Enhance Your Google Docs: Resizing H3 Headings and Adding Horizontal Lines with Google Apps Script

Keeping your Google Docs well-organized and visually appealing can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with large documents. One common formatting requirement is to resize H3 headings and add horizontal lines above them for better separation and clarity. Instead of manually editing each heading, you can automate this process using Google Apps Script. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a script that resizes all H3 headings and adds a horizontal line above them, ensuring a cleaner and more structured document.

Here’s the complete `resizeH3AndAddHorizontalLine` function:

function resizeH3AndAddHorizontalLine() {
  // Get the active document
  var doc = DocumentApp.openById(DOCID);
  var body = doc.getBody();
  
  // Get all the paragraphs in the document
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();
  
  // Loop from the last paragraph to the first
  for (var i = paragraphs.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    var paragraph = paragraphs[i];
    
    // Check if the paragraph is an H3
    if (paragraph.getHeading() === DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3) {
      // Resize the H3 element
      paragraph.setFontSize(16);  // Set the desired font size
      
      // Add a horizontal line above the H3 element
      body.insertHorizontalRule(i);
    }
  }
}

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Google Apps Script

Open your Google Doc.
Click on Extensions > Apps Script.

Step 2: Add the Script

Delete any existing code in the script editor and replace it with the provided code.
Replace DOCID with the ID of your Google Doc.
Save the script with a descriptive name, such as ResizeH3AndAddHorizontalLine.

Step 3: Run the Script

Click the play button (Run) to execute the script.
Grant the necessary permissions if prompted.

How It Works

Access the Document: The script starts by getting the active Google Doc and its body using DocumentApp.openById(DOCID).
Get Paragraphs: It retrieves all the paragraphs in the document body.
Iterate from End to Start: The script loops through the paragraphs starting from the last to the first.
Identify H3 Headings: It checks if a paragraph is an H3 heading.
Resize H3 Elements: If an H3 heading is found, the script sets its font size to 16.
Add Horizontal Line: The script inserts a horizontal line above the H3 element without needing to adjust the index because it iterates from the end to the start.

Benefits

Efficiency: Automates the repetitive task of resizing headings and adding horizontal lines.
Consistency: Ensures consistent formatting throughout your document.
Time-Saving: Reduces the time spent on manual editing, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.

Conclusion

Using Google Apps Script to automate tasks in Google Docs can significantly enhance your productivity. The resizeH3AndAddHorizontalLine function is a simple yet effective script that helps you maintain a well-organized and visually appealing document effortlessly. Feel free to customize and expand this script to suit your specific needs.

Here’s the complete resizeH3AndAddHorizontalLine function: