Is it possible to add the same custom menu to every new google document? The goal is to make a local script function like an installed app.
This seems like it should be easy but I can't seem to find a way to do it. I'm using a standard account for personal use. I've created a script attached to the original document and also made copy as a stand alone script. (I'm not sure that makes a difference.) I've searched and read about deployment and it seems to be only useful for a domain account or publicly as an app. I've played a little with scripting but this is the first attempt to get a script working "globally".
Any help will be most appreciated.
I found a way to do this in an old example at: https://sites.google.com/site/scriptsexamples/custom-methods/2d-arrays-library.
The script is in a project and that needs to be connected to the current doc. The onOpen() script is a UI that contains the line:
.addItem('Select Phrase', 'PS.showPrompt')
where PS is the name of the attached library. Once this is done, as you said, you can make a copy and use it with the script active.
It is a little slow as they describe about using a library, but is make the code easier to maintain. Thanks to all for the direction to look.
What we do is create a copy of the original document (the document with the attached google apps script). The script is copied along with it and the copied document has the exact same functionality (menus, custom functions, etc).
You could create a Google Docs Add-On using an independent Apps Script script and then install your Add-On globally. For more information regarding its installation check this documentation. However you would need to run this Add-On on the new documents to get your desired menu.
Related
Sorry for the dumb question, I have tried to search but did not find an answer. Please point if the answer is already been answered.
I am practicing writing my first google scripts (apps). If I create them from within a sheet they are only available to that sheet (bound). I can create them by creating a new script but I don't know how to make them available to all of my spreadsheets (not just one). THe scripts I downloaded from the store show up but how do I add my scripts.
I do not want to publish these to the world, I just want them available to me so I can access them from any sheet I am working with.
Basic question but I am having trouble understanding the process.
Thanks,
A script bound to a spreadsheet is only available from that sheet, you won't be able to access it from another sheet.
You can also create a script file (not related to any other document) but this will not be available from sheets.
This is how it is meant to be.
One thing you can do to use functions you eventually develop in a script is to make a Library of it, the functions in that library will be available to other scripts if you explicitly link the new script to the library (in the script editor > ressources>library) but this procedure is not as simple as the workflow you imagine in your question : each document will have to contain a minimal piece of code that will call the script library functions.
The last option to get create a "spreadsheet-with-script" and to simply make copies of this original spreadsheet (that has a script) and that copies will have the script copied as well.
I have created some content bounded scripts (Tools->Script Editor) for private use. The scripts add a sidebar, and use a timer to copy the content from the sidebar to a Google document at the cursor position. It is important that the insertion happens at the cursor.
I want to share these scripts with others, as well as add them to old documents. All suggestions I have seen so far involves creating a template document with these scripts and then sharing the template document. This option is not feasible for me. One of the concerns is, these scripts need to be added to existing documents. Creating a new document, and merging it with the old one is not working (the original documents are complex, and migrated documents loose formatting).
Is there an easy way to share/insert these scripts? So far, I have failed to implement any of the below obvious options:
Export Script Editor project to somewhere, and then import it in another document.
Create an app script in drive, and then import it in an existing document.
Publish this as add-on (N/A since this is not a public project, and not complete yet either).
I'm not sure if it is feasible to publish my scripts as a webapp, then write a simple container-bound application to call my webapp with document id as suggested at Deploying container-bound Google Apps Script as Web App
However, this requires webapp to insert the text at cursor position of the active window. I doubt that is possible.
I'm hoping that somebody found an easier way, and willing to share it.
I appreciate any help.
Sincerely,
Converting your script to an add-on is the recommended way to distribute across multiple users and documents. We understand this solution doesn't always work when the script is not meant for general consumption. Add-ons can be published only to a single domain however, so if all of your users are within a Google Apps domain then add-ons may still be an option.
I've made a simple script in Google Apps Script. The script builds forms based on a spreadsheet, the script itself is part of the spreadsheet. It adds a menu item. People would like to use it. They are non-technical people, so I would like to make the installation of my script as easy as possible. With 'installation' I mean a way to 'import' my script into their spreadsheet and automatically set up the needed triggers so the menu item becomes visible. It should be possible for anyone to install it.
I've been thinking of the following solutions:
Publishing as an add-on: my script wouldn't qualify, and even then I can't wait for Google's approval.
Copy-paste. I don't like this, it's way too complicated.
I've looked at this question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5334751/how-do-i-share-a-script-i-wrote-with-my-co-workers-on-the-same-google-apps-accou, but the people wanting to install it are not on the same domain in my case. The question is also 3 years old.
EDIT: As it turns out, there doesn't seem to be a solution. I've filed a feature request here: https://code.google.com/p/google-apps-script-issues/issues/detail?id=4122&thanks=4122&ts=1403949074
If your Google Account administrator allows you, you can share scripts/spreadsheets outside your organisation either by sharing directly with another person with a Google Account (Gmail or Google Apps) or by making it public (share with a link or published online).
https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822?hl=en
Keep in mind that if you use the Script Properties to store values, each time someone uses the shared script it will overwrite the values. In a shared context it is best to use User Properties instead. This way each user can store their own values.
https://developers.google.com/apps-script/guides/properties
There is no way to import a script in an existing spreadsheet , the "normal" workflow is , in a way, the reverse process, that's to say create a sheet from an existing template that already has the script in it and start to work with that copy.
From your description I'm not sure this method could be useable but I'm afraid there is no other way if you want people who will be using it should not go into the script editor at all.
There would be a couple of functions to write that should run at install time and would create the triggers (if needed) and trigger the authorization process.
I made such a SS some time ago that needed authorizations and I added an "install" menu that made its use quite simple (example here on a friendly hosting site).
I know this is probably not the answer you were expecting but it was definitely too long to fit in a comment anyway.
I wrote short script for numbering of document sections. But every time when I want to use it in new document I must create new copy of that. I tryed to publish the script by option "Deploy as web app..." but it is not clear how to connect it in new document. Is it possible? I have few documents in Google Drive and few copies of same script for each of document. Can I connect every document to one script? Thanks a lot!
This is not possible for now, there is an open enhancement request that you could star to mark your interest and be informed if something new comes up...
I had a similar problem.
The leaner solution that I was able to imagine is to keep the function in a saparate, shared script file. In the spreadsheet script, you will use the shared script file as a library.
In this way, your logic remains in a single copy, the actual part of the logic that is copied several time is only a call to a shared function.
I want to generate images with a script assigned to it using another script. I know you can insert images from a script link here, but I can't find a way to assign a script to that image from a script. I found someone requesting this feature here, but with no solution or workaround. If someone knows any way to insert a button that runs a script from another script into a spreadsheet, I would like to know it.
Edit: I have thought about using a trigger that would get the event source container and run a script on cell edit described here sort of, but I would love a gui.
This would be a cool feature, but here is a possible workaround, it might even offer more functionality.
You can build a UI using Google API.
More detailes here.
The UI allows you to create side bars/menus/etc. You could even create floating dialog windows. Using AbsolutePanel, you can even choose where the dialogue shows up.