Google Sheets Script - Repeating Multiple Strings X Times in Multiple Rows - google-apps-script

Question

How can I repeat 'SAT' 10 times in a row and then 'SUN' times in a row more efficiently?
I know I could use copy/paste, click/drag, custom functions (like this) and combinations of built-in functions like TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(TRIM(REPT(). Those are great if you don't have to use them often. However, with more than just 'SAT' and 'SUN' as values, that quickly becomes cumbersome.
I asked a similar question a few days ago. Working off the solutions provided by dev1998 and Serge insas, I created a working script below.
function testAtA1() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.setActiveSheet(ss.getSheetByName('TEST'));
// start columns and rows
var currentRow = 1;
var startColumn = 1;
var numRows = 1; // Change to match number of items listed for a given variable
var numColumns = 1;
var day1 = [
['SAT']
]
var day2 = [
['SUN']
]
Logger.log(day1);
Logger.log(day2);
var day1Length = day1.length;
var day2Length = day2.length;
Logger.log(day1Length);
Logger.log(day2Length);
var currentRow2 = currentRow + 10
// ranges where values will be placed
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
var target1 = sheet.getRange(currentRow, startColumn, numRows, numColumns).setValues(day1);
currentRow = currentRow + 1; // Change to match number of items listed for a given variable
}
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
var target2 = sheet.getRange(currentRow2, startColumn, numRows, numColumns).setValues(day2);
currentRow2 = currentRow2 + 1
}
}
In addition to what I have above, I also tried
var days = [['SAT'],['SUN']]
I was able to get that to alternate SAT and then SUN X times, but not get all SAT in a row and all SUN in a row. With the first snippet I provided I was able to separate them but, I'm curious to know if there is an easier/better way.

Answer 1

function testAtA1() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.setActiveSheet(ss.getSheetByName('Sheet1'));
// start columns and rows
var currentRow = 1;
var startColumn = 1;
var numRows = 10; // Change to match number of items listed for a given variable
var numColumns = 1;
var days = ['SAT','SUN','MON']
for (d = 0;d < days.length ; d++) {
var data = days[d]
var target1 = sheet.getRange(currentRow, startColumn, numRows, numColumns).setValue(data);
currentRow = currentRow+10
}
}
By adding another variable d and making a another loop with d
lesser than days.length , We have a desired solution.

Answer 2

=ARRAYFORMULA(TRIM(TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(QUERY(REPT(D1:D7&"😋",10),,9^99),"😋"))))
D1:D7 will contain SAT through FRI

Answer 3

Assuming you just want to append the rows to the spreadsheet, this will do the trick:
function addText(){
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getActiveSheet();
var satRow = [];
for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++){
satRow.push("SAT");
}
var sunRow = [];
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++){
sunRow.push("SUN");
}
ss.appendRow(satRow);
ss.appendRow(sunRow)
}
appendRow() takes a 1-dimensional array as an argument. So just build a 1D array and append it.
If you need to insert the rows at an arbitrary point, you're probably better off going with a custom function:
/**
* Fills a range specified in rows and columns with the specified value
*
* #param {number} Number of rows to fill
* #param {number} Number of columns to fill
* #param {string} input The value to iterate.
* #return An array containing the values
* #customfunction
*/
function fillRange(rows,cols,str){
var output = [[]];
for (var i = 0; i < cols; i++){
output[0].push(str);
}
for (var i = 1; i < rows; i++){
output.push(output[0]);
}
return output;
}
To use it, type in a cell =fillRange(1,2,"SAT") to fill 2 columns in one row with "SAT".

Answer 4

again a more efficient solution using array and bulk read/write as recommended in best practice...
function testAtA1() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName('TEST');
// start columns and rows
var currentRow = 1;
var startColumn = 1;
var numRows = 1; // Change to match number of items listed for a given variable
var numColumns = 1;
var day1 = 'SAT';
var day2 = 'SUN';
var data = sheet.getRange(1,1,sheet.getMaxRows(),sheet.getMaxColumns()).getValues();
var currentRow2 = currentRow + 10 ;// ranges where values will be placed
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++){
data[i][0] = day1;
data[i+10][0] = day2;
}
sheet.getRange(1,1,data.length,data[0].length).setValues(data);
}