How to Remove All Blank Lines from a Google Doc Using Google Apps Script

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How to Remove All Blank Lines from a Google Doc Using Google Apps Script

Google Docs is a versatile tool, but sometimes it requires a bit of customization to fit your needs perfectly. If you’ve ever faced the tedious task of removing all blank lines from a lengthy document, you’re in luck. With Google Apps Script, you can automate this task. In this blog post, I will guide you through creating a Google Apps Script to remove all blank lines from a Google Doc.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open the Google Apps Script Editor

  1. Open your Google Doc.
  2. Click on Extensions in the menu bar.
  3. Select Apps Script from the dropdown menu.

This will open the Google Apps Script editor in a new tab.

Step 2: Write the Script

Copy and paste the following script into the editor:

function removeBlankLines() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();

  for (var i = paragraphs.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    var paragraph = paragraphs[i];
    if (paragraph.getText().trim() === '') {
      body.removeChild(paragraph);
    }
  }

  Logger.log('All blank lines have been removed.');
}

Explanation of the Script:

  • DocumentApp.getActiveDocument(): Gets the active Google Doc.
  • body.getParagraphs(): Retrieves all paragraphs in the document.
  • The for loop iterates through each paragraph from the end to the beginning.
  • paragraph.getText().trim() === '': Checks if a paragraph is blank.
  • body.removeChild(paragraph): Removes the blank paragraph.

Step 3: Save and Run the Script

  1. Click the disk icon or press Ctrl + S to save your script. Give it a name like “RemoveBlankLines”.
  2. Click the play button (triangle icon) to run the script.

Step 4: Authorize the Script

The first time you run the script, you will need to authorize it:

  1. A dialog will appear saying “Authorization required”. Click Review Permissions.
  2. Choose your Google account.
  3. Click Allow to grant the necessary permissions.

Step 5: Check Your Document

Return to your Google Doc and verify that all blank lines have been removed. If there are still blank lines, re-run the script to ensure it catches all instances.

Customizing the Script

If you want to customize this script further, here are a few ideas:

  • Target Specific Sections: Modify the script to only remove blank lines from certain sections of your document.
  • Add User Prompts: Use ui.prompt() to ask the user for confirmation before removing lines.
  • Log Removed Lines: Keep a log of all removed lines for audit purposes.

Conclusion

Automating tasks in Google Docs using Google Apps Script can save you a lot of time and effort. This script to remove blank lines is just a starting point. With a bit of creativity, you can tailor it to fit your specific needs.