row 8), the function clears it out to make space for the new findings. if (oldData.length >= 8) { searchSheet.getRange(8, 1, oldData.length - 7, 9).clear(); }
2. Empty Results? No Problem: If the newly retrieved search results are empty, the function returns a special code: 400. This code, which we'll use later, indicates to the user that no matching data was found. if (newData.length < 1) return 400
3. Data Display Time!: If there are indeed results, the function saves them into the search sheet, starting from row 8. Additionally, it returns a different code: 200. This code signifies a successful operation, and we'll use it to show success messages to the user.

With this final piece in place, your "AND" searches will effortlessly bring relevant data to your fingertips, presented neatly in your search sheet.

How to Use OR Search to Find Data that Matches Any Term

Our journey continues! After setting up the "AND" search, we can now conquer the "OR" search, allowing you to find data containing any of your specified terms.

In the search function's else block, we have the orSearch function. Its purpose is to sift through your data and identify rows containing at least one of your search terms.

Think of it as casting a wider net, capturing matches that meet any of your criteria.

  else {
      //perform OR serach
      let newData = orSearch(clientName, description, quantity);

      status = fillSearchWithResults(searchSheet.getDataRange().getValues(), newData)
}

Create the function orSearch function below andSearch in the search file.

/**
 * Performs "OR" search for the given keywords in their respective columns Last Name, Descroption and Quantity for 
 * tabs 2021, 2022, 2023. Returns new nested arrays for search results to be filled in search spreadsheet.
 * @param {String} name 
 * @param {String} description 
 * @param {String} quantity 
 * @returns {Array<Array<String>>?} - [[],[],[]]
 */
function orSearch(name = null, description = null, quantity = null) {
  // get matching index for each sheet.
  const _2021SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2021Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);

  const _2022SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2022Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);

  const _2023SheetNameSearchIndexes = name === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, nameRangeNotation, name);
  const _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes = quantity === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, quantityRangeNotation, quantity);
  const _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes = description === "" ? [] : searchSheetByColumn(_2023Sheet, descriptionRangeNotation, description);

  // get values from those indexes
  const _2021SheetNameSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2021Sheet, _2021SheetNameSearchIndexes);
  const _2021SheetQuantitySearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2021Sheet, _2021SheetQuantitySearchIndexes);
  const _2021SheetDescriptionSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2021Sheet, _2021SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);

  const _2022SheetNameSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2022Sheet, _2022SheetNameSearchIndexes);
  const _2022SheetQuantitySearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2022Sheet, _2022SheetQuantitySearchIndexes);
  const _2022SheetDescriptionSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2022Sheet, _2022SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);

  const _2023SheetNameSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2023Sheet, _2023SheetNameSearchIndexes);
  const _2023SheetQuantitySearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2023Sheet, _2023SheetQuantitySearchIndexes);
  const _2023SheetDescriptionSearch = fetchDataByRowIndexes(_2023Sheet, _2023SheetDescriptionSearchIndexes);



  // filter duplicate rows
  const _2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows([..._2021SheetNameSearch, ..._2021SheetQuantitySearch, ..._2021SheetDescriptionSearch]);
  const _2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows([..._2022SheetNameSearch, ..._2022SheetQuantitySearch, ..._2022SheetDescriptionSearch]);
  const _2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows = filterDuplicateRows([..._2023SheetNameSearch, ..._2023SheetQuantitySearch, ..._2023SheetDescriptionSearch]);

  const orSearchResult = [..._2021SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2022SheetMatchingUniqueRows, ..._2023SheetMatchingUniqueRows]

  if (orSearchResult.length < 0) return;

  return orSearchResult;

}

Now, don't be surprised if some things look familiar! The overall structure of the orSearch function resembles its "AND" counterpart. However, a key difference sets them apart:

Since an "OR" search requires just one matching term, we can get rid of the filterRowsIndexesWithAllSearchTerms function. Recall that function ensured all terms were present, which isn't the case here.

In essence, the orSearch function works by iterating through each search term and its corresponding matching indexes. For each term, it retrieves the data from the spreadsheet using the familiar fetchDataByRowIndexes function.

Finally, it merges the retrieved data for all terms, creating a unified set of results, even if they come from different spreadsheets.

With this powerful tool in your arsenal, you can discover data points that might not have surfaced with an "AND" search, expanding your search capabilities and enriching your data exploration experience.

Keeping Users Informed – Toast Messages for Seamless Search

Now that our search functions are complete, let's add a crucial element: user feedback! After all, keeping users informed throughout the search process leads to a smoother experience.

To avoid confusion, replace the search function with this one:

/**
 * The main function assigned to search button in the spreadsheet. It orchestrates search opearaion.
 */
function search() {
  try {
    SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast("Searching Through Your Database...", 'Searching');

    let status;

    if (hasIncludeAllSelected) {
      //perform AND search
      const newData = andSearch(clientName, description, quantity);



      status = fillSearchWithResults(searchSheet.getDataRange().getValues(), newData)
      // console.log(status);
      if (status === 400) { throw new Error(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_FAILURE); }
    }
    else {
      //perform OR serach
      let newData = orSearch(clientName, description, quantity);

      status = fillSearchWithResults(searchSheet.getDataRange().getValues(), newData)
      // console.log(status);

      if (status === 400) { throw new Error(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_FAILURE); }
    }

    if (status === 200) {
      SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_SUCCESFULL, 'Success');
    }

  } catch (e) {
    // console.log(e)
    if (e.Error === SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_FAILURE) {
      SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_FAILURE, 'Not Found!');

    } else {
      SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast(e, 'Error!');

    }

  }
}

We'll leverage the toast method provided by SpreadsheetApp to display brief, non-intrusive messages directly within the spreadsheet interface. Here's what we'll achieve:

Search Initiated: As soon as the user clicks the search button, a toast message appears: "Searching Through Your Database..." This lets them know the search is underway, preventing confusion or unnecessary waiting. SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast("Searching Through Your Database...", 'Searching');

Success Stories: If the search returns any result (indicated by a status code of 200), a positive toast message pops up: "Search Was Successful!" This confirms the operation's completion and reassures the user that relevant data was found. if (status === 200) { SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_SUCCESFULL, 'Success'); }

Empty Findings: While not technically an error, an empty search result (status code of 400) triggers a slightly different message: "No items found with the given criteria." This informs the user about the outcome without causing alarm. if (status === 400) { throw new Error(SEARCH_STATUS.SEARCH_FAILURE); }

Here's what happens behind the scenes:

const SEARCH_STATUS = {
  SEARCH_SUCCESFULL: "Search Was Successfull!",
  SEARCH_FAILURE: "No items found with the given criteria.",
}

• An "enum" called SEARCH_STATUS in the utils.gs file stores these message strings for easy access and maintenance.
• A "catch block" handles any unexpected errors, ensuring the user receives appropriate feedback even in unusual situations.

With these toast messages in place, your search functionality becomes more user-friendly and transparent. Remember, clear communication leads to happy user experience!

Putting It All Together – Testing Your Search Form

Now that you've built your powerful search functions, it's time to see them in action! Follow these steps to test your search form directly within your spreadsheet:

1. Save Your Scripts: Make sure you've saved all your code files (utils.gs and search.gs) before proceeding.
2. Assign the Search Function: Right-click on the Search button in your form and select "Assign script." In the popup window, type the name of the search function and click "OK." This links the button to your code.
3. Ready, Set, Search: In your spreadsheet, experiment with different search combinations. Try entering terms in various combinations to see how the AND and OR searches yield different results.

Assign a function to button in Google Sheets

Congratulations! You've Built a Powerful Search Engine in Google Sheets!

You've successfully accomplished an impressive feat: crafting a customized search engine within your Google Sheets. Let's recap your achievements:

• Seamless Search Form: You created a user-friendly search form directly in your spreadsheet, simplifying data exploration.
• Scriptable Power: You harnessed the power of Apps Script to develop functions that handle various search operations behind the scenes.
• AND & OR Mastery: You implemented both AND and OR search functionalities, giving users flexibility in finding relevant data.
• Precise Matching: You designed a function that selects rows containing all specified search terms, ensuring accurate results.
• Duplicate Removal: You implemented a mechanism to eliminate duplicate entries, keeping your search results clean and concise.
• Informative Feedback: You integrated user-friendly toast messages to notify users about search progress and outcomes.

Exploring Customization Options

You've built a fantastic search engine, but remember, the journey doesn't end here! With a bit of tweaking, you can adapt this tool to perfectly suit your specific needs and workflows. Here are some exciting possibilities to consider:

Diversifying Your Data: Break free from the confines of a single spreadsheet! Explore integrating with diverse data sources like inventory management systems, tax databases, or even restaurant reviews. With some adjustments to your code, you can unlock a wealth of information across different platforms.

Dynamic Search Inputs: Need more flexibility in your search criteria? Consider adding or removing input fields based on your evolving needs. This allows for more tailored searches and streamlines your data exploration process.

Detailed Search Logs: Keep track of your search history! Implement a log box to automatically record your latest search terms and the number of results found. This can be invaluable for revisiting past searches and analyzing trends.

Visual Appeal Matters: Enhance the user experience by giving your search form a visual makeover. Play with colors, fonts, and layout to create a more engaging and intuitive interface.

Speed Optimizations: Every second counts! Explore ways to optimize your search functions for faster response times. This might involve code refinement, data indexing, or leveraging caching strategies.

Taming Large Datasets: Working with massive databases? Don't worry, you've got options! Implement logic to overcome the 6-minute runtime limit of Google Apps Script functions.

By exploring these avenues, you can transform your basic search function into a powerful and personalized data exploration tool. Remember, the possibilities are endless!

PS: How much more productive (or procrastinating) will you be with this new ability?

I am Nibesh Khadka. Share this blog & like the video if helpful! Find more of my contents at Script-Portal (Medium) & on my YouTube channel: CodingWithNibesh.

In this article, we'll create our own dark mode. One way to do that would be by selecting all the cells and manually changing their background color and font color. This will get the job done, but we can automate the process and add more style options to choose from.

gif of cartoon character grabbing a computer

Here’s what we’ll build: a style selector that has four different styles triggered by either a new dropdown menu or by clicking a custom button icon.

screenshot of Google Sheets with different background modes

And here's the video walkthrough if you'd like to follow along with that instead:

How to Create Dark Mode in Apps Script

We’ll create four functions, one for each style mode. Each of our functions will do the following:

1. Set background color
2. Set font color
3. Set font family
4. Set border color and style

Let’s walk through how to create a darkMode function in Apps Script. We'll define each function with the function keyword, followed by whatever we’ll name it.

Because the functions take no arguments (they just run without needing more info from us). That is, we have open and closed parentheses with nothing inside them followed by an open curly brace.

All of our code for the function goes between the darkMode function's curly braces:

function darkMode() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getRange('A1:Z')
    .setBackground("#333333")
    .setFontColor("white")
    .setFontFamily("Google Sans")
    .setBorder(false,false,false,false,true,
     true,"#444444",SpreadsheetApp.BorderStyle.SOLID)
}

To select all the cells, we used the built-in methods from the SpreadsheetApp class: getActive() and getRange(). These select the active sheet as well as a given range.

In our case, we’ll plug in A1:Z as the range, but you can extend this further if you’d like. For instance, A1:AZ, would add columns AA:AZ and then apply our styling to them.

The four lines that follow are simply dot notation extensions telling what styles to apply. You can write this on one line if you’d like, but it’s good practice to have line breaks to make the code easy to read.

gif of man saying, that’s clever

How to Set Colors and Fonts

You'd notice that we used both setBackground(#333333) and setFontColor("white") in the code. This is because we can use CSS notation colors in either hex format or by using the color’s name.

Using setFontFamily("Google Sans"), we gave it the font family name within quotations. Being a Google product, you can use any of the Google Fonts as well as Google’s own Google Sans font as I found out making this project.

How to set the Border

The setBorder(false,false,false,false,true, true,"#444444",SpreadsheetApp.BorderStyle.SOLID) function let’s you enter true or false values for the top, left, bottom, right, vertical, or horizontal borders, in that order, followed by the color and style.

To set the style, we had to invoke a built in Enum Attribute — BorderStyle — to change the style of the border.

How to Create the Style Menu

To be able to select any of the styles we’re making from the actual spreadsheet, we need a menu.

To add the menu, we'll create a new function called onOpen() that runs as soon as the spreadsheet opens and then the built-in methods from the getUi() to build our custom menu.

We can create the menu with .createMenu() and then add each of our functions to the menu with the addItem() function.

Here's the code:

function onOpen(){
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('Style')
    .addItem("Dark","darkMode")
    .addItem("Papyrus","papyrusMode")
    .addItem("Light","lightMode")
    .addItem("Synth","synthMode")
    .addToUi();
}

Google Apps Script automatically integrates with Google Workspace apps (like Google Sheets) so the functions we've added in the code will make the functionalities accessible in your Google Sheets.

How to Add Icon Buttons

As a bonus, I added four icon images to the sheet, and by selecting Assign script we can have these icons act as buttons to trigger any of the four styles we’ve built:

screenshot of icons in spreadsheet

When you type the function name into the Assign script dialog box, make sure you do not to use parentheses. You should only enter the name of the function itself:

screenshot of assigning script to image

And bingo! We’ve got ourselves a style picker. You can add or edit these to create any number of combinations that you can easily toggle on and off in your own Google Sheet!

screenshot of Synth Mode Style

Conclusion

This article shows how you can create can code dark, and other background modes for your Google Sheets using Apps Script and JavaScript.

I hope this has been useful for you!

More Resources😄

▶ Find all my video tutorials and walkthroughs on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eamonncottrell?sub_confirmation=1

▶ Connect with me on LinkedIn where I share daily tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eamonncottrell/

A while ago I wrote an article on how to remove empty rows and columns from Google Sheets.

I recently revisited that article and I now present you this revised version.

I also have a video version of this topic which you can check out below:

What We Will Cover

You'll create two functions: deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns() and deleteInternalEmptyRowsNColumns().

The first function will delete empty rows and columns from the range that are outside of the range returned by the method getDataRange().

The second function will delete the rows and columns that are empty which are inside of the range returned by getDataRange().

We will also create a menu so that we can execute these functions from the spreadsheet itself.

How to Prep the Sheet

My spreadsheet currently looks like the image below:

Spreadsheet With Lots Of Empty Rows and Columns

It has a couple of columns and rows with data, with lots of blank rows and columns.

Let's make the spreadsheets look more presentable like the following image:

Final Clean Spreadsheet Version

How to Open Apps Script Project

Next, let's open our Apps Script project from the Extensions tab in the spreadsheet:

Open Apps Script Project From Spreadsheet's Tab

How to Create a Function to Delete Empty Rows and Columns Outside of DataRange

We'll create a function named deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns().

This function will be responsible for deleting any empty rows and columns that are outside of the range of getDataRange():

/**
 * Delete the empty rows and columns outside of the DataRange()
 */
function deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns() {
  // get sheets and data
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  const data = ss.getDataRange().getValues();

  //console.log(data);

  // determine last row and column
  const lastRow = data.length;
  const lastCol = data[0].length;

  // get maximum rows and columns sss
  const maxRows = ss.getMaxRows();
  const maxCols = ss.getMaxColumns();

  // only remove rows and columns if there are empty rows or columns beyond last row and columns
  if (maxRows > lastRow) {
    ss.deleteRows(lastRow + 1, maxRows - lastRow);
  }
  if (maxCols > lastCol) {
    ss.deleteColumns(lastCol + 1, maxCols - lastCol);
  }

}

We're using maximum rows and maximum columns because these values will return the last row and the last column of the spreadsheet regardless of the content.

This means they also include empty rows and empty columns beyond the data range.

Next, we only remove the columns and rows if they are outside of the range.

This means that if the maximum row is greater than the last row, then we will remove the rows. The same goes for the columns.

We're using the deleteRows() method to remove those rows, which takes two parameters.

The first one is the index of the row from where the rows should be deleted, lastRow + 1 in our case.

The second parameter is the number of rows we should remove, which is maxRows - lastRow in our case.

For columns, we'll use the deleteColumns() method. The way this method works is the same as the way deleteRows() works but on columns.

If you run this function your spreadsheet will look similar to the following image:

Spreadsheet with Out Of Bounds Columns and Rows Removed

You'll see the columns and rows that were outside of the range returned by getDataRange() have now been removed by the function.

How to Create a Function to Delete Empty Rows and Columns Inside of DataRange

Now we will create another function: deleteInternalEmptyRowsNColumns().

This will be responsible for removing empty rows and columns which are included in the getDataRange() method, with this function below:

/**
 * Deletes the empty rows and columns inside of DataRange()
 */
function deleteInternalEmptyRowsNColumns() {
  // get sheets and data
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  const data = ss.getDataRange().getValues();

  const lastRow = data.length;
  const lastCol = data[0].length;

  // lets check if there're any empty columns during the beginning which is included in data
  const emptyColumnIndexes = [];
  for (let i = 1; i <= lastCol; i++) {
    if (ss.getRange(1, i, lastRow, 1).getValues().flat().join("") === "") {
      // subtract length before pushes value with less than 1 of original index
      // because later on when we delete colums one by one the indexes 
      //will be out of bounds/wrong due to sprd being updated to new indexes
      emptyColumnIndexes.push(i - emptyColumnIndexes.length);

    }

  }

  // lets delete these columns
  if (emptyColumnIndexes.length > 0) {
    // delete column
    emptyColumnIndexes.forEach(ind => ss.deleteColumn(ind));

  }

  //***************Remove Internal empty rows */
  // convert nested arrays to string and remove empty strings with filter
  const newData = ss.getDataRange().getValues().filter((arr) => arr.join("") !== "")

  const newLastRow = newData.length;
  const newLastCol = newData[0].length;

  // clear previous values
  ss.clearContents();

  // set new values
  ss.getRange(1, 1, newLastRow, newLastCol).setValues(newData);

// now delete empty rows and columns 
 deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns();
}

Let's explain what the function does in the following sections.

How to Remove Empty Columns

First, we'll work on empty columns. After that, we'll remove the empty rows.

 const emptyColumnIndexes = [];
  for (let i = 1; i <= lastCol; i++) {
    if (ss.getRange(1, i, lastRow, 1).getValues().flat().join("") === "") {
      // subtract length before pushes value with less than 1 of original index
      // because later on when we delete colums one by one, the indexes 
      //will be out of bounds/wrong due to sprd being updated to new indexes
      emptyColumnIndexes.push(i - emptyColumnIndexes.length);

    }

  }

  // lets delete these columns
  if (emptyColumnIndexes.length > 0) {
    // delete column
    emptyColumnIndexes.forEach(ind => ss.deleteColumn(ind));

  }

Let's create an array named emptyCoiumnIndexes. It'll hold all the indexes of the columns that are empty.

To check if the columns are empty or not, we will loop through each column with a for loop starting from the first column.

Next, we will fetch the values of a column. In every loop, it will return a nested array and we will flatten the array.

After that, we will join the array with an empty string ("").

If the joined string is actually empty we know that this is an empty column so we will push that index to the empty column indexes array with the following code: ss.getRange(1, i, lastRow, 1).getValues().flat().join("") === "" .

But before pushing the index, we'll subtract the length of the emptyColumnIndexes array from the index itself each time.

That's because later on, when we delete this column, we have to delete each column one by one.

While doing so, we will find out that if we delete the first column, the structure of the spreadsheet changes, and the columns that come after the deleted column will have their index changed.

Spreadsheet with Inbounds Empty Columns and Rows

For instance, from the preceding image, after we delete column "A" the index of column "F" will get changed to "E".

After this, if the emptyColumnIndexes is not empty then we will go through each value using forEach().

Then we will delete the column with deleteColumn() method.

Now, run this function and you'll see a similar result as the following image, where all the empty columns have been removed:

Spreadsheet with Inbounds Empty Columns Removed

How to Remove Empty Rows

Now we will work on removing empty rows from our spreadsheet.

To do so, we will filter all the non-empty rows using the same process we used earlier by joining them with empty string.

If they are not just an empty quote (""), we'll return them as the array items in the newData with const newData = ss.getDataRange().getValues().filter((arr) => arr.join("") !== "").

Now, we'll save those values to our spreadsheet after clearing previous contents.

But if you run this function right now, you'll find out that this alone will not remove empty columns but accumulate rows into one place like the image below:

Spreadsheet with Outbound Empty Rows

This is not what we want.

So, to remove those extra rows, we will just call the function deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns() , we created earlier because now these extra spaces are outside of the range of getDataRange().

Let's run the function again, and now we're be able to accomplish what we initially wanted:

Clean Spreadsheet

How to Create a Custom Menu for the Spreadsheet

Finally, we will create a menu so that we can run these functions from the spreadsheet itself.

For this create a new script file in your project named menu:

/**
 * Menu creates menu UI in spreadsheet.
 */
function createCustomMenu() {
  let menu = SpreadsheetApp.getUi().createMenu("Delete Empty Rows N Columns");

  menu.addItem("Delete External Empty Rows and Columns", "deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns");
  menu.addItem("Delete Internal Empty Rows", "deleteInternalEmptyRowsNColumns");
  menu.addToUi();
}

/**
 * OnOpen trigger that creates menu
 * @param {Dictionary} e
 */
function onOpen() {
  createCustomMenu();
}

After saving the script, we will go to the spreadsheet and reload it.

After a moment, you'll be able to see a menu in the spreadsheet tab like the image below:

Spreadsheet Menu

Congrats!

Now you just need to copy and paste the script from the tutorial or this GitHub repo and you'll be able to clean your sheets instantly.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we created two functions: deleteExternalEmptyRowsNColumns() and deleteInternalEmptyRowsNColumns().

We cleared empty rows and columns that were out of bounds and later deleted empty rows and columns that were in bounds of data.

Next, we created a menu that provides easy access to even non-coders to execute the functions mentioned above from the spreadsheet's tab.

Now, all that is left is for you to share this article. If you're also watching the video version I hope you'll subscribe to my channel as well.

I am Nibesh Khadka, a freelancer specializing in automating Google products with Apps Script. Contact me if you need my services at me@nibeshkhadka.com.

We will create two custom formulas, GPT_SUMMARY and GPT_SIMPLIFY. You can use GPT_SUMMARY to summarize a large passage or text into a few bullet points for easy reading. And you can use GPT_SIMPLIFY to simplify English into easy-to-read English.

We will also create menus with access to functions that perform the same tasks as formulas. We will then discuss the pros and cons of using formulas versus menus.

By the end of this tutorial, you will understand how to use ChatGPT in Google Sheets with Google Apps Script. You will also be able to modify the formulas and menus to meet your own needs, such as creating CVs, social media posts, or cover letters.

You can find the source code for this project in this GitHub repo.

If you want to follow along with a video version of this article, here you go:

Pre-requisites

This tutorial is not meant for beginners in Apps Script or JavaScript. I will not be explaining every method or classes used in the code. This is also not a tutorial on how to use and optimize ChatGPT – instead we'll focus on how to integrate GPT in Google Sheets.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for intermediate to advanced users who have a basic understanding of Apps Script and JavaScript. If you are new to either of these, I recommend that you start with a beginner tutorial before attempting this one.

Step 1 – Get the ChatGPT API Key

Get ChatGpt API Key

First, if you don't already have an account with OpenAI, you'll need to create one. Once you have an account, you can create a new API key by going to the API keys section under the User tab.

Click the Create new secret key button and copy the key after it has been created. You will not be able to see this API key again, so be sure to copy it somewhere safe.

Step 2 – Fetch the Data From the ChatGpt API with Apps Script

Spreadsheet Sample

I have named my spreadsheet GPT_Integration with three columns: Passage, Simplified Passage, and Summarized Text.

Let's open the app script for this spreadsheet, rename it to GPT_integration, and also rename the existing file to utils.gs. We'll create a function called fetchData here.

const CHAT_GPT_API_KEY = "paste your API key here";
const BASE_URL = "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions";


function fetchData(systemContent, userContent) {
  try {
    const headers = {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "Authorization": `Bearer ${CHAT_GPT_API_KEY}`
    };

    const options = {
      headers,
      method: "GET",
      muteHttpExceptions: true,
      payload: JSON.stringify({
        "model": "gpt-3.5-turbo",
        "messages": [{
          "role": "system",
          "content": systemContent,
        },
        {
          "role": "user",
          "content": userContent
        },
        ],
        "temperature": 0.7
      })
    };

    const response = JSON.parse(UrlFetchApp.fetch(BASE_URL, options));
    //console.log(response);
    //console.log(response.choices[0].message.content)
    return response.choices[0].message.content;
  } catch (e) {
    console.log(e)
    SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast("Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.");
    return "Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.";
  }
}

Here are some key points to notice in the code above:

1. Paste the API key that you created earlier inside the quotes.
2. We will be using the Chat Completions API. You can find more details about it here.
3. ChatGPT models have different roles, such as system, user, and assistant.
4. The systemContent parameter is where you provide roleplay for the GPT system. For example, you could say "You're an expert algebra teacher" or "You're an expert CV writer".
5. The userContent parameter is where you provide tasks to perform for the model. In our case, we will provide long passages from the spreadsheet to summarize and simplify.
6. We will be using the GPT 3.5 turbo model.
7. We are muting HTTPExceptions so that we can use our own error message in the catch block.
8. The error string is useful when we face errors such as Rate Limit Exceed.

We're returning the content from the response object of GPT that'll be later on handled by our formulas.

The response object from ChatGPT has following structure:

{
  "id": "chatcmpl-123",
  "object": "chat.completion",
  "created": 1677652288,
  "choices": [{
    "index": 0,
    "message": {
      "role": "assistant",
      "content": "\n\nHello there, how may I assist you today?",
    },
    "finish_reason": "stop"
  }],
  "usage": {
    "prompt_tokens": 9,
    "completion_tokens": 12,
    "total_tokens": 21
  }
}

Read more on how to use URLFetchApp from here.

Step 3 – Integrate ChatGpt as a Sheets Formula

GPT SIMPLIFY Formula

Again, for the custom formula, we'll create a new file named formula and then we will create a function named GPT_SIMPLIFY.

/**
 * Simplifies the given paragraph in layman's term.
 * @param {String} input The value to simplify.
 * @return Simplified Text.
 * @customfunction
 */
function GPT_SIMPLIFY(input) {
  console.log(input)
  const systemContent = "Simplify the given text in layman's term. Remember reader is not an expert in english.";
  return Array.isArray(input) ?
    input.flat().map(text => fetchData(systemContent, text)) :
    fetchData(systemContent, input);

}

1. The GPT_SIMPLIFY formula simplifies whatever text is provided as input. The input to this function is data that is coming from the spreadsheet. When you select a range, a cell, or multiple cells, the data in the range will be automatically provided by the spreadsheet to this formula.
2. The systemContent is defined to be passed as the first parameter to the fetchData(systemContent,userContent) function.
3. We are checking if the input is an Array because the data passed to this function can either be a nested array or just a string if we select multiple cells or single cell, respectively, in the spreadsheet.

You can read more on custom functions on this page.

Now go ahead and apply this formula in your spreadsheet. I copied some text from a book I'm reading in the first column and applied the formula in the second column named "Simplify Passage", like this =GPT_SIMPLIFY(A2) for the second cell.

_Appilcation of GPTSIMPLIFY Formula

Note: Make sure to refresh the spreadsheet before you apply the formula to sync with the latest changes in the script.

GPT SUMMARIZE

To summarize the formula we'll just copy the simplify function and some other things, as you can see in the code below.

/**
 * Summarzies the given paragraph. It provides from 3-5 bullet points
 *
 * @param {String} input The value to summarize.
 * @return summarize Text.
 * @customfunction
 */
function GPT_SUMMARY(input) {
  console.log(input)
  const systemContent = "Summarize the given text. Provide atleast 3 and atmost 5 bullet points.";
  return Array.isArray(input) ?
    input.flat().map(text => fetchData(systemContent, text)) :
    fetchData(systemContent, input);

}

The main thing to notice here is the different system content.

Note: Since this is not a tutorial on how to use ChatGpt optimally, I provided instructions as the system content instead of role-play, and then just provided data in the user content. You can improvise this by providing roles in system content, and tasks as well as data as two different user roles in our FetchData() function.

GPT Rate Limit Error

For free users, the rate limit to use the API is 3/minute. As such, when you apply these formulas in more than three cells you'll encounter the error. Luckily the execution won't stop because we're returning an error string from fetch data which will be saved into those cells.

API rate limit error

Auto Refresh and Error

Moreover, the auto-refresh feature of the formula can force the re-application of the formula on cells that already have satisfying values whenever source cells are updated, in our case cells in column "A".

When we add a rate limit on top of auto-refresh it can cause a conundrum. You can technically make changes in custom functions to accommodate such circumstances but, I like to keep formulas light and efficient. So, I recommend we instead create custom menus and apply these functions manually.

Step 4 – Integrate GPT Chat API in Spreadsheet Menu Functions

GPT Simplify Menu

First, let's create another file named menu. Then we'll create the gptSimplifyMenu function which will be an alternative to the GPT_SIMPLIFY formula.

/**
 * Simplifies the given paragraph in layman's term.
 * @customfunction
 */
function gptSimplifyMenu() {
  try {
    // get sheets and data
    const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
    const data = ss.getDataRange().getValues();
    const lastRow = data.length;
    const lastCol = data[0].length;

    // define gpt's role play
    const systemContent = "Simplify the given text in layman's term. Remember reader is not an expert in english.";


    for (let i = 1; i < data.length; i++) {
      // only simplify if not already simplified or error occured previously
      if (data[i][1] === "" || data[i][1] === "Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.") {
        data[i][1] = fetchData(systemContent, data[i][0]);
        console.log(data[i][1]);

      }
    }

    ss.getRange(1, 1, lastRow, lastCol).setValues(data);
  } catch (e) {
    console.log(e)
    SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast("Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.");

  }
}

Key points that are different to understand in this code are:

1. We're hardcoding the data sources, as such data[i][1], which refers to the second column (that is "Simplified Passage") as shown in the spreadsheet image above. This means that if you're using some other columns to save data from ChatGPT to, then you'll have to make changes according to it.
2. We only fetch data when the target cell is empty or contains an error message. This helps to avoid unnecessary API calls.

Add a Custom Function as a Spreadsheet Menu

The function is ready to be tested, but it still will not appear in the spreadsheet. To do so, we'll need to provide the following instructions.

/**
 * Menu creates menu UI in spreadsheet.
 */
function createCustomMenu() {
   // define menu ui 
  let menu = SpreadsheetApp.getUi().createMenu("GPT Functions");
   // add function to the menu
   menu.addItem("GPT SIMPLIFY", "gptSimplifyMenu");
   // add menu to the spreadsheet ui
  menu.addToUi();
}

/**
 * OnOpen trigger that creates menu
 * @param {Dictionary} e
 */
function onOpen(e) {
  createCustomMenu();
}

In createCustomMenu():

1. We define menu with SpreadsheetApp.getUi().createMenu("GPT Functions") as GPT Functions the title appearing in the spreadsheet tab.
2. We add a function to the menu with the menu.addItem("GPT SIMPLIFY", "gptSimplifyMenu"), where the first parameter is the title for display and the second is the function to call when pressed.
3. Add the menu to the UI with menu.addToUi().

The onOpen trigger runs automatically whenever the document the script is attached to reloads and as such will add a menu to the spreadsheet as shown in the image below.

Go ahead and try the formula – it'll only be applied if the cell is either empty or prefilled with an error message.

GPT Summarize Menu

We'll make some minor changes after copying the simplify function as shown below:

/**
 * Summarzies the given paragraph. It provides from 3-5 bullet points
 * @customfunction
 */
function gptSummaryMenu() {
  try {
    // get sheets and data
    const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
    const data = ss.getDataRange().getValues();
    const lastRow = data.length;
    const lastCol = data[0].length;

    // define gpt's role play
    const systemContent = "Summarize the given text. Provide atleast 3 and atmost 5 bullet points.";


    for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
      console.log(`Inside gptSummaryMenu() for loop`)

      if (i == 0) continue;
      // only summarize if not already summarized or error occured previously
      if (data[i][2] === "" || data[i][2] === "Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.") {
        data[i][2] = fetchData(systemContent, data[i][0]);
        console.log(data[i][2]);
      }
    }

    ss.getRange(1, 1, lastRow, lastCol).setValues(data);
  } catch (e) {
    console.log(e)
    SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().toast("Some Error Occured Please check your formula or try again later.");
  }
}

1. The system role has been changed to address summary instruction.
2. The target column to save data is now the third column.
3. The doc string has been adjusted as well.

As for adding this function to the menu I'll leave it to you.

Tips to Modify the Code

All you need to make your own formula like =GPT_COVER_LETTER_CREATOR() are the following modifications:

To FetchData

You can change System Content Description should to address your needs, like "You write an expert cover letter for software developers".

Add one more instruction in the messages array:

// from this 
[{
          "role": "system",
          "content": systemContent,
        },
        {
          "role": "user",
          "content": userContent
        },
        ], 

// to 
[{
          "role": "system",
          "content": "You write an expert cover letter for software developers",
        },
        {
          "role": "user",
          "content": "Write me a cover letter for this given job advertisement"
        },
        {
          "role": "user",
          "content": userContent // this is job ad from spreadsheet
        },
        ],

You can also add another list item to include your skills and experiences.

Other Functions

Just make sure that your source cell/columns and target cell/columns are accurately indexed (for instance, if you're not using the first column as the source cell and the second to save the data).

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to use Google Apps Script to fetch ChatGPT responses from the API and save them into spreadsheets using custom formulas and custom menus.

We started by creating a new Google Apps Script project and adding the ChatGPT API. Then, we wrote a script that would fetch a ChatGPT response for a given prompt. We saved the response using a custom formula into a spreadsheet cell.

We also created a custom menu item that would allow us to fetch a ChatGPT response from any cell in the spreadsheet. This menu item would open a button to fetch the response.

The final step was to share the spreadsheet with others so that they could use the custom formulas and menus to fetch ChatGPT responses.

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. If you have any questions, just let me know.

I am Nibesh Khadka, Freelancer specializing in automating Google products with Apps Script. Contact me if you need my services at me@nibeshkhadka.com.

By using a very short custom function in Google Apps Script, we can add a list of events from a Google Sheet to a Google Calendar. 🤯

And we'll even have it email our guests as well. 🔥

Here's the video walkthrough to accompany the article:

Google Sheets Setup

Our sheet is quite straightforward. We have event names, dates, start times, end times and guest emails.

The only curious thing is the formatting of our dates and times - I'll cover this as we go on, but you can see that columns B and C are repeating information from columns D, E and F...

Google Calendar needs to receive the start and end times in the form of a full date/time object. But in the Google Sheet, there's not an easy way to create a dropdown data validation for users to select a date/time object.

In column D, I've put data validation to select a valid date.

And in columns E and F, I've created a dropdown list of valid times.

Columns B and C combine these together into a format that's useable to send to Google Calendar by using the =TEXT() function to concatenate the date and times together.

I promise it'll make more sense in a second! 😃

Calendar Setup

Let's make a new calendar in Google Calendar.

Underneath your calendars on the left sidebar of Google Calendar, click the plus icon to add a new one.

Give it a name and a description if you want, and then we're ready to roll.

Scroll down a bit in the calendar's settings to the Integrate Calendar section. Copy the calendar ID. This is how we'll get Apps Script talking to Calendar!

Apps Script + CalendarApp

Apps Script is awesome. 👏

The Class CalendarApp allows a script to access a user's Google Calendar and make changes to it.

Here is the full script, and we'll walk through what's going on below.

// Creates an events variable which is an array of arrays
function createCalendarEvent() {
    let events = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getRangeByName("events").getValues();

    // Creates an event for each item in events array

    events.forEach(function(e){
        CalendarApp.getCalendarById("f7574e7b4d1ad00c9ecd7f1eba5bed329e8600e317cd387a400748d67f301d06@group.calendar.google.com").createEvent(
          e[0],
          new Date(e[1]),
          new Date(e[2]),
          {guests: e[6],sendInvites: true}
    );
  })
}

I've named the range A3:B8 as "events". Then in Apps Script, we create a variable named events that grabs all the values in that whole range. We used a small range, but you could make this as many rows long as need be.

let events = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getRangeByName("events").getValues();

Then, we loop through each item and add the events to our calendar.

The first part is where we use that calendar ID string we grabbed from Google Calendar for the getCalendarById method.

Then we use the createEvent method to pull data from each row in our Google Sheet and make new events.

Here's the createEvent description from the developers page:

You can think of each row of data in the Google Sheet as an array of values. In the zero position is the event name, in the one position is the event date and start time, and so on.

By using e[0] we can access the element that is in the zero position for every time we loop through the forEach loop...effectively looping through each row of data.

And this is where the funky stuff we did with the start and end times comes into play.

Because the values in columns B and C are strings since we concatenated them together, we need to turn them back into complete date objects now.

That's why we're passing new Date(e[1]) and new Date (e[2]) into our createEvent function.

It's a bit of a cumbersome way to allow ourselves to use those dropdown selections in Google Sheets rather than painfully typing in a full date/time object.

User experience > code. 👍

And lastly, we add an optional parameter to send invites to guests.

Send with Button

That's all there is to the Apps Script. 🎉

As an added feature, we've attached a script to the rounded rectangle drawing to make it function like a button. Any time this is pressed, the events in the Google Sheet will populate the Google Calendar.

I hope this has been useful for you!

Please come check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel where I'm making weekly videos on coding and spreadsheets.

If you'd like my newsletter in your inbox, check it out here.

Yes, you can use them for finance dashboards, personal budgets, and project management (and we'll cover these as future topics). But in this article, I'll go through the basics of Apps Script by building a simple and playable Tic Tac Toe gameboard.

Here's the link to the spreadsheet we'll be making if you'd like to check it out while you follow along:

Let's go gif

Video Walkthrough Available

If you'd like to check out a video walkthrough of the Google Sheet, here you go:

Project Setup

Create a new Google Sheet by either going to your Google Drive and selecting NEW -> Google Sheet or by simply typing in sheets.new in the URL bar of your browser.

screenshot of Google Drive

Since this is a gameboard, we are going to give it a little bit of formatting to look good, add data validation and conditional formatting to add functionality to the game, and create useable buttons for our scorecard.

Here's what we'll end up with:

screenshot of Tic Tac Toe Google Sheet

Let's remove gridlines, add borders to the gameboard and the scorecard, and set an alternative font for the board.

To get rid of gridlines, select View -> Show -> Gridlines to uncheck this option.

screenshot of Google Sheets view options

To get a nice square grid with large X's and O's, I set the row height and column width of rows 2 - 4 and columns B - D by highlighting them, right clicking, and selecting the resize options.

screenshot of resizing columns in Google Sheets

I chose 150 pixels for the height and width. You'll need to do these separately – you cannot change both the row height and column width at the same time.

screenshot of resizing columns in Google Sheets

For the font size of the board, select 100, and for the Font, I am using Lexend. You can add additional Google Fonts from the toolbar dropdown:

screenshot of Fonts options in Google Sheets

Add a border to the board and the scorecard areas by highlighting the cells and then selecting the border options from the toolbar.

Click and drag over cells to select the whole range, and hold down the CTRL button to click and drag a second area. You can style these at the same time.

screenshot of border options in Google Sheets

Data Validation

Highlight the gameboard (B2:D4) and select Data -> Data validation from the menu.

This allows us to select Dropdown as the Criteria and add X and O as the two options to select.

Then click Advanced options and select Reject the input if the data is invalid, and plain text for the display style. This will keep the dropdown chips and handles from cluttering the gameboard.

screenshot of Data validation menu in Google Sheets

Conditional Formatting

We'll use conditional formatting for our gameboard also. We need to check for all the winning conditions, and if one of the players gets three in a row, we will highlight those cells.

Keeping the gameboard highlighted, select Format -> Conditional formatting.

screenshot of Format window in Google Sheets

There are eight conditions we'll check for three-in-a-row: going across x3, going down x3, and diagonal x2.

But we only need to write four formulas (two for the diagonals, one for across, and one for down) since we can use dollar ($) signs to drag the formula down and across for those.

For the down three-in-a-row:

//Apply to range B2:D2 
=AND($B2=$C2,$B2=$D2,ISTEXT($B2))

For the across three-in-a-row:

//Apply to range B2:D2
=AND(B$2=B$3,B$2=B$4,ISTEXT(B$3))

For the diagonals we have to define them separately:

//Apply to range B2, C3, D4 
=AND($B$2=$C$3,$B$2=$D$4,ISTEXT($B$2))

//Apply to range B4, C3, D2 
=AND($B$4=$C$3,$B$4=$D$2,ISTEXT($B$4))

We test for equality of each cell and whether there is anything in the cell with the =ISTEXT() function. By wrapping each item in an =AND() function, we'll only apply the formatting if all conditions are met.

I selected a green background for the conditional formatting.

screenshot of conditional formatting window

Apps Script

Now for the scorecard logic. Let's open Apps Script by selecting Extensions -> Apps Script from the menu:

screenshot of Apps Script menu

We'll write four functions to handle our logic:

1. xScore() will increment X's score in the scorecard
2. oScore() will increment O's score in the scorecard
3. clearBoard() will clear the board but keep the scores
4. reset() will clear the board and set the scores back to zero

To make things more legible, let's set a few named ranges.

Highlight the gameboard again and select Data -> Named ranges. Give this range a name of Board. Do the same for cells G4 and H4 for xScore and oScore, respectively.

Now for the scores, we'll have the exact same function for each using only the two different ranges: xScore for X and oScore for O. Here's how those will look using the xScore as an example:

xScore() & oScore():

function xScore() {
    var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive(); 
    var xScore = sheet.getRangeByName('xScore').getValue();
    sheet.getRangeByName('xScore').setValue(xScore+1); clearBoard();
}

• Line 1: This sets a variable (we'll do this in each function) for the active spreadsheet.
• Line 2: This sets a variable for xScore as the value in the named range xScore (cell G4)
• Line 3: This sets a new value for the xScore cell as whatever it was plus 1.
• Line 4: This runs the clearBoard() function which we'll write next...

clearBoard():

This will simply clear the gameboard but leave the score board untouched.

function clearBoard() {
    let sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
    let board = sheet.getRangeByName('Board');
    board.clearContent(); 
}

• Line 1: Our sheet variable again.
• Line 2: Our board variable. This is grabbing the range B2:D4 which we named 'Board'
• Line3: This built-in clearContent() method simply clears everything in those cells. Pretty simple.

reset():

Now we need a function to set the score board and gameboard back to their original states.

function reset() {
    let sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive(); 
    sheet.getRangeByName('xScore').setValue(0);
    sheet.getRangeByName('oScore').setValue(0); clearBoard(); 
}

• Line 1: our active sheet
• Line 2: we grab our xScore range and set its value to 0.
• Line 3: we do the same for our oScore
• Line 4: we run the reset function to handle the gameboard.

And that's it! Now we can run any of these functions from within the Apps Script editor and see that they work.

screenshot of running code within Apps Script editor

How to Create Buttons

It would be a lot nicer to have buttons in our actual spreadsheet to be able to run the functions.

To do this, we'll draw a button and then assign a script to it.

Select Insert -> Drawing from the menu.

Screenshot of Insert menu in Google Sheets

You can draw anything you'd like, but I chose the basic rounded rectangle.

Screenshot of shapes in Google Sheets drawings menu

Double click in the shape to add text, and resize, recolor, restyle as needed.

Screenshot of button in Google Sheets

Once you've created your button, click Save and Close. Then resize and position it where you'd like it in the Google Sheet. I've put mine right under the scorecard, and I made one for each score as well as a reset button.

Finally, to make the button work, click the three little dots at the top right of the button and select assign script. Then type in the name of the script (without the parentheses).

Screenshot of assigning a script to a button in Google Sheets

Now, all you've got to do is click one of the buttons and the assigned script will run 🔥.

Two notes:

1. The first time you run a script, there will be a pop-up dialog box asking you to accept the security allowances. It's a safety net to make sure you know you're running the code that's written in Apps Script, and to examine it if you didn't write it. You'll need to click through those and accept the risk to allow it to run.
2. If you need to move a button after assigning the script, you may get frustrated when clicking it doesn't bring up the three dots for the menu and only runs the script. To get around this and allow for movement and the three dot menu, right click the button.

Wrapping Up

I hope this has been helpful for you!

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel here for more content like this.

Have a great one!

In this Apps Script tutorial, we'll build a paint by numbers spreadsheet using conditional formatting and a script that "paints" a blank spreadsheet.

You'll learn how to:

1. Import data
2. Apply proper data visualization formatting to it
3. Code a couple of Apps Script functions to make it interactive.

Let's do it 🎨

Tenacious D rocking out

Video Walkthrough

Yes, I've got a full walkthrough for you. Pull this up as you read to reference and follow along 👇

Demo sheet with Pikachu: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Zu0B0dE_N4UrgAAzlWKqbpmz2TL_qr9GYWS451O7UL0/edit#gid=0

Demo sheet with Volcano: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11lOVseXtpB6xWxhrmZr1LfImI75TBDbof6mkFzz0ck4/edit#gid=0

You can make an editable copy of either of these by selecting File -> Make a copy.

Project Setup

Everything we're doing today is built on some simple formatting. We are going to have cells turn certain colors based on the number inside them.

See the pic below where all the blue cells have the number 15 in them. By setting the color of the font and the background to blue, we can create the effect of the cells being a solid color.

Picture of Pikachu pixel artwork

We can make our own number grid, but there are a ton available. I print these for my kids to color, and we can import them to our spreadsheet with a couple clicks.

Here's the volcano grid I used in the walkthrough video.

Picture of volcano color by number grid

When I first recorded the walkthrough video, I was unable to copy and paste from the PDF. When I did, it pasted every number in one cell.

Instead, by opening in Microsoft Word first and then copying and pasting from there, I was able to bring the number grid into the Google Sheet.

Since then, I've also found that when copying and pasting from the PDF, sometimes it will bring the numbers in to the first cell in each row:

picture of Google Sheets number grid

This doesn't work, either, because we need each number in its own cell. But, by applying the =SPLIT() function, we can achieve this easily.

=SPLIT(A1," ") will split each value in the cell by the empty spaces. So, all the numbers are pulled out into their own cells in the row.

Picture of Split function in Google Sheets

Once all the numbers are in individual cells, apply some formatting to the spreadsheet so that every cell is a square. Resize as big or as small as you'd like. I chose a row and column height of 30px.

To do this, select the column headers by clicking and dragging from A all the way to the end of the columns. Right click anywhere in the range, and select Resize columns.

Picture of resizing columns in Google Sheets

Do the same for the rows, specifying 30px for each.

Picture of resizing rows in Google Sheets

Turn off the gridlines by selecting View -> Show -> Gridlines.

Picture of View options in Google Sheets

Conditional Formatting

Select the entire range where all the numbers are and then click Format -> Conditional formatting.

Click Add new rule and under Format rules, select Is equal to from the dropdown menu.

Picture of conditional formatting in Google Sheets

Under Formatting style, follow the color key from the coloring page you selected and adjust the font and background colors according to each number.

In our example, all the number 10s need to be blue, so we enter 10 and then have the same blue for both background and font colors:

Picture of color options in Google Sheets

⭐Important Note

Because of the script we're writing and how we're triggering it, you need to alter the HEX code for one of these two numbers. If they are the exact same, it will cause an error later.

So, first enter the same color for both, then open one and select the plus icon in the custom color swatch.

Picture of custom colors in Google Sheets

Manually change one value in the HEX code by one digit. In the example, I changed it from #0b5294 to #0b5394. Visually, it will still look the same. If this is confusing, be sure to check out the walkthrough video at 02:39.

Picture of custom colors in Google Sheets

Do this for each color in your piece of art, and you'll have a gorgeous piece of pixel artwork in your spreadsheet. This alone is rewarding! 😀

Picture of volcano pixel art in Google Sheets

Apps Script Setup

Name the sheet that we're on by double clicking Sheet1 at the bottom. We'll call it "art". Then make a new sheet by clicking the plus icon on the bottom bar. Name it "canvas".

Picture of sheet names in Google Sheets

Setup the canvas in the same way we did at the beginning, only without the conditional formatting. Make everything the same size, remove the gridlines, and add a border around the B2:T21 range that will serve as a frame.

Now, we need to make buttons to toggle in each cell. In Google Sheets, the way to do this is by adding checkboxes to all the cells. Checkboxes will hold either a true or false value, and when we click them, they'll change back and forth.

Select our full range again, and select Data -> Data validation. Change the criteria to Checkbox and under Advanced options select Reject the input.

Picture of data validation rules in Google Sheets

This will give our script something to be triggered by.

Format these checkboxes in the same way we did our conditional formatting: make the background white: #ffffff, and the font color just slightly different: #fffeff. Then, give them a huge font size, like 200. This will allow for us to click anywhere in the cell and not run the risk of clicking just outside the border of the box itself.

Now, let's open our code editor by selecting Extensions -> Apps Script.

Picture of Extensions menu in Google Sheets

Script Logic

We need to copy and paste the formatting of individual cells every time we click the blank cells in our canvas.

To do this, we'll use an onEdit(e) trigger method built into Apps Script.

function onEdit(e) {
  //get current sheet
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();

  // if we're not on the art sheet...
  if(sheet.getName() != "art"){

First, we'll grab the active sheet as a variable. Then, making sure we're not on the "art" sheet, we'll go through the steps to grab and paste the formatting we need...

// get the active cell and it's row, column reference
var activeRange = sheet.getActiveCell();
var row = activeRange.getRow();
var column = activeRange.getColumn();

Within our conditional if statement, we'll make three more variables so that we can grab the position of the cell we're in.

Then we need to go to our "art" sheet and grab the formatting from the corresponding cell.

var artRange = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName("art").getRange(row,column);
// get the background color from the same reference in art sheet
var backgroundColor = artRange.getBackground();
var fontColor = artRange.getFontColor();

We'll make another three variables: one for the artRange which grabs the range from the "art" sheet using the row and column that we're on in the "canvas" sheet. And then two variables for the colors: one for background and one for font.

Now all we need to do is set the "canvas" sheet's cell to the colors we just grabbed. I've also chosen to make it toggle back to a blank white cell if it's already been colored. So we'll use another if statement to handle that:

trueFalse = activeRange.getValue();
if(trueFalse){
      // set activeRange with that backgroundColor
      activeRange.setBackground(backgroundColor);
      activeRange.setFontColor(fontColor);
    }
    else{
      activeRange.setBackground('#ffffff');
      activeRange.setFontColor('#fffeff');
    }

First, we set a trueFalse variable equal to the activeRange's value. This is either true or false depending on the state of the checkbox.

If it's false (the checkbox isn't checked), then we set the background and font colors using the variables we grabbed from our "art" sheet.

Here's the full onEdit(e) code:

function onEdit(e) {
  //get current sheet
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();

  // if we're not on the art sheet...
  if(sheet.getName() != "art"){

    // get the active cell and it's row, column reference
    var activeRange = sheet.getActiveCell();
    var row = activeRange.getRow();
    var column = activeRange.getColumn();

    var artRange = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName("art").getRange(row,column);

    // get the background color from the same reference in art sheet
    var backgroundColor = artRange.getBackground();
    var fontColor = artRange.getFontColor();

    Logger.log(backgroundColor)
    Logger.log(fontColor)

    trueFalse = activeRange.getValue();

    if(trueFalse){
      // set activeRange with that backgroundColor
      activeRange.setBackground(backgroundColor);
      activeRange.setFontColor(fontColor);
    }
    else{
      activeRange.setBackground('#ffffff');
      activeRange.setFontColor('#fffeff');
    }
  }
}

Reset Function

As an added feature, we'll add an actual button to reset the canvas. To do this, we'll make a new function in our Apps Script code editor.

We'll grab the sheet and all the checkboxes as variables. To get the checkboxes, we'll use the getRangebyName() method on our 'canvasArt' range.

Then, Apps Script makes it pretty easy with built in methods. We set the value of all the checkboxes to false, the background color to #ffffff, and the font color to #fffeff.

Here's the full reset() code:

function reset(){
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
  var checkboxes = sheet.getRangeByName('canvasArt');
  checkboxes.setValue(false);
  checkboxes.setBackground("#ffffff");
  checkboxes.setFontColor("#fffeff");
}

Trigger with Button

To make a button in the spreadsheet, select Insert -> Drawing.

Picture of Insert menu in Google Sheets

Select the rounded rectangle shape and drag it onto the grid.

Picture of Shapes menu in Google Sheets

Double click into the shape to write "CLEAR". Adjust the font and colors as you see fit.

Picture of button drawing in Google Sheets

Click Save and Close and then drag it to re-size and reposition onto your sheet at the bottom of the canvas.

Once you've positioned it, click the three circles in the top right, select Assign script, and type in the name of the script you'd like it to trigger (in our case, reset).

Picture of assigning script to button in Google Sheets

Now, when you click this button, that script will run and clear the whole art canvas.

Conclusion

I hope this has been helpful for you! I had a great time making this, and I have more game-type spreadsheet content coming soon.

Come follow me on YouTube, and say hey over on LinkedIn.

Have a great one! 👋

In this article, I'll give you a brief overview of Google Apps Script by showing you how to do something very simple: clearing a bunch of data in your spreadsheet.

gif of Homer Simpson saying, of course, it's so simple.

What is Apps Script?

Good question. Though you may be familiar with the square grid that makes up the interface of most spreadsheets, you may not know that behind the scenes, there is a powerful cloud-based JavaScript platform.

Apps Script lets you write custom functions, automations, add-ons and more. The screenshot below is from Google Workspace Docs:

Google Workspace docs

Open Apps Script

Here is the link to the demo sheet if you'd like to follow along and/or make a copy.

You can also build one with me by opening a new sheet: https://sheets.new.

And here's a video walkthrough detailing everything we're about to do:

For our example, we just need some data to clear. In my business we use this apps script to clear out templates once a month that we use weekly for inventory purposes.

We'll build a miniature version of this to practice with, but the principles we go over can be used on much larger scales where apps script can save a ton of time and effort.

Here's what our sheet will look like: four weeks worth of inventory and order amounts.

screenshot of order form in Google Sheets

We want an automated way to clear the data in the inventory and order columns.

Yes, you could simply select that range and hit delete or backspace. But if your spreadsheet is larger and more nuanced, there may be tens or hundreds of ranges to select.

And this is where Apps Script comes in super handy.

gif of Bill Murray

To open Apps Script, go to Extensions -> Apps Script.

Screenshot of Extensions Toolbar

🤔Now, what's better than working in a dapper spreadsheet?

Being able to write custom code for it!

From here, we're greeted with our old friend, the code editor.

We'll give this project a name of Clear Range at the top, and then making sure the code editor is selected on the left side-bar, we'll begin writing our first function, also named clearRange:

We can save our progress as we write by either pressing CTRL + S or clicking the save disk in the toolbar.

screenshot of apps script code editor

It wouldn't be coding with a console to debug ourselves, and sure enough, there is a Logger.log() method built in to Apps Script. Let's write our first Apps Script...script 😀 to log the message, Hello console! :):

function clearRange() {
  Logger.log('Hello console! :)')
}

And here's what you should see when you hit the Run button in the toolbar:

Screenshot of Logger.log() in Apps Script

Okay, so things are indeed working. Let's get to business with our actual script...

How to Add a Custom Menu

We can execute our code within the code editor by clicking Run, but we don't want to open this up every time we use the code. So, let's add a custom menu to the toolbar inside our spreadsheet.

We've got two options here: creating a custom menu or creating an addon menu. The custom menu will function as a dropdown menu directly on the Toolbar to the right of the Help menu. The addon menu will display within the regular Extensions dropdown menu.

Let's add the custom menu. It can be helpful to copy methods from the Apps Script Docs and then fit them to our purposes. That's what I've done below from the createMenu() method here:

function onOpen(e) {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
      .createMenu('Clear Entries')
      .addItem('Clear \'em all!', 'clearRange')
      .addSeparator()
      .addToUi();
}

This creates a menu when the spreadsheet is opened named Clear Entries. Within the menu, there's a clickable item named Clear 'em all! that calls the clearRange function.

How to Add the Function

Now, we need the function to do more than log a message to the console.

We can clear the contents of a range or ranges in a few ways. We'll do it here by naming the ranges that we will want to clear. This will prevent us from having to hard code cell references in case those change down the road as we modify the spreadsheet.

I've named each week's inventory and order columns as named ranges:

screenshot of named ranges

Then, in our function we make a variable to hold an array of all the named ranges, iterate over each one in a forEach() loop, and clear each range's contents using the clearContent() method.

Very simple, and only it takes a few lines of code:

function clearRange(){
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
  var ranges = ss.getNamedRanges();
  ranges.forEach(range => range.getRange().clearContent());
}

In the demo Google Sheet, I included the alternative way to write this with A1 notation if you needed to not use the named ranges.

How to Execute the Function

When you first execute a function that requires access to your data, you'll be greeted by this Authorization screen.

authorization screenshot

Choose your Google account, click Advanced when you see the "Google hasn't verified this app" screen:

Google verification screen

It will describe what the function trying to execute is going to have permission to access. Click Allow:

screenshot allowing permission to use our new function

Once you've allowed the permissions, you'll need to execute the function again for it to actually run this time. You'll see this running script dialog pop up at the top:

screenshot of running script dialog box

And, voilà!

We've cleared our range :)

gif of the spreadsheet range clearing

Summary

I hope this has been a useful walkthrough for you, and that you learned something new. I use a version of this very script in the real world on a regular basis. It's an example of a pretty small thing that saves a ton of time and errors.

Come say hey and subscribe to my YouTube channel over here. I create walkthroughs and tech content weekly.

Have a great one! 👋

The best learn-to-code projects are often those which solve a real world problem.

These projects can provide that extra dose of motivation so essential to finishing any project. They encourage you to actively explore and discover new concepts, rather than imitate examples you've seen before.

There's also something that bit extra satisfying about solving a problem you face day-to-day.

An easy way to start is with Google Apps Script.

It is a scripting language for a range of Google applications. The language itself is in fact JavaScript.

What Google Apps Script provides are libraries and classes that allow you to work with objects such as spreadsheets, emails, calendars, slides, and more.

If you want to dive right in, the documentation is available here.

Here are three examples that will show how to get started with Google Apps Script. Hopefully it will give you some ideas for your own projects!

Launching Google Apps Script

You will need a Google account to start developing Apps Script projects. To start a new project, simply navigate to script.google.com/home and click 'New Script'.

You will be taken to an in-browser IDE that looks something like this:

Give your project a name by changing the title in the top left corner.

Note that every time you require Apps Script to access different Google applications, you will need to give the necessary permissions.

This might look a bit daunting, but if you are running your own project carefully, there will be no problem. Click "Advanced" and allow your project permission to run.

Let's take a look at some examples.

Calculate your income tax

This simple example will show you how to extend Google Sheets by adding your own custom formulae. In this example, the formula will be used to calculate UK income tax.

In the UK, different income tax rates are applied to different earnings categories. Therefore, the amount of income tax owed varies depending on the income.

First, create a new Google Sheet. Then, from the menu ribbon, select Tools > Script editor. You will be taken to the Apps Script IDE.

The code block below uses a switch statement to calculate the right amount of tax for a numerical argument income. If you are familiar with JavaScript, you will recognise the syntax.

function TAX(income) {

  switch (true) {

    case income <= 12500:
      var tax = 0;
      break;
    case income <= 50000:
      var tax = 0.2 * (income - 12500);
      break;
    case income <= 150000:
      var tax = 7500 + (0.4 * (income - 50000));
      break;
    case income > 150000:
      var tax = 47500 + (0.45 * (income - 150000));
      break;
    default:
      var tax = "ERROR";
  }

  return tax;

}

Save your project if you haven't already.

Now, back in the sheet, enter your chosen salary in e.g., cell A1. You can now call the new formula with =TAX(A1).

You could write a similar function to calculate UK National Insurance contributions.

What other Sheets functions could you write?

Remember to check your emails

It can be difficult to make time to respond to important emails. This example will bring together Gmail and Google Calendar in one short application.

The idea is simple. You provide a list of important email contacts and/or keywords. The application checks your inbox every six hours. If it finds any new emails from these contacts (with any of the keywords in the subject line), it creates a calendar event reminding you to reply later in the day.

You can create a new project from script.google.com/home.

Check out the code below:

function reminder() {
  /* create list of senders and subject keywords */
  senders = ["freecodecamp", "codecademy", "meetup"];
  subjects = ["javascript", "python", "data science"];

  /* build the search query */
  var searchString = "is:unread newer_than:1d from: { " +
    senders.join(" ") + "} subject: { " + 
    subjects.join(" ") + " }"

  /* retrieve any matching messages */
  threads = GmailApp.search(searchString);

  /* if there are any results, create a calendar event */
  if (threads.length > 0) {
    var event = CalendarApp.getDefaultCalendar();
    event.createEventFromDescription('Review emails 6pm today');
  }

}

To run this function at regular intervals, you can set up a trigger. From the menu ribbon, choose Edit > Current project's triggers.

This will take you to a new tab where you can add a new trigger for the current project. Click 'Add new trigger' and choose the settings you wish to use.

Now, your script will run every 6 hours, and create a calendar event if you have any emails you need to review.

A useful extension might be to create a spreadsheet or Google Form that lets you add contacts and keywords easily.

How else could you integrate your inbox and your calendar?

Slides update

Keeping presentations and slide decks up-to-date can be a tedious task. Luckily, you can use Google Apps Script to automate the process.

For this example, we'll use a fictional mobile app. The aim is to produce a slide deck with up-to-date metrics such as app downloads, active users, and revenue.

The trick will be to replace a number of <tags> in the deck with data contained in a Google Sheet.

In Slides, create a new presentation. Give it a name such as "App update template".

Create a new slide. Give it a title such as "Key metrics".

In a text box, add some content such as below:

Notice the tags included in each line. These will be replaced by up-to-date figures each time the script is run.

Next, create a new Sheet and add some data to use in the slide deck. In one column, refer to the tags in the slide deck. In the other, add the latest data.

In a real-life example, this would be calculated from raw data elsewhere in the spreadsheet. The raw data could come from Google Analytics, or be exported from a data warehouse, or from some other source.

Back in Slides, select Tools > Script Editor from the menu ribbon. This will open a new Apps Script project.

Now you can start writing some code. The function takes two file ids as arguments - one for the Slides template, one for the Sheet. The file id is the string of letters and numbers you can find in the file's URL.

function updateSlides(templateId, sheetId) {

  /* Make a latest copy of the slide deck template */
  var template = DriveApp.getFileById(templateId);
  var today = Date();
  var copyName = "App update " + today;
  var templateCopy = template.makeCopy(copyName);

  /* Open spreadsheet and slides by their id*/
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.openById(sheetId);
  var slides = SlidesApp.openById(templateCopy.getId());

  /* Get the data from the sheet */
  var data = sheet.getRange("A1:B5").getValues();

  /* replace all the tags in the deck with their latest values */
  for(var i=0; i <data.length; i++){
    var tag = "<"+data[i][0]+">";
    var value = data[i][1].toString();

    slides.replaceAllText(tag, value);

  }
}

If you run this script, a new presentation will be created with the latest data in place of each of the tags.

You could schedule this script to run at regular intervals, such as at the end of each month. If you wanted to develop the idea even further, you could use Apps Script to automatically email the new deck to a list of contacts.

Over to you

Google Apps Script is a great way to start writing real JavaScript in a way which is immediately practical. Hopefully you found these three examples helpful.

Perhaps this introduction has given you ideas for projects you could develop?

Remember, coding is a powerful tool - don't do anything with Apps Script you wouldn't do manually. Best not to erase your entire inbox or overwrite an important file with memes.

Thanks for reading!

Have you heard of Google Apps Script? I was introduced to it for the first time at a Google Developer Group meetup held in Bangalore.

Apps Script helps you use Google’s G Suite products, by running a script similar to JavaScript. With just a few lines of code, users can get things done at a click of a button, which would otherwise take much more time.

Google Apps Scripts is very easy to pickup, and helps you to build complex systems by making use of G Suite. Users can publish web apps, and build custom functions for Google Slides, Sheets and Forms.

In this article, I will walk you through building a small app that uses Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Translate.

I built this app for travellers. When we visit foreign countries, communication becomes a problem due to language barriers. People often take flash cards with them to help communicate with locals.

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We are going to build exactly this. Questions and phrases are put up in Google Sheets. Then, a script translates the lines and writes them on to Google Slides. There!! Translated flash cards are ready to use.

Now, READY.SET.CODE

Storing data

Data here are sentences/words you want to translate. They are stored in the rows of the Google sheet.

So the structure of the spreadsheet will be:

• Each row will be filled with sentences that you want translated.
• The second column will hold the value to tell us the language the sentences must be translated to. The value here is the Google translate language code. If I want the sentences translated in Spanish, the code will be “es”.

Filled Google Sheet

Accessing script editor

The script to complete the desired task is written in the Script Editor. To access this, go to Tools > Script Editor. Another way to access the Script Editor is to visit the App Scripts dashboard and create a new Apps script. All the scripts users write can be managed by this dashboard.

The script editor contains an empty file called Code.gs. We will write the code here in just one script.

Main function

We write a main function sheetToSlide() in which the active sheet and slide are initialized. Another function translate() is called in the main function. It is here that the actual logic takes place.

function sheetToSlide() {  var sheet =   SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();  var slide = SlidesApp.create('TranslateApp');  var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();  var lan= data[0][1];  Logger.log(lan);  for (var i=0; i<data.length; i++){     translate(i,data[i][0],lan,slide);  }}

In the variable data, the contents of the spreadsheet are stored as a multi-dimensional array. These values can be accessed by data[Row][Column].

They are passed on to the translate function for further processing, along with the slide variable and language in which translation is required.

Logger is a class used to write text to the logging console. This helps a lot in the process of developing a code. The output of the code can be printed on to the debugging logs. To have a look at the logs go to View > Logs in the script editor window.

Translate function

In this function, new slides are added to the presentation that contain both the original and the translated sentences. Each sentence is inserted in a new slide in a text box.

function translate(num,data,language,slide){  var translate_lang = LanguageApp.translate(data, 'en', language);  var card= slide.insertSlide(num);  var shapeEnglish = card.insertShape(SlidesApp.ShapeType.TEXT_BOX, 150,100,300,60);  var textEnglish = shapeEnglish.getText();    textEnglish.setText(data);  textEnglish.getTextStyle().setBold(true);  card.insertLine(SlidesApp.LineCategory.STRAIGHT, 200,175,300,175)      var shapeTranslated = card.insertShape(SlidesApp.ShapeType.TEXT_BOX, 150,200,300,60);  var textTranslated = shapeTranslated.getText();  textTranslated.setText(translate_lang);  textTranslated.getTextStyle().setBold(true);  }

The sentence obtained is first translated using Google Translate which is a part of G Suite.

A new slide is inserted to hold the sentences. In the slide a text box is placed at a particular position. You can alter it by going through the docs here.

The text that must be displayed in the text box is done using the getText() and setText() methods. These are all properties of the Google Slides that you can manipulate and customize according to your wishes.

The design here is made very simple. A horizontal line is placed in the middle using insertLine() method to split the original and translated text. The properties and variables of all these methods used are given in detail in the docs provided by Google.

To run a the script, click on the run button beside the time icon. The script will prompt up a window which will ask for permission to access the Sheets and Slides, simply allow it. Next, go to your drive and a new presentation will be ready which will have translated sentences in the cards.

That’s how helpful and easy Apps Script is. You can also fill up a Firebase Realtime database by just using Google Sheets. By just writing simple scripts in few lines, you can automate a lot of things and also build web apps that can be hosted.

App Scripts is really powerful and aims highly at letting users make their services automated. Next time you want to send an email to a bunch of people, try using App Scripts. Once you get the hang of it, you can build wondrous things, like Sheets to website, your own blog, Sheets to Slides and many more.

Hope this helped. Cheers!!

You can feel free to reach out to me!

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