Google Apps Script for Google Docs: Comprehensive Guide

Google Apps Script for Google Docs: Comprehensive Guide

Google Apps Script is a cloud-based JavaScript platform that allows you to automate tasks and extend the functionality of Google Docs. This guide covers the basics, key methods, detailed examples, and exercises to master Google Apps Script with Google Docs.

What is Google Apps Script?

Google Apps Script is a JavaScript-based scripting language for automating Google Workspace applications such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive.

Benefits:

• Automates repetitive tasks.
• Enhances Google Docs with custom functionality.
• Integrates Google Workspace apps.

How to Access Google Apps Script for Docs

1. Open a Google Document.
2. Click Extensions > Apps Script.
3. In the Apps Script editor, write your code and save.

Key Google Docs Apps Script Methods

1. DocumentApp: Represents the Google Document.
2. Body: Represents the main content of the document.
3. Paragraph: Represents paragraphs in the body.
4. Text: Manipulates the text within a document.

Basic Example: Insert Text in Google Docs

function insertText() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument(); // Open the current Google Doc

  const body = doc.getBody(); // Get the body of the document

  body.appendParagraph(“Hello, Google Apps Script!”);

}

Explanation:

• DocumentApp.getActiveDocument(): Opens the active document.
• body.appendParagraph(“…”): Adds a new paragraph at the end of the document.

Working with Formatting

Example: Formatting Text

function formatText() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const body = doc.getBody();

  const paragraph = body.appendParagraph(“This is bold and red text.”);

  paragraph.setBold(true).setForegroundColor(“red”);

}

Explanation:

• setBold(true): Makes the text bold.
• setForegroundColor(“red”): Changes the text color to red.

Creating and Styling Tables

Example: Add a Table

function createTable() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const body = doc.getBody();

  const table = body.appendTable([

    [“Name”, “Age”, “Email”],

    [“Alice”, “25”, “alice@example.com”],

    [“Bob”, “30”, “bob@example.com”]

  ]);

  table.setBorderWidth(2);

}

Explanation:

• appendTable([…]): Adds a table to the document.
• setBorderWidth(2): Sets the border width for the table.

Inserting Images

Example: Add an Image

function insertImage() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const body = doc.getBody();

  const imageUrl = “https://via.placeholder.com/150”;

  body.appendImage(UrlFetchApp.fetch(imageUrl).getBlob());

}

Explanation:

• appendImage(): Inserts an image into the document.
• UrlFetchApp.fetch(imageUrl).getBlob(): Fetches the image as a blob object.

Automating Document Creation

Example: Create a New Document

function createNewDoc() {

  const newDoc = DocumentApp.create(“My New Document”);

  const body = newDoc.getBody();

  body.appendParagraph(“This is a new document created via Apps Script.”);

}

Explanation:

• DocumentApp.create(“…”): Creates a new Google Doc.
• appendParagraph(): Adds a paragraph to the new document.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Add and Format a Heading

Write a script to insert a heading at the top of a Google Doc, make it bold, and change its font size to 24.

Solution:

function addHeading() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const body = doc.getBody();

  const heading = body.insertParagraph(0, “Document Heading”);

  heading.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);

  heading.setFontSize(24).setBold(true);

}

Exercise 2: Generate a Custom Table

Write a script to create a table with 3 rows and 4 columns. Populate it with sample data.

Solution:

function customTable() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const body = doc.getBody();

  const table = body.appendTable();

  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {

    const row = table.appendTableRow();

    for (let j = 0; j < 4; j++) {

      row.appendTableCell(`Row ${i + 1}, Col ${j + 1}`);

    }

  }

}

Exercise 3: Add a Footer

Write a script to add a footer with the current date to a Google Doc.

Solution:

function addFooter() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

  const footer = doc.addFooter();

  const date = new Date().toDateString();

  footer.appendParagraph(`Document generated on: ${date}`);

}

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which method is used to fetch the active Google Document?

1. DocumentApp.open()
2. DocumentApp.getActiveDocument()
3. Document.openActive()
4. DocumentApp.currentDocument()

Answer: 2. DocumentApp.getActiveDocument()

Question 2:

What does appendParagraph() do in Google Apps Script?

1. Inserts a paragraph at the top of the document.
2. Replaces the existing paragraph.
3. Appends a paragraph to the document body.
4. Deletes a paragraph from the document.

Answer: 3. Appends a paragraph to the document body.

Question 3:

Which of the following is NOT a valid method for formatting text in Google Apps Script?

1. setBold()
2. setUnderline()
3. setTextAlignment()
4. setImageSize()

Answer: 4. setImageSize()
Explanation: setImageSize() is not used for text formatting.

Advanced Example: Automate Invoice Creation

function generateInvoice() {

  const doc = DocumentApp.create(“Invoice”);

  const body = doc.getBody();

  body.appendParagraph(“Invoice”).setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);

  body.appendParagraph(`Date: ${new Date().toDateString()}`);

  body.appendParagraph(“Customer Name: John Doe”);

  const table = body.appendTable([

    [“Item”, “Quantity”, “Price”, “Total”],

    [“Widget A”, “2”, “$10”, “$20”],

    [“Widget B”, “5”, “$8”, “$40”],

    [“”, “”, “Total:”, “$60”]

  ]);

  table.setBorderWidth(1);

}

Explanation:

• Automates the creation of an invoice document with a table summarizing items.
• Adds headings and formatted content.