How to set timer for a row in google sheets - google-chrome

Question

I would like to set a timer for an entire row in google sheets where a user can start entering data in the second row only after a certain time after starting row one.
Example: If a user starts filling cells in row 1 then they should be able to fill the data in the second only after the timer ends.
Could anyone suggest me how to get started or suggest me a chrome extension for this use?
You could also suggest me on how to build the chrome extension I can try it along with my colleagues.

Answer 1

This function uses an onEdit trigger to impose a 20 second delay between editing rows. It may not be exactly what you want but perhaps it's a start. It uses PropertiesService to keep state. I think user properties would be a better choice but script properties are easier to develop with since you can modify them directly in the script editor.
function onEdit(e) {
const sh=e.range.getSheet();
const delay=20000;
let ms=Number(new Date().valueOf()).toFixed();
if(sh.getName()=='Sheet10') {
const ps=PropertiesService.getScriptProperties();
let dObj=ps.getProperties();
if(dObj.hasOwnProperty('row') && dObj.hasOwnProperty('delay')) {
if(dObj.row!=e.range.rowStart && Number(ms-dObj.delay)<delay) {
e.range.setValue(e.oldValue);
e.source.toast('Sorry you have ' + (delay-Number(ms-dObj.delay))/1000 + ' seconds left.');
}else{
ps.setProperties({'row':e.range.rowStart,'delay':ms});
}
}else{
ps.setProperties({'row':e.range.rowStart,'delay':ms});
}
}
}

Answer 2

Issue with Protections:
Class Protection is commonly used to protect ranges from being edited. It is not appropriate for your situation, though, because, as specified here, users who are executing the script cannot remove themselves from the list of editors:
Neither the owner of the spreadsheet nor the current user can be removed.
Using oldValue:
Because of this, the best way to go would be to use the parameter oldValue from the onEdit event object.
An onEdit trigger runs every time a user edits a cell. In it, you can use:
PropertiesService to store useful information: (1) whether it is the first time row 1 is edited (isNotFirstTime), and (2) when was last time first row was edited (startTime).
Event object to get information on the edited cell (its row, its old value, etc.).
You can do something along the following lines (check comments):
function onEdit(e) {
var current = new Date(); // Current date
var range = e.range;
var editedRow = range.getRow();
var sheet = range.getSheet();
var props = PropertiesService.getScriptProperties();
var waitingTime = 20 * 1000; // 20 seconds
var isNotFirstTime = props.getProperty("isNotFirstTime"); // Check if first row was previously edited
var startTime = new Date(props.getProperty("startTime")); // Time when first row was first edited
if (editedRow === 1 && !isNotFirstTime) { // Check that (1) edited row is first one, (2) it was not edited before
props.setProperty("startTime", current.toString()); // If it's first time first row was edited, store current time
Utilities.sleep(waitingTime); // Wait for 20 seconds
props.setProperty("isNotFirstTime", true); // Store: first row was previously edited
}
// Check that (1) second row edited, (2) Less than 20 seconds passed since first time first row was edited:
if (editedRow === 2 && (current - startTime) < waitingTime) {
range.setValue(e.oldValue || ""); // Set previous value to edited cell (this avoids editing cells)
}
}
Reference:
onEdit(e)
onEdit Event object
Class PropertiesService