Automate Removing Whitespace from Every Line in Google Docs with Google Apps Script

If you frequently work with Google Docs, you might encounter documents with inconsistent whitespace at the beginning or end of lines. Manually removing these spaces can be tedious and time-consuming. Fortunately, Google Apps Script provides a way to automate this task, ensuring your document is clean and well-formatted. In this blog post, we’ll walk through a script that removes whitespace from every line in a Google Doc.

What is Google Apps Script?

Google Apps Script is a JavaScript-based platform that allows you to extend Google Workspace applications like Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms. You can automate repetitive tasks, create custom functions, and enhance your productivity with minimal coding.

The Task

Our goal is to write a script that:

  1. Iterates through each line in a Google Doc.
  2. Removes any leading or trailing whitespace from each line.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open Your Google Doc:
    • Go to your Google Drive and open the document you want to clean up.
  2. Access the Apps Script Editor:
    • Click on Extensions > Apps Script.
  3. Write the Script:
    • Delete any existing code in the script editor and replace it with the following script:
function removeWhitespaceFromLines() {
var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
var body = doc.getBody();
var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();

for (var i = 0; i < paragraphs.length; i++) {
var text = paragraphs[i].getText();
var trimmedText = text.trim();

// Update the paragraph text only if it has leading/trailing whitespace
if (text !== trimmedText) {
paragraphs[i].setText(trimmedText);
}
}
}
  1. Save the Script:
    • Click the floppy disk icon or press Ctrl + S to save your script. You can name it something descriptive like RemoveWhitespace.
  2. Run the Script:
    • Click the play button (triangle icon) to run the script. You might be prompted to authorize the script to access your Google Doc.
  3. Review the Changes:
    • After running the script, check your document. All lines should now have any leading or trailing whitespace removed.

Understanding the Script

  • Get the Active Document: var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument(); retrieves the currently open Google Doc.
  • Get the Body of the Document: var body = doc.getBody(); accesses the main text area of the document.
  • Get All Paragraphs: var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs(); returns an array of all paragraphs in the document.
  • Loop Through Each Paragraph: The for loop iterates through each paragraph.
  • Trim Whitespace: var trimmedText = text.trim(); removes any leading or trailing whitespace from the text.
  • Update Paragraph Text: paragraphs[i].setText(trimmedText); updates the paragraph text only if it has leading or trailing whitespace.

Benefits of Automation

Automating the removal of whitespace ensures consistency and cleanliness in your document. This can be particularly useful when preparing documents for publishing or sharing with others. It eliminates the need for manual edits and helps maintain a professional appearance.

Conclusion

Google Apps Script is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your productivity by automating repetitive tasks. With just a few lines of code, you can transform your Google Docs experience. Try out the script and see how it can simplify your document formatting tasks.