ImportXML with Google Sheet and Auto Refresh Every Minute - google-apps-script

Question

I have the script below which is importing some XML data in a google sheet called prices. Everything works fine except that I have set up a time driven trigger to run every minute but the data won't get updated.
The trigger seems to work fine, as I can see the last run time being updated every minute.
The script calling the XML data works fine as I can see the data being populated in the spreadsheet.
The XML feed works fine too, as I can see the time being updated every minute, also have a cron job.
I only have this function as a project.
function getData() {
var sheetName = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("prices");
var queryString = Math.random();
var cellFunction = '=ImportXML("http://myxmldata.com/data-xml.php","//data/date")';
sheetName.getRange('A2').setValue(cellFunction);
}
So what's wrong?

Answer 1

Here is how I solved my problem:
On your spreadsheet go to the top menu > click Tool > then Script Editor and add the following scripts:
This is the script to call your data e.g. XML. Please update the script with your own information. YOUR-SHEET-NAME, is the tab name e.g. "prices".
function getData() {
var sheetName = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("YOUR-
SHEET-NAME");
var queryString = Math.random();
var cellFunction = '=ImportXML("https://yoururl-xml.php","//trade/price")';
var range = sheetName.getRange('A2');
range.clearContent(); // You can also use range.setFormula("");
SpreadsheetApp.flush();
range.setFormula(cellFunction);
}
Below that script, add the following script, more information on this page: Periodically refresh IMPORTXML() spreadsheet function
YOUR-SHEET-ID is the long number in the spreadsheet url e.g. 1YTB12xSTMSNdoT_S1U67MtOUDTf6n4OL2tJLnTNAXYZ
function RefreshImports() {
var lock = LockService.getScriptLock();
if (!lock.tryLock(5000)) return; // Wait up to 5s for previous refresh to end.
var id = "YOUR-SHEET-ID";
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.openById(id);
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName("YOUR-SHEET-NAME");
var dataRange = sheet.getDataRange();
var formulas = dataRange.getFormulas();
var content = "";
var now = new Date();
var time = now.getTime();
var re = /.*[^a-z0-9]import(?:xml|data|feed|html|range)\(.*/gi;
var re2 = /((\?|&)(update=[0-9]*))/gi;
var re3 = /(",)/gi;
for (var row=0; row<formulas.length; row++) {
for (var col=0; col<formulas[0].length; col++) {
content = formulas[row][col];
if (content != "") {
var match = content.search(re);
if (match !== -1 ) {
// import function is used in this cell
var updatedContent = content.toString().replace(re2,"$2update=" + time);
if (updatedContent == content) {
// No querystring exists yet in url
updatedContent = content.toString().replace(re3,"?update=" + time + "$1");
}
// Update url in formula with querystring param
sheet.getRange(row+1, col+1).setFormula(updatedContent);
}
}
}
}
// Done refresh; release the lock.
lock.releaseLock();
}
Here is a screenshot of both scripts:
Then add the timer, go to the top menu click on the clock and add trigger. Make sure to select the right function i.e. RefreshImports.
Done!