I'm wondering if it is possible to edit the result of a custom function in Google Sheets when returning a 2-dimensional array.
If I try to delete a cell that is part of the returned array, it blinks but stays there.
If I enter something in a cell that is part of the returned 2-dimensional array, it works, but the function then does not return because the value is blocking the display of the 2-dimensional array (Array result was not expanded because it would overwrite data in A3.)
It's the same as for built-in functions returning an array (split, importrange, query, etc): output cannot be edited. But there is a workaround described below.
Suppose the output range is A1:B6. Elsewhere in a sheet, enter =A1 and copy this formula to a 2 by 6 range. This creates a range that is visually identical to the function output, but editable cell-by-cell. If you edit a cell in this new range, it will cease to depend on the function, but the rest will still be updated if the function input changes.
Related
I have written a custom google apps script function that is being called by a google sheet. In this function an API is called and the result of this API is being returned so that it gets displayed in the calling cell of the google sheet.
My problem now is that the sheet calls this function everytime I open the document and there are over 80.000 cells with this function.
Is it possible to save the returned value to the cell and don't call the custom function again when an value has been returned? I want the function being called only once per cell, even if I close the document and reopen it. The returned value should be saved until something else is being written into to cell. That would make my sheets document much more usable than the current state.
From the question
Is it possible to save the returned value to the cell and don't call the custom function again when an value has been returned? I want the function being called only once per cell, even if I close the document and reopen it. The returned value should be saved until something else is being written into to cell. That would make my sheets document much more usable than the current state.
By solely using the custom function it's not possible. There isn't a straight forward solution is to achieve this, in order to keep things simple you should look for another way to implement what is being done by the custom funtion.
One option is to use a trigger (including a custom menu / a function assined to a drawing) to check if the cell that should have the value returned by the custom function is empty and in such case fill it with the corresponding value. The best trigger to use will depend on your spreadsheet workflow.
As specified by Ruben this is not possible, with a custom function.
In my particular case I have resorted to using an Apps Script function that is triggered by an edit event of the spreadsheet and verifies if the event is in the column where the function that I want to execute only once should be, later replacement its content with the result of calling the API.
function freezeValue(e) {
var rangeEvent = e.range;
var col = rangeEvent.getColumnIndex();
if (col === 2) { #Verify column of event
var value = rangeEvent.getValue();
/*Call your api*/
result_api = CALL_API(value)
rangeEvent.setValue(result_api);
}
}
Keep in mind that this implementation only works when each of the cells is edited one by one. To do the same with a row or a complete array of elements, you must go through each of the cells and follow the same procedure.
I'm trying to learn how to manipulate with cell in Google spreadsheets with Google script. I have learned, that
Custom functions return values, but they cannot set values outside the cells they are in. In most circumstances, a custom function in cell A1 cannot modify cell A5. However, if a custom function returns a double array, the results overflow the cell containing the function and fill the cells below and to the right of the cell containing the custom function. You can test this with a custom function containing return [[1,2],[3,4]];
So I'm calling function in cell C14
function test(input){
var secondCell = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange("C14").setValue("Ahoj");
return secondCell.getValue();
}
and still getting error
You do not have permission to call setValue
I can't even set data in cell from which I'm calling the function.
Does anybody know why is this not working ?
Edit:
I've read possible duplicate Why can't you use setValue in a custom function?
But this is not solving my problem.
I don't want to edit other cells. I only want to edit the original cell containing the formula. According the quoted text, I should be possible to edit cell, if it's original cell containing the formula. But my example is returning error even though it's accessing only itself.
Your code makes no sense, you set the value progamaticly in C14 to "Ahoj", then get this already know variable, and try to return it to set in the cell that you just tried to set the value to "Ahoj", which would replace the function you just used to run this very function. That's almost a paradox.
Your making a confusion, you can get the value of C14, but that function can't be called in C14, or if you want to set the value of C14 to "Ahoy", in that function all you need is:
function test(input){
return 'Ahoj';
}
If you want another cell to have the value of C14 then:
function test(input){
return SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange('C14').getValue();
}
The returned value will be the new cell value, it isn't done trough setValue.
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.
I would like to create a Google Apps Script to do the following: When I select a cell containing the name of a person in a spreadsheet (a spreadsheet that records sales, for example), and use a menu button to call the function, the script does a search (a query) using the person's name (or number of his document) in another spreadsheet that stores complete consumer data and that contains all the information that I need from that consumer to generate a contract or a payment receipt.
What is the best strategy to implement this search for information from one spreadsheet in another spreadsheet using Google Apps Script?
Do you have some script sample with a implementation similar to this? THANK YOU in advance for any help/guidance!
There is no event triggered by a cell selection, you'll have to use a menu item or a button to call the function or, if it is acceptable for your use case, edit the cell to trigger an onEdit event.
The 'search part' is actually very simple, the data being on the spreadsheet itself or in another one has no importance, it will simply change the way you access data ( getActiveSpreadsheet or openById()). From there just get all the values and do a search in the resulting 2D array.
EDIT following your comment : here is an example of such a code that returns the range of the found cell (and we get the A1 notation but we could getValue() as well of course.).
function test(){ // to test the find function with an argument, 'any' in this case
var result = findItem('any');
if(result){Logger.log(result.getA1Notation())}else{Logger.log('no luck !')};
}
function findItem(item){
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
var data = ss.getDataRange().getValues()
for(var n = 0;n<data.length;++n){
if(data[n].indexOf(item)>-1){ // this is a "strict" find, ie the value must be the entire search item. If you want to do partial match you should compare differently...
return (ss.getRange(n+1,data[n].indexOf(item)+1)); // if found return the range. note the +1 because sheets have 1 index while arrays have 0 index
}
}
return false;// if we come to the end of sheet without result...
}
Is it possible to define a function in Google Spreadsheets that can be used in any cell?
It would be helpful if I could define and use functions that refer to other cells in the same way that I can use native functions, e.g. by entering =myfunction(C1, C2, C3)
Yes - there's a tutorial. Just use javascript functions by name in your spreadsheet. Define them using Tools > Script editor.
Watch out for name restrictions; I was confused by the behavior of functions that I created with names like "function x10() {}" not being found. Renaming to a longer name fixed it. There are probably documented rules for what isn't allowed, but I don't know where they are.
I am a "newbee". But is is my experience that you can only access a "cell"
via the "range" object. You must define the range as a single cell.
For example "A1:A1", will give you access the the cell at "A1".
A RANGE is an object associated to a "SHEET".
A SHEET is an object associated to a "SPREADSHEET".
Here is some sample code to access cell A1 in the current active sheet:
var cell_A1 = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange("A1:A1");
From here you can pass the object like any other parameter.
myFunction(cell_A1);
The receiving function must "know" that it is dealing with a "range".
It can only access its values by calling "methods" associated to the
"range" object.
Be careful! A "range" can consist of more than one cell. Your called
function should test to see that it is working with a single cell.
If you pass a range of more than one cell, your function might not
act in the way you expect.
The two methods of a range object: "getNumRows()" and "getNumColumns()"
returns the numbers of Rows and Columns in a range object.
In general, if you use methods that are limited to changing or accessing
a single cell, and operate on a larger range set, the function will only be
performed on the upper-left cell member. But be careful. While you
might assume a method will only change a single cell, it may actually
affect all cells in the range. Read the documentation closely.
There is another method to obtain a range of a single cell. Its instruction
looks like this:
var cell_B2 = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(2, 2, 1, 1).
The first two parameters tell the "getRange" function the location of the
cell (in row, column format). The second two parameters define the number of
"rows" and "columns" to associated with the range. By setting them both to
"1", you access a single cell.
Hope this helps.