Replace selection using Google Suite API - google-apps-script

Question

I'm trying to replace a selection with an image using Google Suite API.
I figured that if I can get the index of the selection I can insert an image at that specific index and then remove every selected element. However, I can't seem to get the index working correctly.
I've tried the following, but it only returns -1, even though I'm selecting a word in the middle of the text.
var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
var selection = doc.getSelection();
var elements = selection.getRangeElements();
if(elements.length > 0){
return elements[0].getStartOffset();
}
I've tried searching the documentation, but can't find a solution.
What I want is something like:
var selection = doc.getSelection();
selection.replaceWithImage(image);
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I have a script which helps me locate things inside of a document. In fact, I used it last night to create an envelope printer script for Google Docs.
Here's a link to it. I'm always changing it to fit my particular needs so feel free to have fun with. It will help you to find images too.

Answer 2

I solved it by moving the position of the cursor to the beginning of the selection. Here is the code commented for others having the same question.
function insertImage(imageURL){
var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
var body = doc.getBody();
var UI = DocumentApp.getUi();
var blob = UrlFetchApp.fetch(imageURL).getBlob();
var cursor = doc.getCursor();
/* If cursor is null, there is a selection not a position */
if(!cursor){
var selection = doc.getSelection();
/* Get all elements selected */
var elements = selection.getRangeElements();
if(elements[0]){
var element = elements[0].getElement();
var index;
var previousElement = element.getPreviousSibling();
var fakedElement = false;
var position;
/* If the element is type TEXT you can't get index from getChildIndex. */
if(element.getType().toString() == "TEXT"){
index = elements[0].getStartOffset();
if(element.getText() === " "){
element = doc.insertParagraph(index, "");
fakedElement = true;
}
} else {
index = element.getParent().getChildIndex(element);
}
/* If the selected element is an image, we need to append a fake paragraph to keep the cursor poisition. Dont worry, this will be removed later. */
if(elements.length === 1 && element.getType().toString() == "INLINE_IMAGE"){
element = doc.insertParagraph(index, "");
fakedElement = true;
}
/* Go through each element and remove it. */
elements.forEach( function (element, key) {
var text;
if(element.getElement().editAsText){
if(element.isPartial()){
text = element.getElement().editAsText();
text.deleteText(element.getStartOffset(), element.getEndOffsetInclusive());
} else {
doc.appendParagraph(''); // Create empty paragraph since you can't delete last paragraph.
text = element.getElement().removeFromParent();
}
} else {
element.getElement().removeFromParent();
}
});
if(body.getNumChildren() === 1){
paragraph = doc.getBody().appendParagraph('');
position = doc.newPosition(paragraph, 0);
doc.setCursor(position);
} else if(element && !element.getParent() && previousElement){
element = previousElement;
index = element.getParent().getChildIndex(element);
} else if(body.editAsText().getText().length === 0){
paragraph = doc.getBody().appendParagraph('');
position = doc.newPosition(paragraph, 0);
doc.setCursor(position);
} else {
position = doc.newPosition(element, index);
}
if(!position){
paragraph = doc.getBody().appendParagraph('');
position = doc.newPosition(paragraph, 0);
doc.setCursor(position);
}
/* Move position of cursor to the new position */
doc.setCursor(position);
/* Update cursor variable since its now available */
cursor = doc.getCursor();
/* If a placeholder element was created to keep the position, remove it. */
if(fakedElement){
element.removeFromParent();
}
}
}
/* Insert image */
var image = body.appendImage(blob);
cursor.insertInlineImage(image);
image.removeFromParent();
return true;
}