I'm currently copying one tab of a sheet to a completely different sheet as a backup. I use copyTo() for this because I want to copy the entire tab. When I update this backup, I use getValues() -> setValues() to overwrite the previous data with a particular range so as not to overwrite the formulas within the headers. But of course what happens is all of my data validations within the array that were set during copyTo() get overwritten with static data.
What function should I use that will not only copy the values but also the data validations (maybe even the formulas)? I would use copyTo() again, but the sheet name already exists. Would renaming the sheet first and then copying be the way to go?
If you really need to apply data validation rather than just copyTo again there is some help here: https://developers.google.com/apps-script/reference/spreadsheet/data-validation
Otherwise renaming the old copy or deleting it if you don't need it is a simple solution.
Related
I want to transfer the contents from one spreadsheet to another spreadsheet(spreadsheet A to spreadsheet B) whenever if I do changes in spreadsheet A it has to be reflected in spreadsheet B. At the same time, I should also be able to add elements directly to spreadsheet B. I tried importrange function, it was transferring the contents from A to B but it is not allowing me to manually add things to spreadsheet B.
The best approach you could take for this is to use Apps Script.
Some methods which can be of help to you:
openById - which is used to retrieve each spreadsheet by their ids;
getSheetByName - which is used to retrieve the sheets from the spreadsheets;
getRange - which is used to retrieve the range in which the values can be found;
getValues - which is used to retrieve the values from the specified range;
setValues - which is used to place the values to the specified range;
Moreover, if you want to have the changes from one spreadsheet reflected on another, you can also make use of an onEdit trigger.
Reference
openById(id);
getSheetByName(name);
getRange();
getValues();
setValues(values);
onEdit(e).
PROBLEM: In the below spreadsheet, cells C12:C17 (green) contain text imported from another spreadsheet (The "PARENT").
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1brm0dHkXG1vxn2NQ7wGvEoayCdGYKsY4yA-MX4Jtt1w/edit#gid=396314711
Some cells have text. Some are blank. Some contain simple math (i.e 1+1), and others relational math (i.e. A1+B1). The DATA SET in the PARENT sheet are different than the CHILD sheet. I will eventually have to create a lot of CHILD sheets, each with their own unique DATA SET. The formulas on the PARENT sheet will change from time to time, so the solution isn't to just make a copy of the PARENT spreadsheet and turn it into a CHILD sheet.
I need to be able to create the formulas in the PARENT sheet, but when imported into the CHILD sheet, they need to be calculated using the data set on the CHILD sheet.
I'm trying to use a script that will take what is in the C12:C17 range, and make it an active formula in the corresponding D12:D17 cells. If the C column cell is a value, it should just put that value in there instead of making it into a formula.
I've made about a dozen attempts at the setFormulas script. All failed. At this point, I would say I'm "spit-balling", "flailing", and possibly "spiraling". The BEST I've been able to do is to get ONE cell to update (but only if a formula, not text).
I'm looking for a script that will take whatever is in cells C12:C17, and execute/evaluate them into cells D12:D17. If there are text/values in the C cell, then it should put that text/value in the corresponding D cell. If there is a formula in the C cell, it should make it execute in the corresponding D cell. There is no pattern on whether a cell will be a number, text, or formula.
I appreciate any help you can give.
FYI: The formulas/text in the C column were made by importing from the PARENT sheet. That range of cells in the PARENT sheet was made by the following formula:
=IFERROR(FORMULATEXT('P CUSTOMERS'!B12),'P CUSTOMERS'!B12)
Essentially, "If it's a formula, convert it into text. If it's not a formula , just put what is in the cell in the first place ."
I've been working on this for an embarrassing amount of time... (Not hours, not days, not weeks, but MONTHS!).
EDIT / UPDATE:
OK, Marti's scripts worked great in the example file. Moved it to another file, same conditions, and worked again.
THEN, I moved it to another file... Only difference I can tell is that it is MUCH larger.
EDIT SUMMARY:
Ran the script under these conditions.
Made table with formulas. Used FORMULATEXT on that table to convert into text. Imported that range to another sheet. Used an HLOOKUP formula to select which column I wanted to look at formulas for.
In the sample sheet (linked here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cPSJMXNiKDnHCiUCGJ0iSjaoIiRLQldr1T5rClUUEm0/copy), it works.
But when I run the exact same series of events in another sheet, it fails to do anything. Process is the same, only the range is different. No other scripts on this sheet.
I trimmed down the second sheet so I can share (script still doesn't work).
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RRMy4RtF9CVSXw18bWg79Dh4nwHg8IN3wwhLb3QynvA/edit#gid=236899042
(Note: I can't force a copy, as this sheet requires authorizations from another file)
Here is a video better explaining the issue:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pjz_LilRReQlNt7p_4NhU3prtbcAhLah/view?usp=sharing
So, I'm trying to understand why it works in one, but not the other... And just as important, what can I do to make it work in 2nd sheet, which is actual goal.
You can simply use getValues together with setValues. setValues actually interprets values starting with = as formulas, and getValues actually doesn't add the ' before them. So you can simply chain them:
function computeValues() {
const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet()
const s = ss.getSheets()[0]
const src = s.getRange('C12:C')
const target = src.offset(0, 1)
target.setValues(src.getValues())
}
References
Range.getValues() (Apps Script reference)
Range.setValues(values) (Apps Script reference)
Range.offset(rowOffset, columnOffset) (Apps Script reference)
Martà nailed it...
function computeValues() {
const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet()
const s = ss.getSheets()[0]
const src = s.getRange('C12:C')
const target = src.offset(0, 1)
target.setValues(src.getValues())
}
I tested it, as written, by copy/paste. Worked 1st time.
I added in more formulas below the original range, just to see what the limits were (in cell C20), and re-ran it. Still worked.
I would have kept going in my setFormula direction for another few months. Not sure how I got it stuck in my head that was the only solution. This was the final major barrier in my project, and while I still have another few years of manual data entry and formula creation to do, THIS will be the key that makes it all work. THANK YOU!!!
I think this should be simple, but I have searched stackoverflow and the Spreadsheet Service documentation and cannot find a way to do it.
I have a spreadsheet with an app-script. The spreadsheet has a summary sheet and multiple data sheets. On the summary sheet, I need to reference cells on the data sheet, using formulas like:
[='DataSheet1'!C10], [='DataSheet1'!C11], [='DataSheet1'!C12]
[='DataSheet2'!C10], [='DataSheet2'!C11], [='DataSheet2'!C12]
...etc
Do I have to build these formulas programatically using string concatenation, or is there a better way?
Ideally I would like to just specify a source and destination range of the same size and have the references created automatically
I have been struggling with the following situation for almost the whole last week and it would be awesome if someone could give me some hint.
The situation:
1. Script finds a particular value in, lets say, 'Sheet1', and gets the row number of the cell containing this value.
2. Since script has found this value, it executes a bunch of actions like creating new spreadsheet and copying numerous 'Sheet1' from dozen other spreadsheets to this newly created spreadsheet, and comparing/ analyzing data.
The problem.
- While script is doing a bunch of other actions, user is able to rearrange cells by, for example, sorting A to Z, which changes the address of previously found cell.
Here is the code that I used in order to verify this:
function WhatHappensIfUserSorts () {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
var sh = ss.getActiveSheet();
var rng = sh.getRange("B17"); //Lets say that script finds this cell according to some rules
Utilities.sleep(10000);
rng.setValue("Test Value");
}
Question:
Might there be any workaround for this?
My current ideas.
1. I was thinking about hiding the filter row in the beginning of the script, but this doesn't help a lot, because users can insert new row in the which will change the addresses of the rows below.
The background.
I am trying to create two way synchronization, meaning, each project member has his/ her own spreadsheet with 'Project X', 'Project Y' etc. sheets and no matter who updates their project sheets, all other users that work on the same project get these updates in their project sheets. These updates that have to be tracked are not just the cell values, these are cell notes as well. And this is the reason why script has to do the bunch of other actions, since CopyTo method does not work between spreadsheets.
During my research I found sheetSpider project, but it seems somewhat different and too complicated from what I need.
A simple suggestion would be to give each row a unique identifier so that you could use it to evaluate the target range again before you write back to the sheet.
get target row's unique ID --> do work --> locate target rows ID and use to determine write range --> write back to sheet.
Alternatively, during the operation you could delete the target row and then use appendRow() to drop the updated version back in.
A third and final suggestion might be to temporarily suspend the permissions for the sheet. See: https://developers.google.com/apps-script/reference/spreadsheet/page-protection#setProtected
I am trying to write a GAS spreadsheet custom function that copies cell content to other cells. And I need to fill the target cells not only with the data of the source cell, but with its formula content (if it has any).
Now, I already know that this is basically impossible through custom functions as they always receive the result of cell calculations but not the cell formulas themselves, and they also cannot return formulas for their target cells.
On the other hand there are functions to read and write cell formulas, e.g. Range.getFormula() and Range.setFormula() which seem to make my endeavor possible. I simply have to find another way of calling them. UPDATE: Meanwhile I found that custom formulas in fact can read formulas using getFormula(), but they definitely don't have permission to write formulas into cells using setFormula().
My question is...
What would be the most elegant method to create something equivalent to a custom function that reads and writes formula content of cells? I think I could use an onEdit function that updates my target cells after each spreadsheet edit, but that would mean that I have to hard code the coordinates of the target cell range, which seems very hacky and would require code changes every time the target range is moved (e.g. when rows are inserted above it).
UPDATE: Example
An example would be a custom function that is able to read multiple ranges of cells (each range given as a distinct function parameter) and returns a joined range of cells.
=rangeJoin(A1:B10;D1:E15)
...would read the two ranges of size 2x10 and 2x15 and would fill a target range of size 2x25 with the subsequent cell contents of both ranges. The target range would start at the cell that contains rangeJoin and would spread 2 cells to the right and 25 cells down (as usual for a custom function). The custom function (or similar mechanism) should be able to copy formulas, so a cell containing =hyperlink("http://www.google.com";"Google") should appear in the target range as a hyperlink and not as a text cell with the naked word 'Google'.
Agree with "Mogsdad"
ie. this custom function works:
function myGrid() {
return [[1,2],[3,"http://www.google.com"]];
}
but, custom functions can't write formulas to a sheet. See https://developers.google.com/apps-script/execution_custom_functions#permissions
As a workaround, you could use a "Trigger", such as a time based trigger, as "Mogsdad" suggests.