Add custom formulas to Google sheets using Apps script - google-apps-script

Question

I'm trying to calculate to cells but not working. This is my code :
function total() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName("sheet1");
var cell = sheet.getRange("A3");
var calculate = cell.setFormula("=SUM(A1+A2)");
return calculate
}
My cell is A1 AND A2 I want to put result in cell A3 by add "=total()".
not working but if run from script it work.
I want to put =total() in cell A3 and work without see my formula in sheet.
I wand to send copy of my sheet to people and he can read and edit it.
I don't need people to see my formulas.
or any another way to hide my formulas from people

Answer 1

You need to calculate the result in the script:
function total() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName("sheet1");
var values = sheet.getRange("A1:A2").getValues();
var value = values[0][0] + values[1][0];
return value;
}
Alternatively, you can
Calculate normally with formulas in another spreadsheet
Use IMPORTRANGE to import the data from that spreadsheet such that only values but not formulas are display in the cells
However, he cannot make changes to the range directly.
He need to first copy and paste by values.

Answer 2

Your custom formula is returning the return value of the function Range.setFormula(formula), which is a Range. And you want a number. For this you need the values of both cells "A1"and "A2".
Furthermore, if you are using this custom formula to set a value in cell "A3" and not a formula then you can just have the custom formula return the value.
Example:
function total() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName("sheet1");
var values = sheet.getRange("A1:A2").getValues();
var value = values[0][0] + values[1][0];
return value;
}