Create a Unique Sequential ID Generator - Google Scripts - google-apps-script

Question

I am attempting to find a way to create a google scripts function that will create unique sequential ID generator after looking through my google sheets document verifying that it will be a unique ID. I found this answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/58515330/14143011 which is exactly what I need however I do not want the ID to be inserted into the google sheet automatically, as I want to be able to use the ID in another function I am working on. When it comes to the date I am using this google scripts function to retrieve the current date:
const timezone = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSpreadsheetTimeZone();
function datestamp() {
var datestamp_format = "yyyy-MM-dd";
return Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), timezone, datestamp_format);
}
To clarify what I am attempting to do, I have this function which creates folders for files I am uploading:
function createSubfolder(){
var dropbox = Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), "US/Eastern", "_yyyy-MM-dd");
I want to change the name to also contain the generated ID. I want the 'createSubfolder' function to call the function that generates the ID and return it to a variable such as this:
function createSubfolder(){
var generatedID = idGeneratorFunction()
var dropbox = generatedID + Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), "US/Eastern", "_yyyy-MM-dd");
Thank you!

Answer 1

The solution writes the ID using this statement
sheet.getRange(2, indexId + 1, newId.length).setValues(newId);
Just comment it out and change the customer function to return the ID and then you can use it however you like.

Answer 2

Recommended solution:
Instead of setting the newID value into the sheet via sheet.getRange(2, indexId + 1, newId.length).setValues(newId), you can pass the newID value to the createSubfolder function through a parameter. Just edit last lines of the autoid_(sheet) function and call your createSubfolder(newId) function as seen below:
UPDATED
See this edited full script below from the referenced post:
/**
*
* #param {GoogleAppsScript.Spreadsheet.Sheet} sheet
*/
function autoid_(sheet) {
var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
if (data.length < 2) return;
var indexId = data[0].indexOf('ID');
var indexDate = data[0].indexOf('DATE');
if (indexId < 0 || indexDate < 0) return;
var id = data.reduce(
function(p, row) {
var year =
row[indexDate] && row[indexDate].getTime
? row[indexDate].getFullYear() % 100
: '-';
if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(p.indexByGroup, year)) {
p.indexByGroup[year] = [];
}
var match = ('' + row[indexId]).match(/(\d+)-(\d+)/);
var idVal = row[indexId];
if (match && match.length > 1) {
idVal = match[2];
p.indexByGroup[year].push(+idVal);
}
p.ids.push(idVal);
p.years.push(year);
return p;
},
{ indexByGroup: {}, ids: [], years: [] }
);
// Logger.log(JSON.stringify(id, null, ' '));
var newId = data
.map(function(row, i) {
if (row[indexId] !== '') return [row[indexId]];
if (isNumeric(id.years[i])) {
var lastId = Math.max.apply(
null,
id.indexByGroup[id.years[i]].filter(function(e) {
return isNumeric(e);
})
);
lastId = lastId === -Infinity ? 1 : lastId + 1;
id.indexByGroup[id.years[i]].push(lastId);
return [
Utilities.formatString(
'%s-%s',
id.years[i],
('000000000' + lastId).slice(-3)
)
];
}
return [''];
})
.slice(1);
//Instead of setting the value on sheet, add createSubfolder function below:
createSubfolder(newId);// Pass the newID value to the createSubfolder() parameter (inside the parenthesis) to "generatedID" as seen
}
function createSubfolder(generatedID){ // Edit your createSubfolder function with a parameter named generatedID (inside the parenthesis)
var dropbox = generatedID + Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), "US/Eastern", "_yyyy-MM-dd");
}