google appsscript -arun nagarajan

Google Apps Script

Arun Nagarajananagarajan@google.com@entaq

What is Apps Script?

Google Apps Script is a JavaScript cloud scripting language that provides easy ways to automate tasks across Google products and third party services.

1. Editor in a browser ○ zero install/setup, files stored, shared, versioned, managed in cloud

2. JavaScript runtime in the cloud ○ compliant, debuggable, and performant

3. Set of APIs and hooks to Google products ○ extend and enhance, built in security, distribution mechanisms

● Default Services are APIs that are built in to Apps Script● https://developers.google.com/apps-script/defaultservices

Default Services

What can Apps Script do?

Google Products

CalendarChartsContactsDriveDocuments DomainFinanceGmailGroupsLanguageMapsSitesSpreadsheets

Communication and UIContentHtmlJdbcMailSoapUiUrlFetchXml

Utilities

BaseCacheLockPropertiesScriptScriptDbUtilities

Supported Products and Features

○ Sending email○ JDBC ○ XML parsing○ SOAP○ Make HTTP requests with URLfetch○ Outbound OAuth support○ Build custom UIs○ Run a script as a service○ Script triggers○ Script and user properties

A Brief History

2009

2010

2011

2012

Scripts in SpreadsheetsCustom functions

UiAppWeb Apps (run as developer)Script Gallery

Scripts in SitesGUI BuilderMore services

Standalone scriptsHtmlServiceScriptDbWeb Apps (run as user)Libraries and versionsContent serviceChrome Web Store...

Google Confidential and Proprietary

What is Apps Script?function sendMap() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet(); var address = sheet.getRange("A2").getValue(); var map = Maps.newStaticMap().addMarker(address); MailApp.sendEmail("eric.koleda@google.com", "Map" ,map.getMapUrl());}

Google Confidential and Proprietary

What is Apps Script?function sendMap() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet(); var address = sheet.getRange("A2").getValue(); var map = Maps.newStaticMap().addMarker(address); MailApp.sendEmail("eric.koleda@google.com", "Map" ,map.getMapUrl());}

Google Confidential and Proprietary

What is Apps Script?function sendMap() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet(); var address = sheet.getRange("A2").getValue(); var map = Maps.newStaticMap().addMarker(address); MailApp.sendEmail("eric.koleda@google.com", "Map" ,map.getMapUrl());}

Google Confidential and Proprietary

What is Apps Script?function sendMap() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet(); var address = sheet.getRange("A2").getValue(); var map = Maps.newStaticMap().addMarker(address); MailApp.sendEmail("eric.koleda@google.com", "Map", map.getMapUrl());}

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Use Cases

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Use CasesGrading made easy with Flubaroo

● Create quiz using Google Forms● Automatically grades against answer key● Can email results and answers to each student● Provides charts to analyze the results

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Use CasesMany types of mail merge

● Define a simple template using a draft email, document, sites page, or spreadsheet cell

● Add placeholder values that should be dynamically replaced● Each spreadsheet row merged with template and sent out

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Use CasesVacation calendar for Brown University

● Aggregates together all the staff that are on vacation that day● Creates a single calendar event each day which lists everyone that

is out● Makes it easier to read your calendar

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Demo timeGMail Search

Simple app that allows users to search through their GMail.

Link

Source

Just open the script editor!

How do I get started?

● Standalone script● https://script.google.com● Google Drive > Create > More > Script

● Spreadsheet-bound script● Tools >Script Editor

● Sites-bound script● More > Manage Site > Apps Scripts > Add new script

● A trigger is a type of script resource that listens for a particular event and executes a function when that event fires.

● Simple triggers● Specially-named built-in functions that are specific to spreadsheets

● onEdit● onOpen● onInstall

● Installable triggers● Time-based triggers● Container-bound installable triggers (let's make one!)

https://developers.google.com/apps-script/understanding_triggers

Intro to Triggers

Apps Script

Creating an installable onEdit trigger// Create a script from a spreadsheet

// Create an onEdit trigger from the Resources > Current scripts triggers menu

// Type something in any cell other than A1

function setStatus(eventInfo) {

for (var e in eventInfo) {

Logger.log(e);

}

}

Apps Script

Saving data to ScriptDb

// Create this in a standalone script

function saveEmployee() {

var db = ScriptDb.getMyDb();

var employeeData = {type: "employee",

employee_id: 1,

first_name: "John",

last_name: "Testington",

department_id: 14};

var stored = db.save(employeeData);

Logger.log(stored.getId());}

Apps Script

Loading data from ScriptDb

// Add this below saveEmployee()

function loadEmployee() {

var db = ScriptDb.getMyDb();

var result = db.query({employee_id: 1});

while (result.hasNext()) {

var current = result.next();

Logger.log(current.first_name + ' ' + current.last_name);

}}

Google Confidential and Proprietary

How to get startedDocumentation

● http://developers.google.com/apps-script● User guide covering basic functionality● 30+ tutorials with code

Videos● YouTube channels GoogleDevelopers and GoogleApps

Stack Overflow● Tag questions with google-apps-script● Very active community, Google moderated

Google Apps Developer Blog

Script Gallery

<Thank You!>

What is Google Apps Script?