gs - Is it possible to run script even when sheets is closed? - google-apps-script

Question

I have a script which uses googlesheets, I am new to this also, there the trigger onOpen() and when the sheet is opened it runs whats inside it, however I wanted to run a function even when sheet is not opened. Do I need a trigger to do this? What should I use to do this?
I tried:
OnCreate
Installable
OnEdit
I want to create a time-based trigger will the script run, even if the sheet is not open and/or even if I'm not logged in to Sheets.
I tried:
function onOpen() {
// Trigger every 10 minutes.
ScriptApp.newTrigger('myFunc') //Run Update All Sheets
.timeBased()
.everyMinutes(10)
.create();
}
and outside the script. I wonder which of these works on background.
// Trigger every 10 minutes.
ScriptApp.newTrigger('myFunc') //Run Update All Sheets
.timeBased()
.everyMinutes(10)
.create();
function onOpen() {
}

Answer 1

It is possible to add a trigger programmatically.
https://developers.google.com/apps-script/guides/triggers/installable
Managing triggers programmatically
You can also create and delete triggers programmatically with the Script service. Start by calling ScriptApp.newTrigger(functionName), which returns a TriggerBuilder.
The following example shows how to create two time-driven triggers—one that fires every 6 hours, and one that fires every Monday at 9 a.m. (in the time zone that your script is set to).
triggers/triggers.gsView on GitHub
/**
* Creates two time-driven triggers.
*/
function createTimeDrivenTriggers() {
// Trigger every 6 hours.
ScriptApp.newTrigger('myFunction')
.timeBased()
.everyHours(6)
.create();
// Trigger every Monday at 09:00.
ScriptApp.newTrigger('myFunction')
.timeBased()
.onWeekDay(ScriptApp.WeekDay.MONDAY)
.atHour(9)
.create();
}
This next example shows how to create an installable open trigger for a spreadsheet. Note that, unlike for a simple onOpen() trigger, the script for the installable trigger does not need to be bound to the spreadsheet. To create this trigger from a standalone script, simply replace SpreadsheetApp.getActive() with a call to SpreadsheetApp.openById(id).
triggers/triggers.gsView on GitHub
/**
* Creates a trigger for when a spreadsheet opens.
*/
function createSpreadsheetOpenTrigger() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
ScriptApp.newTrigger('myFunction')
.forSpreadsheet(ss)
.onOpen()
.create();
}
To programmatically modify an existing installable trigger, you must delete it and create a new one. If you have previously stored the ID of a trigger, you can delete it by passing the ID as an argument to the function below.
triggers/triggers.gsView on GitHub
/**
* Deletes a trigger.
* #param {string} triggerId The Trigger ID.
*/
function deleteTrigger(triggerId) {
// Loop over all triggers.
var allTriggers = ScriptApp.getProjectTriggers();
for (var i = 0; i < allTriggers.length; i++) {
// If the current trigger is the correct one, delete it.
if (allTriggers[i].getUniqueId() === triggerId) {
ScriptApp.deleteTrigger(allTriggers[i]);
break;
}
}
}

Answer 2

Open your google sheet
Click Tools
Click Script Editor
Make a function. Example Birth day greeting every day is shown below
function hbd_mail() { //birth day mail daily 7 am from hrd login
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName("Emp");
var today=new Date();
lastRow = sheet.getLastRow();
var values = sheet.getRange('A:T').getValues();
for (i=1;i<lastRow;i++){
if (values[i][14]=="") {} else {
if ( Utilities.formatDate( values[i][14] ,"GMT+05:30", "dd-MMM") == Utilities.formatDate( today ,"GMT+05:30", "dd-MMM") && values[i][18]=="Yes" ) {
var message = 'Dear '+ values[i][1]+',\n\nMegawin Collective wishes you a very happy birth day ('+ Utilities.formatDate( values[i][14] ,"GMT+05:30", "dd-MMM")+ ').\n\nHRD Megawin Switchgear Pvt Ltd';
var subject = "Happy Birth Day "+values[i][1];
if (values[i][7]=="") {} else {GmailApp.sendEmail(values[i][7], subject, message);}
}//if
}
}//for
}
Save the script
Click the Clock in the menu
It will ask you the function name - select the above function
Then select time based
Clcik every hour / day / week etc
Save it.
Now the function will run automatically from google server (at the frequency selected by you) without your having to do anything.
It is pretty simple.