Search icon CANCEL
Subscription
0
Cart icon
Your Cart (0 item)
Close icon
You have no products in your basket yet
Arrow left icon
Explore Products
Best Sellers
New Releases
Books
Videos
Audiobooks
Learning Hub
Conferences
Free Learning
Arrow right icon
Learning Google Apps Script
Learning Google Apps Script

Learning Google Apps Script: Customize and automate Google Applications using Apps Script

eBook
€17.99 €26.99
Paperback
€32.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at €18.99p/m

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital eBook copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Table of content icon View table of contents Preview book icon Preview Book

Learning Google Apps Script

Chapter 2. Creating Basic Elements

In the previous chapter, you learned about Google Apps Script (GAS) and how to create a script project. In this chapter, you will learn how to create a clickable button, a custom menu, a message box, a sidebar and dialogs, as well as how to debug your script. We will use Sheets for the first two tasks and Docs for all the other tasks.

Creating a clickable button

In the previous chapter, you learned how to open the script editor in Google Sheets. For this task, open the script editor in a newly created or any existing Google Sheet and follow these steps:

  1. Select cell B3 or any other cell. Click on Insert and select Drawing..., as shown in the following screenshot:
    Creating a clickable button
  2. A drawing editor window will open. Click on the Text box icon and then click anywhere within the canvas area. Type Click Me. Resize the object to enclose the text only, as shown in the following screenshot:
    Creating a clickable button
  3. Click on Save & Close to exit the drawing editor. Now, the Click Me image will be inserted into the active cell (B3), as shown in the following screenshot:
    Creating a clickable button

    You can drag this image anywhere around the spreadsheet except in the menu bar.

    Tip

    In Google Sheets, images are not anchored to a particular cell, and they can be dragged or moved around.

    If you click on the image, a drop-down arrow on the top-right corner will be visible:

    Creating a clickable button
  4. Click on the Assign script…...

Showing toast when a button is clicked

Toast appears as a popup window in the lower-right corner of the active spreadsheet with a title and message. To create a toast dialog, edit or replace the greeting function as follows:

function greeting() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet()
   .toast("Hello World!", "Greeting");
}

Now if you click the button, then a toast dialog will appear as shown in the following screenshot, and it disappears within 5 seconds (the default):

Showing toast when a button is clicked

You can include a third argument, that is, timeout seconds, in the toast method. This means how long the toast will be visible for. Put a negative number if you want it to show up forever. For example, toast("Hello World!", "Greeting", -1).

Tip

Toast only works in Sheets.

Creating a custom menu

You might be wondering whether you can execute the greeting function without the help of the button. The answer is yes. In the script editor, there is a Run menu. If you click on Run | greeting, then the greeting function will be executed and the message box will open.

Creating a button for every function may not be feasible. Although you cannot alter or add items to the application's standard menu (except the Add-ons menu) such as File, Edit, View, and so on, you can add custom menus and menu items.

For this task, create a new Google Docs document or open an existing document. Open the script editor and type these two functions:

function createMenu() {
  DocumentApp.getUi()
   .createMenu("PACKT")
   .addItem("Greeting","greeting")
   .addToUi();
}

function greeting() {
  var ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  ui.alert("Greeting", "Hello World!", ui.ButtonSet.OK);
}

In the first function, you are using the DocumentApp...

Creating a sidebar

A sidebar is a static dialog box and is included on the right-hand side of the document editor window. To create a sidebar, type the following code in the editor:

function onOpen() {
  var htmlOutput = HtmlService
  .createHtmlOutput('<button onclick="alert(\'Hello World!\');">Click Me</button>')
  .setTitle('My Sidebar');

  DocumentApp.getUi().showSidebar(htmlOutput);
}

In the preceding code, you are using HtmlService and invoking its method createHtmlOutput then consecutively invoking the setTitle method. To test this code, run the onOpen function or reload the document. The sidebar will open in the right-hand side of the document window as shown in the following screenshot. The sidebar layout size is a fixed one, which means you cannot change, alter, or resize it.

Creating a sidebar

The button in the sidebar is an HTML element, not a GAS element, and if clicked, it opens the browser interface's alert box.

Creating an Add-ons menu

In the previous task, you included the HTML code inline as a string argument to the createHtmlOutput method. Alternatively, you can put this HTML snippet in a separate HTML file.

To create a new HTML file, in the script editor, go to File | New | Html file, as shown in the following screenshot:

Creating an Add-ons menu

Then in the Create File box, enter your preferred name for the new HTML file. For this task, enter Index and click on the OK button. The .html extension will be added automatically.

Creating an Add-ons menu

A new Index.html file will be created with a few lines of default HTML code, as shown in the following screenshot:

Creating an Add-ons menu

Insert your button tags between the body tags as shown here:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <base target="_top">
  </head>
  <body>
    <button onclick="alert('Hello World!');">Click Me</button>
  </body>
</html>

Insert the code shown here in the Code.gs file:

function onOpen(){
  DocumentApp...

Creating a clickable button


In the previous chapter, you learned how to open the script editor in Google Sheets. For this task, open the script editor in a newly created or any existing Google Sheet and follow these steps:

  1. Select cell B3 or any other cell. Click on Insert and select Drawing..., as shown in the following screenshot:

  2. A drawing editor window will open. Click on the Text box icon and then click anywhere within the canvas area. Type Click Me. Resize the object to enclose the text only, as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. Click on Save & Close to exit the drawing editor. Now, the Click Me image will be inserted into the active cell (B3), as shown in the following screenshot:

    You can drag this image anywhere around the spreadsheet except in the menu bar.

    Tip

    In Google Sheets, images are not anchored to a particular cell, and they can be dragged or moved around.

    If you click on the image, a drop-down arrow on the top-right corner will be visible:

  4. Click on the Assign script… menu item...

Showing toast when a button is clicked


Toast appears as a popup window in the lower-right corner of the active spreadsheet with a title and message. To create a toast dialog, edit or replace the greeting function as follows:

function greeting() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet()
   .toast("Hello World!", "Greeting");
}

Now if you click the button, then a toast dialog will appear as shown in the following screenshot, and it disappears within 5 seconds (the default):

You can include a third argument, that is, timeout seconds, in the toast method. This means how long the toast will be visible for. Put a negative number if you want it to show up forever. For example, toast("Hello World!", "Greeting", -1).

Tip

Toast only works in Sheets.

Creating a custom menu


You might be wondering whether you can execute the greeting function without the help of the button. The answer is yes. In the script editor, there is a Run menu. If you click on Run | greeting, then the greeting function will be executed and the message box will open.

Creating a button for every function may not be feasible. Although you cannot alter or add items to the application's standard menu (except the Add-ons menu) such as File, Edit, View, and so on, you can add custom menus and menu items.

For this task, create a new Google Docs document or open an existing document. Open the script editor and type these two functions:

function createMenu() {
  DocumentApp.getUi()
   .createMenu("PACKT")
   .addItem("Greeting","greeting")
   .addToUi();
}

function greeting() {
  var ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  ui.alert("Greeting", "Hello World!", ui.ButtonSet.OK);
}

In the first function, you are using the DocumentApp class, invoking the getUi method, and consecutively invoking...

Creating a sidebar


A sidebar is a static dialog box and is included on the right-hand side of the document editor window. To create a sidebar, type the following code in the editor:

function onOpen() {
  var htmlOutput = HtmlService
  .createHtmlOutput('<button onclick="alert(\'Hello World!\');">Click Me</button>')
  .setTitle('My Sidebar');

  DocumentApp.getUi().showSidebar(htmlOutput);
}

In the preceding code, you are using HtmlService and invoking its method createHtmlOutput then consecutively invoking the setTitle method. To test this code, run the onOpen function or reload the document. The sidebar will open in the right-hand side of the document window as shown in the following screenshot. The sidebar layout size is a fixed one, which means you cannot change, alter, or resize it.

The button in the sidebar is an HTML element, not a GAS element, and if clicked, it opens the browser interface's alert box.

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon

Key benefits

  • Gain insight into customizing and automating Google applications with JavaScript
  • Create add-ons for Google Sheets, Docs, or Forms; automate your workflow; integrate with external APIs; and more.
  • A step-by-step guide to building real-world solutions

Description

Google Apps Script is a cloud-based scripting language based on JavaScript to customize and automate Google applications. Apps Script makes it easy to create and publish add-ons in an online store for Google Sheets, Docs, and Forms. It serves as one single platform to build, code, and ultimately share your App on the Web store. This book begins by covering the basics of the Google application platform and goes on to empower you to automate most of the Google applications. You will learn the concepts of creating a menu, sending mails, building interactive web pages, and implementing all these techniques to develop an interactive Web page as a form to submit sheets You will be guided through all these tasks with plenty of screenshots and code snippets that will ensure your success in customizing and automating various Google applications This guide is an invaluable tutorial for beginners who intend to develop the skills to automate and customize Google applications

Who is this book for?

Newbies to google apps script but having practical experience in Javascript.

What you will learn

  • Learn about the Google Apps script platform and work with scripts to develop Google apps
  • Create custom menus and dialogs
  • Parse and send emails
  • Generate Google calendar events
  • Build Translator and RSS reader applications
  • Develop interactive web pages
  • Design interactive web-forms
  • Form a workflow application
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Romania

Premium delivery 7 - 10 business days

€25.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Mar 18, 2016
Length: 232 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785882517

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital eBook copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Romania

Premium delivery 7 - 10 business days

€25.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Publication date : Mar 18, 2016
Length: 232 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785882517

Packt Subscriptions

See our plans and pricing
Modal Close icon
€18.99 billed monthly
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Simple pricing, no contract
€189.99 billed annually
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts
€264.99 billed in 18 months
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts

Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total 94.97
Google Apps Script for Beginners
€24.99
Mastering Google App Engine
€36.99
Learning Google Apps Script
€32.99
Total 94.97 Stars icon

Table of Contents

10 Chapters
1. Introducing Google Apps Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Creating Basic Elements Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Parsing and Sending E-mails Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Creating Interactive Forms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Creating Google Calendar and Drive Applications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Creating Feed Reader and Translator Applications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Creating Interactive Webpages Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Building a Workflow Application Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. More Tips and Tricks and Creating an Add-on Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Top Reviews
Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
(6 Ratings)
5 star 33.3%
4 star 16.7%
3 star 0%
2 star 16.7%
1 star 33.3%
Filter icon Filter
Top Reviews

Filter reviews by




markr Oct 20, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I noticed a review that claimed that the Kindle version of this book was "unreadable" not only is that claim incorrect but the book is actually excellent. For someone to be allowed to give a 1 star rating because of a problem with their reader is disgraceful. I hope someone removes it.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Daniel Dec 05, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I am an "enthusiast" programmer so I kind of drift from project to project and language to language but I always come back to this book to get started up in Google App Script.I find it very useful. It is a great primer and its examples are short and to the point. A similar book I had tried to use was doing a working example throughout and it gets hard when there is a problem because you reach a dead end. That was not the case in the book. I can look at an example of a couple of pages and get going. Between that and looking at the online documentation from Google, you are good to go. Even his Utilities.sleep(1000) was very good practice as I had to insert over 200 calendar events without getting over the limit.It is even better to use on Kindle because you can bookmark and jump from place to place getting to the "good" stuff when you want to make something.It was a very good reference as well as introduction for me. I very highly recommend it for that.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Amazon Customer Mar 22, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
Once fleshed out more, this is a very useful book. It has helped me with several problems already, but GAS is so extensive and the book so short, that many things still are not covered (OK -- this will always be the case, but more is better).
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Praveen Jain Jul 27, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2
Overpriced, no explanation in the book, only code
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Cliente de Amazon Jun 01, 2016
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
The free kindle sample is pretty much worthless .... Only the table of Contents, the Disclaimer and the credits can be "read".This does not five any real insight about the usefulness or not of this book. And I am not willing to pay 31.99 for something am am not sure will be of use. Sad.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Get free access to Packt library with over 7500+ books and video courses for 7 days!
Start Free Trial

FAQs

What is the delivery time and cost of print book? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela
What is custom duty/charge? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customs duty are charges levied on goods when they cross international borders. It is a tax that is imposed on imported goods. These duties are charged by special authorities and bodies created by local governments and are meant to protect local industries, economies, and businesses.

Do I have to pay customs charges for the print book order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The orders shipped to the countries that are listed under EU27 will not bear custom charges. They are paid by Packt as part of the order.

List of EU27 countries: www.gov.uk/eu-eea:

A custom duty or localized taxes may be applicable on the shipment and would be charged by the recipient country outside of the EU27 which should be paid by the customer and these duties are not included in the shipping charges been charged on the order.

How do I know my custom duty charges? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The amount of duty payable varies greatly depending on the imported goods, the country of origin and several other factors like the total invoice amount or dimensions like weight, and other such criteria applicable in your country.

For example:

  • If you live in Mexico, and the declared value of your ordered items is over $ 50, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 19% which will be $ 9.50 to the courier service.
  • Whereas if you live in Turkey, and the declared value of your ordered items is over € 22, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 18% which will be € 3.96 to the courier service.
How can I cancel my order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Cancellation Policy for Published Printed Books:

You can cancel any order within 1 hour of placing the order. Simply contact customercare@packt.com with your order details or payment transaction id. If your order has already started the shipment process, we will do our best to stop it. However, if it is already on the way to you then when you receive it, you can contact us at customercare@packt.com using the returns and refund process.

Please understand that Packt Publishing cannot provide refunds or cancel any order except for the cases described in our Return Policy (i.e. Packt Publishing agrees to replace your printed book because it arrives damaged or material defect in book), Packt Publishing will not accept returns.

What is your returns and refunds policy? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Return Policy:

We want you to be happy with your purchase from Packtpub.com. We will not hassle you with returning print books to us. If the print book you receive from us is incorrect, damaged, doesn't work or is unacceptably late, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com with the order number and issue details as explained below:

  1. If you ordered (eBook, Video or Print Book) incorrectly or accidentally, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com within one hour of placing the order and we will replace/refund you the item cost.
  2. Sadly, if your eBook or Video file is faulty or a fault occurs during the eBook or Video being made available to you, i.e. during download then you should contact Customer Relations Team within 14 days of purchase on customercare@packt.com who will be able to resolve this issue for you.
  3. You will have a choice of replacement or refund of the problem items.(damaged, defective or incorrect)
  4. Once Customer Care Team confirms that you will be refunded, you should receive the refund within 10 to 12 working days.
  5. If you are only requesting a refund of one book from a multiple order, then we will refund you the appropriate single item.
  6. Where the items were shipped under a free shipping offer, there will be no shipping costs to refund.

On the off chance your printed book arrives damaged, with book material defect, contact our Customer Relation Team on customercare@packt.com within 14 days of receipt of the book with appropriate evidence of damage and we will work with you to secure a replacement copy, if necessary. Please note that each printed book you order from us is individually made by Packt's professional book-printing partner which is on a print-on-demand basis.

What tax is charged? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Currently, no tax is charged on the purchase of any print book (subject to change based on the laws and regulations). A localized VAT fee is charged only to our European and UK customers on eBooks, Video and subscriptions that they buy. GST is charged to Indian customers for eBooks and video purchases.

What payment methods can I use? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

You can pay with the following card types:

  1. Visa Debit
  2. Visa Credit
  3. MasterCard
  4. PayPal
What is the delivery time and cost of print books? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela