Google Apps Script - force setValue to text - google-apps-script

I am using setValue() to put values from an array into spreadsheet cells. Some array elements contain data that is text, but is being parsed as numeric, eg: "6E5", and setValue() converts them (in that case the cell gets the numeric value 600000). Is there any way to force the cell to be a text value?

I think you're looking to set the number format. Do this before you setValue. See example below. You could also create all of your array values to be a formula. Example ="6E5" see an answer I posted here related to forms.
Something like this....
/** #OnlyCurrentDoc*/
function setRangeToBeText() {
var newValue = [["6E5","7d","99"]];
//test on first cell
var theRange = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(1,1,newValue.length,newValue[0].length);
//sets format first
theRange.setNumberFormat('#');
theRange.setValues(newValue);
}
Example setting Format:
Example WITHOUT setting format:
]

Related

App Script Conditional Formatting to apply on sheet by name

I have been trying to make a Google App Script code which highlight the cell if it has specific text like "L".
I have made a below code but its not working and when i run this no error appears. i do not know what is the problem.
Can you have a look at it, please that why its not working.
function formatting() {
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Dec');
var range = sheet.getRange("C:AG");
if (range == 'L') {
ss.range.setBackgroundColor('#ea9999');
}
}
Issues with the code:
Three things to mention:
range is a range object, not a string. In the if condition you are comparing an object of type range with an object of type string. You need to use getValue to get the values of the range object and then compare that with the string L.
This code will take a lot of time to complete because you have a large range of cells you want to check but also you are iteratively using GAS API methods. As explained in Best Practices it is way more efficient to use batch operations like getValues,
getBackgrounds and setBackgrounds.
Another improvement you can make is to use getLastRow to restrict the row limit of your range since you are looking for non-empty values. There is no reason for checking empty cells after the last row with content.
Google Apps Script Solution:
function formatting() {
const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Dec');
const range = sheet.getRange("C1:AG"+sheet.getLastRow());
const values = range.getValues();
const bcolors = range.getBackgrounds();
const new_bcolors = values.map((r,i)=>r.map((c,j)=>c=='L'?'#ea9999':bcolors[i][j]))
range.setBackgrounds(new_bcolors)
}
Google Sheets Solution:
Another idea would be to just create a conditional formatting in Google Sheets:
and specify a custom color with your hex code:
JavaScript References:
map
ternary operator

getRange outputting "Range" instead of values

So, I'm making a code that copies certain data from our EOD worksheet, and copy/pasting the data onto another sheet, which acts as a summary.
I've got most of the code already working, but running into trouble with the getRange output. It just shows "Range" in the cell instead of my input, which should all be numbers.
function myFunction() {
var source = [];
var destSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName('SnapshotSpreadsheet');
var destRange = destSheet.getRange(destSheet.getLastRow()+1,2);
source.push(sheet.getRange('B20'));
source.push(sheet.getRange('E20:F20'));
source.push(sheet.getRange('H20'));
source.push(sheet.getRange ('J20:I20'));
source.push(sheet.getRange ('M18'));
source.push(sheet.getRange ('K20'));
source.push(insertDate());
destSheet.getRange(2,1,1,7).setValues([source]);
I've included just the portion that is causing the issue. I defined source as an array, and stored values into the array, then just called for them to be output on the next available line. Everything seems to be lining up alright, just the values are all "Range".
You need to use getValue() (if single cell) or getValues() (if multiple cells) to get the content of those ranges.
Cfr https://developers.google.com/apps-script/reference/spreadsheet/range#getValue()
You'll need to do .getValues() for it to return the values of the cells
var values = sheet.getRange('E20:F20').getValues();
This returns a Two Dimensional array of values, so you'll have to work around that in your code. For example the line of code I just wrote would be an array like
[[Value at E20, Value at F20]]
so in order to access the Value at E20, you would call values[0][0] or for Value at F20, - values[0][1]

google sheets script get cell contents

I have a list of URLs in a google spreadhseet and I want to get the cell reference to be used as a URL in the script.
An example of a URL I will be getting data from: https://politicsandwar.com/api/nation/id=31831
I want to do something like getValue.("O2") or var urlData = "O2" but I don't know how to go about getting to that point.
You should first get a range and then get its values.
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
//Gets all cell values form column "O" starting from row 2. Returns a 2d array
var wholeColumnUrls = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange("O2:O").getValues();
//Gets value from specific cell "O2".
var singleCellUrl = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange("O2").getValue();
There are multiple ways of defining a range, in this example we use the A1notation variant. Which seems to be what you're looking for.
Also, notice the difference between getValues() and getValue(). The first returns a 2d array like:
[
[https://politicsandwar.com/api/nation/id=31831]
,[https://politicsandwar.com/api/nation/id=31832]
,[https://politicsandwar.com/api/nation/id=31833]
]
while the latter returns a single value like https://politicsandwar.com/api/nation/id=31831
That way you can choose wether you get all the values and iterate over them, or have your own logic to determine each cell and get the values separately.

How to get fixed cell value, not formula?

I have a cell in Google Sheets, with =NOW() formula in it. All I need - to get the value, generated by formula (22.01.2014 15:23:51), not the formula by itself.
If I try: var nowtime = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange('A1').getValues();,
I get ={DATE(2014\1\22)+TIME(15\19\13)}, but not the numbers.
How to do it with Google Script syntax?
I know I'm a little late to the party here, but you could try .getDisplayValue() instead of .getValue() or .getDisplayValues() instead of .getValues() That will give you the result of the formula instead of the formula itself.
I just had the same problem and the above solution worked for me.
Use this little snippet to do that.
Code
function getCell(startcol, startrow) {
// prepare string
var str = String.fromCharCode(64 + startcol) + startrow;
// retrieve value
var vCell = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getRange(str).getValue();
// return content cell
return vCell;
}
Screenshot
Explained
The first parameter of the custom function passes on the column index, as an integer. The var str creates from the column integer and the row index a string (A1 notation). Then the value is retrieved and returned to the spreadsheet.
This piece of code will retrieve any value.
Add the script under Tools>Script editor. Press the "bug" button to validate the script and you're on the go !!

Is there a way to evaluate a formula that is stored in a cell?

In a Google Docs spreadsheet, I'm looking for something like =EVAL(A1) where A1 is set to "=1+2".
I found out that in MS Excel there is an EVALUATE() function (which seems a bit tricky to use properly). But I could not find anything similar in Google Docs.
I also searched through the function list, but could not find anything helpful...
No, there's no equivalent to Excel's EVALUATE() in Google Sheets.
There's long history behind this one, see this old post for instance.
If you're just interested in simple math (as shown in your question), that can be done easily with a custom function.
function doMath( formula ) {
// Strip leading "=" if there
if (formula.charAt(0) === '=') formula = formula.substring(1);
return eval(formula)
}
For example, with your A1, put =doMath(A1) in another cell, and it will be 3.
I know this an old post. I'm just wondering, why nobody suggested:
myCell.getValue();
This will give you the result of the formula in myCell (3 in your example).
If you want to write the result to the cell (instead of the formula), you could use:
function fixFormula(myCell) {
myCell.setValue(myCell.getValue());
}
Short answer
As was mentioned previously, Google Sheets doesn't have a built-in EVALUATE function, but Google Sheets could be extended to add this function. Fortunately some SocialCalc files could be used to make this easier.
Script
On Google spreadsheet I'm sharing my progress. At this time I added the SocialCalc files that I think that are required and a couple of functions, and several test cases.
NOTES:
Google Sheets specific functions like FILTER, UNIQUE, among others are not available in SocialCalc as well as other functions like SIGN.
I think that the SocialCalc file should be replaced by those on https://github.com/marcelklehr/socialcalc as it looks to be updated recently. H/T to eddyparkinson (see https://stackoverflow.com/a/16329364/1595451)
Uses
The EVALUATE function on the linked file could be used as a custom function.
Example 1
A1: '=1+2 (please note the use of an apostrophe to make the formula be treated by Google Sheets as a string.
B1 formula:
=EVALUATE(A1)
B1 display value:
3
Example 2
To "EVALUATE" a formula like =VLOOKUP(2,A1:B3,2), at this time we need to use the "advanced" parameters. See the following example:
B1: '=VLOOKUP(2,A1:B3,2)
C1 formula:
=EVALUATE(B1,"data","A1:B3")
C1 display value:
B
Code.gs
/**
*
* Evaluates a string formula
*
* #param {"=1+1"} formula Formula string
* #param {"Tests"} sheetName Target sheet.
* #param {"A1"} coord Target cell.
*
* #customfunction
*
*/
function EVALUATE(formula,sheetName,coord){
// SocialCalc Sheet object
var scSheet = new SocialCalc.Sheet();
if(sheetName && coord){
// Pass values from a Google sheet to a SocialCalc sheet
GS_TO_SC(scSheet,coord,sheetName);
}
var parseinfo = SocialCalc.Formula.ParseFormulaIntoTokens(formula.substring(1));
var value = SocialCalc.Formula.evaluate_parsed_formula(parseinfo,scSheet,1); // parse formula, allowing range return
if(value.type != 'e'){
return value.value;
} else {
return value.error;
}
}
/**
*
* Pass the Google spreadsheet values of the specified range
* to a SocialCalc sheet
*
* See Cell Class on socialcalc-3 for details
*
*/
function GS_TO_SC(scSheet,coord,sheetName){
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
if(sheetName){
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName(sheetName);
var range = sheet.getRange(coord);
} else {
var range = ss.getRange(coord);
}
var rows = range.getNumRows();
var columns = range.getNumColumns();
var cell,A1Notation,dtype,value,vtype;
// Double loop to pass cells in range to SocialCalc sheet
for(var row = 1; row <= rows; row++){
for(var column = 1; column <= columns; column++){
cell = range.getCell(row,column);
A1Notation = cell.getA1Notation();
value = cell.getValue();
if(cell.isBlank()){
dtype = 'b';
vtype = 'b';
} else {
switch(typeof value){
case 'string':
dtype = 't';
vtype = 't';
break;
case 'date':
case 'number':
dtype = 'v'
vtype = 'n';
break;
}
}
scSheet.cells[A1Notation] = {
datavalue: value,
datatype: dtype,
valuetype: vtype
}
}
}
}
formula1.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/formula1.js
socialcalcconstants.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/socialcalcconstants.js
socialcalc-3.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/socialcalc-3.js
If you want to evaluate simple math(like A1: "(1+2)*9/3"), you can use query:
=query(,"Select "&A1&" label "&A1&" ''",0)
Basic math sent to query's select is evaluated by query.
Copy and paste the formulas:
Maybe you can copy and paste the formulas you need from "jQuery.sheet". Moved to:
https://github.com/Spreadsheets/WickedGrid
Looks to be all "open source"
Wont fix the issue
Also: The issue "Enable scripts to use standard spreadsheet functions" is marked as "Wont fix", see https://code.google.com/p/google-apps-script-issues/issues/detail?id=26
Ethercalc
there is a google like opensource spreadsheet called Ethercalc
GUI Code:
https://github.com/audreyt/ethercalc
Formulas: https://github.com/marcelklehr/socialcalc
Demo - on sandstorm:
https://apps.sandstorm.io/app/a0n6hwm32zjsrzes8gnjg734dh6jwt7x83xdgytspe761pe2asw0
In the case of evaluating a function like
"=GoogleFinance("usdeur","price",date(2013,12,1),date(2013,12,16))"
This can be done this without evaluate by directly referring to other cells like this:
=GoogleFinance(A10,"price",E3,E6)
Simple hack to evaluate formulas in google spreadsheet:
select cells or columns with formulas
go Edit -> Find and replace...
check "Also search in formulas"
replace "=" to "=="
replace back "==" to "="
in the same "Find and replace" window uncheck "Also search in formulas"
formulas will evaluate! :)
Thank you for user3626588's workaround here and it does indeed work. Based off your instructions it looks like it can be simplified even further.
In Cell B1 Enter the following:="=sum(A1:A5)"
In Cell C1 Set a data validation and select B1 with dropdown option.
Now select C1 and select the formula from the dropdown, it will sum any values between A1 through A5 automatically.
I have a sheet where I was creating a complicated formula for multiple values and this process worked!
Thank you once again as I was trying to avoid a script since I have data that is being pulled by another program on my worksheet. Script function do not always run automatically in those situations.
Here is the trick. Insert formula in the required cell, then get retrieve that cell value and replace the already inserted formula with this new value.
function calculateFormula(row, col){
var spreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
var sheet = spreadsheet.getSheetByName("Sheet Name");
sheet.getRange(row,col).setValue("=sum(D6,C12:C14)");
sheetData = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
var newValue = sheetData[row-1][col-1];
sheet.getRange(row,col).setValue(newValue);
}
How about just converting a column of expressions which are not preceded by a "+"?
92/120
67/85
etc.
It's a bit of a hack, but this works
get the formula from the cell;
set the formula back again; then
get the value from the cell.
var cell = sheet.getRange("A1");
var formula = cell.getFormula();
cell.setFormula(formula);
var fileCell = cell.getValue();
Awesome work around for google not having evaluate(). I have looked all around and besides script have found no other way to have a formula as a string on one sheet then use that formula on another. In fact everything I've seen says you can't. Would be helpfull if anyone reading this could repost around if they come to an appropriate question since I must have read a half dozen posts saying it wasn't possible before I just rolled up my sleaves and done done it. :) It still has a little clunkyness since you need two cells in the spreadsheet you want the formula to execute, but here goes.
Ok, some set up. We'll call the spreadsheet with the formula as string SpreadsheetA, call the tab the formula is on TabAA, the Spreadsheet you want to call and execute said formula SpreadsheetB. I'll use a multi-tab example, so say you want the sum of A1:A5 on SpreadsheetB tab: TabBA to be calculated on SpreadsheetB tab: TabBB cell A1. Also call the URL of spreadsheet A: URLA
So, in Spreadsheet A Tab: TabAA cell A1 put ="=sum(TabBB!A1:A5)", therefore the cell will display: =sum(A1:A5). Note: you don't need any $ in formula. Then in Spreadsheet B, Tab: TabBB, cell A2 put: =Query(Importrange("URLA","TabAA!A1"),"select Col1 where Col1 <> ''"). That cell will now display =sum(TabBA!A1:A5). Next to that, cell A1 of Spreadsheet B tab: TabBB, create a dropdown of the cell with the formula in B2 (right click cell A1, select data validation, for Criteria select: List from range, enter B2 in box to right). That cell should now be summing SpreadsheetB, TabBA, range A1:A5
Hope that was clear, I'm rather novice at this. Also important, obviously you would only do this in cases where you wanted to choose from multiple formulas on spreadsheetA, instead of TabAA!A1 say you had another formula in A2 also so your query would be =Query(Importrange("URLA","TabAA!A1:A2"). I understand in the simplistic case given you would simply put the formula where you needed the sum.
Edit: Something I noticed, was when I wanted to use a formula with double quotes the above scenario didn't work because when you wrapped the formula with double quotes in double quotes you get an error since you need single quotes inside double quotes. The example I was trying: if(counta(iferror(query(B15:C,"select C where C = 'Rapid Shot' and B = true")))>0,Core!$C$18+$C$10&" / ",)&Core!$C$18+$C$10&if(Core!$C$18>5," / "&Core!$C$18-5+$C$10,)&if(Core!$C$18>10," / "&Core!$C$18-10+$C$10,)&if(Core!$C$18>15," / "&Core!$C$18-15+$C$10,)
In that case I put another formula into Spreadsheet A TabAA cell A2 that read ="="&A1. Then, ajusted the importrange referance in spreadsheet B to reference that cell instead.
BTW, this absolutly works so if you can't get it let me know where your having problems, I don't do a lot of colaboration so maybe I'm not saying something clear or using the right / best terminollagy but again I've seen many posts saying this was impossible and no one saying they had found another way.
Thanx ~ K to the D zizzle.
Here is the working trick to evaluate the concatenated formula string. Use the formula cell as a data validation source for the target cell. Maybe it is not a fully automated solution. But evaluating refreshed formulas has been stripped down to just one click. You just need to reselect the value from the validation box when it is necessary. Many thanks to #Aurielle Perlmann and #user3626588 for the idea.
As an example, when you have set up dynamic multiple concatenations of such below formula in another sheet, this will work well with selecting validation option.
In my case, pressing enter twice is not userfriendly.
=({FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> ""); FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> ""); FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> "")})
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