Supercharge Google Docs with Doc Power Tools 10 Must-Have Apps Script Utilities

Google Docs is already a versatile writing tool, but with Apps Script you can make it truly powerful. I’ve created a single-file utility pack called Doc Power Tools that adds a custom menu to your Google Docs with 10 of the most-requested automation features—things like inserting a clickable Table of Contents, cleaning formatting, running mail merges, and more.

https://github.com/lsvekis/Apps-Script-Code-Snippet/blob/main/10%20USeful%20Doc%20functions%20with%20Apps%20Script

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish Docs could just do that for me,” this add-on is for you.

What You’ll Get

Once installed, you’ll see a new menu in Docs called Doc Power Tools. From there, you can run:

Insert / Refresh Table of Contents
- Automatically generates a ToC at the top of your document.
- Falls back to a manual clickable ToC with bookmarks if the native one isn’t available.
Advanced Find & Replace
- Search with regex, whole-word, and case-insensitive options.
Clean Formatting
- Removes trailing spaces, collapses multiple spaces, and merges consecutive blank lines.
Convert Markdown to Headings
- Instantly turns lines like # Heading into styled Google Docs headings.
Quick Header & Footer
- Adds a bold header (document title) and footer with author and date.
Save PDF to Drive (+ optional email)
- Exports your document as a timestamped PDF.
- Optionally emails it as an attachment.
Mail Merge from Google Sheets
- Use placeholders like {{Name}} or {{Course}} in your doc.
- Generate personalized copies for each row in a Google Sheet.
Insert Image from URL
- Paste an image link and insert it at your cursor, with optional width scaling.
Split Document by Heading 1
- Breaks a large doc into smaller files, one per Heading 1 section.
Document Stats & Reading Time

Word count, character count, and estimated reading time in a single click.

How to Install

Open a Google Doc.
Go to Extensions → Apps Script.
Paste in the full code (see below).
Save the project.
Run the onOpen function once to authorize.
Back in your doc, look for Doc Power Tools in the menu bar.

The Full Code

Here’s the complete utility pack. Copy and paste this into your Apps Script editor:

/***********************
 * Doc Power Tools
 * Google Docs Apps Script — single-file utility pack
 * Author: Laurence Svekis
 ***********************/

function onOpen() {
  const ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  ui.createMenu('Doc Power Tools')
    .addItem('1) Insert / Refresh Table of Contents', 'ppt_insertOrRefreshToc')
    .addItem('2) Find & Replace (advanced)', 'ppt_findReplaceDialog')
    .addItem('3) Clean Formatting', 'ppt_cleanFormatting')
    .addItem('4) Convert Markdown (#, ##, ###) → Headings', 'ppt_markdownToHeadings')
    .addItem('5) Quick Header & Footer', 'ppt_headerFooterQuick')
    .addItem('6) Save PDF to Drive (+optional email)', 'ppt_savePdfWithEmail')
    .addItem('7) Mail Merge from Google Sheet', 'ppt_mailMergeFromSheetDialog')
    .addItem('8) Insert Image from URL at Cursor', 'ppt_insertImageFromUrl')
    .addItem('9) Split Doc by Heading 1', 'ppt_splitByHeading1')
    .addItem('10) Show Document Stats', 'ppt_showStats')
    .addToUi();
}

/* ---------------------------------------------
 * 1) Insert / Refresh Table of Contents at top
 * --------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_insertOrRefreshToc() {
  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  const body = doc.getBody();

  // 0) Remove any native ToCs
  for (let i = body.getNumChildren() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() === DocumentApp.ElementType.TABLE_OF_CONTENTS) {
      body.removeChild(el);
    }
  }

  // 1) Remove previous MANUAL ToC block (between markers) and its bookmarks
  removeManualTocBlock_(body);
  removePreviousTocBookmarks_(doc);

  // 2) Try native ToC first if your domain supports it
  let nativeWorked = false;
  try {
    if (typeof body.appendTableOfContents === 'function') {
      const tEnum = DocumentApp.TableOfContentsType || {};
      const type = tEnum.FLAT || tEnum.LINK || tEnum.PAGE || tEnum.PAGE_NUMBER;
      if (type) body.appendTableOfContents(type); else body.appendTableOfContents();
      nativeWorked = true;
      body.insertParagraph(1, '').setSpacingAfter(10);
    }
  } catch (_) { }

  if (nativeWorked) {
    DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Native Table of Contents inserted at the top.');
    return;
  }

  // 3) Manual ToC fallback (works everywhere)
  const startIdx = 0;
  body.insertParagraph(startIdx, '[[PPT_TOC_START]]')
    .setForegroundColor('#ffffff').setFontSize(1);

  body.insertParagraph(startIdx + 1, 'Table of Contents')
    .setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);

  // Build ToC items and store the bookmark IDs we create so we can remove them next time
  const items = buildHeadingIndex_(doc); // [{text, level, bookmarkId}]
  saveTocBookmarks_(items.map(x => x.bookmarkId));

  let insertAt = startIdx + 2;
  items.forEach(item => {
    const li = body.insertListItem(insertAt++, item.text);
    li.setNestingLevel(Math.max(0, item.level - 1));
    const t = li.editAsText();
    const url = doc.getUrl() + '#bookmark=' + item.bookmarkId;
    t.setLinkUrl(0, t.getText().length - 1, url);
  });

  body.insertParagraph(insertAt++, '[[PPT_TOC_END]]')
    .setForegroundColor('#ffffff').setFontSize(1);
  body.insertParagraph(insertAt, '').setSpacingAfter(10);

  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Manual Table of Contents inserted at the top.');
}

// Remove our previous manual ToC block (between markers)
function removeManualTocBlock_(body) {
  let start = -1, end = -1;
  for (let i = 0; i < body.getNumChildren(); i++) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() !== DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH) continue;
    const txt = el.asParagraph().getText();
    if (txt === '[[PPT_TOC_START]]') start = i;
    if (txt === '[[PPT_TOC_END]]') { end = i; break; }
  }
  if (start >= 0 && end >= start) {
    for (let i = end; i >= start; i--) body.removeChild(body.getChild(i));
  }
}

// Build ToC: scan headings, create a new bookmark for each heading, return entries
// Build ToC: scan headings, create a new bookmark for each heading, return entries
function buildHeadingIndex_(doc) {
  const body = doc.getBody();
  const items = [];

  for (let i = 0; i < body.getNumChildren(); i++) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() !== DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH) continue;

    const p = el.asParagraph();
    const level = headingLevel_(p.getHeading());
    if (!level) continue;

    const text = p.getText().trim();
    if (!text) continue;

    // Create a bookmark at the start of the paragraph's text
    // editAsText() guarantees a Text element; offset 0 = start of paragraph
    const textElem = p.editAsText();
    if (!textElem) continue; // safety: skip if no text

    const pos = doc.newPosition(textElem, 0);
    const bm = doc.addBookmark(pos);

    items.push({ text: text, level: level, bookmarkId: bm.getId() });
  }
  return items;
}


// Map heading enums to numeric levels
function headingLevel_(h) {
  switch (h) {
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1: return 1;
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2: return 2;
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3: return 3;
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING4: return 4;
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING5: return 5;
    case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING6: return 6;
    default: return 0;
  }
}

// Remove ONLY the bookmarks we created last time (tracked in Doc Properties)
function removePreviousTocBookmarks_(doc) {
  const props = PropertiesService.getDocumentProperties();
  const idsJson = props.getProperty('PPT_TOC_BM_IDS');
  if (!idsJson) return;

  const ids = JSON.parse(idsJson);
  const bookmarks = doc.getBookmarks() || [];

  ids.forEach((id) => {
    const bm = bookmarks.find(b => b.getId && b.getId() === id);
    if (bm && typeof bm.remove === 'function') {
      bm.remove(); // <- correct way to delete a bookmark
    }
  });

  props.deleteProperty('PPT_TOC_BM_IDS');
}

// Save the bookmark IDs we just created so we can remove them on the next run
function saveTocBookmarks_(ids) {
  const props = PropertiesService.getDocumentProperties();
  props.setProperty('PPT_TOC_BM_IDS', JSON.stringify(ids || []));
}





/* ---------------------------------------------------
 * 2) Find & Replace with options (regex, whole word)
 * --------------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_findReplaceDialog() {
  const html = HtmlService.createHtmlOutput(`
    <div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; padding: 12px;">
      <h3>Find & Replace (Advanced)</h3>
      <label>Find (regex supported): <br/>
        <input style="width:100%" id="find" placeholder="e.g. (?i)\\bcolour\\b"/>
      </label><br/><br/>
      <label>Replace with: <br/>
        <input style="width:100%" id="replace" placeholder="color"/>
      </label><br/><br/>
      <label><input type="checkbox" id="whole"/> Whole word (wraps \\b)</label><br/>
      <label><input type="checkbox" id="casei" checked/> Case-insensitive ((?i))</label><br/><br/>
      <button onclick="google.script.run.withSuccessHandler(close).ppt_findReplace(
        document.getElementById('find').value,
        document.getElementById('replace').value,
        document.getElementById('whole').checked,
        document.getElementById('casei').checked
      )">Run</button>
      <button onclick="google.script.host.close()">Close</button>
    </div>
  `).setWidth(420).setHeight(300);
  DocumentApp.getUi().showModalDialog(html, 'Find & Replace');
}

function ppt_findReplace(find, replace, wholeWord, caseInsensitive) {
  if (!find) throw new Error('Find pattern is required.');
  let pattern = find;

  if (wholeWord) {
    if (!pattern.startsWith('\\b')) pattern = '\\b' + pattern;
    if (!pattern.endsWith('\\b')) pattern = pattern + '\\b';
  }
  if (caseInsensitive && !pattern.startsWith('(?i)')) {
    pattern = '(?i)' + pattern;
  }

  const body = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getBody();
  const before = body.getText();
  body.replaceText(pattern, replace ?? '');
  const after = body.getText();
  const delta = Math.max(0, (before.length - after.length)) + Math.max(0, (after.length - before.length));
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Find & Replace completed.\nPattern: ' + pattern);
}

/* -----------------------------------
 * 3) Clean Formatting
 *    - Trim trailing spaces
 *    - Collapse multiple blank lines
 *    - Collapse multiple spaces between words
 * ----------------------------------- */
function ppt_cleanFormatting() {
  const body = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getBody();
  // Work paragraph by paragraph to preserve styles as much as practical
  for (let i = 0; i < body.getNumChildren(); i++) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() === DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH) {
      const p = el.asParagraph();
      const t = p.getText();
      let cleaned = t
        .replace(/[ \\t]+$/g, '')     // trailing spaces/tabs
        .replace(/ {2,}/g, ' ');      // multiple spaces to one
      if (cleaned !== t) {
        p.setText(cleaned);
      }
    }
  }
  // Collapse multiple blank paragraphs
  // Pass 1: mark consecutive blanks
  let blanks = 0;
  for (let i = body.getNumChildren() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() === DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH &&
      el.asParagraph().getText().trim() === '') {
      blanks++;
      if (blanks > 1) {
        body.removeChild(el);
      }
    } else {
      blanks = 0;
    }
  }
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Formatting cleaned: spaces and extra blank lines collapsed.');
}

/* ---------------------------------------------------------
 * 4) Convert Markdown-style headings → real Docs Headings
 *    Lines starting with: ###, ##, # (followed by a space)
 * --------------------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_markdownToHeadings() {
  const body = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getBody();
  for (let i = 0; i < body.getNumChildren(); i++) {
    const el = body.getChild(i);
    if (el.getType() !== DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH) continue;
    const p = el.asParagraph();
    const text = p.getText();

    if (/^###\s+/.test(text)) {
      p.setText(text.replace(/^###\s+/, ''));
      p.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3);
    } else if (/^##\s+/.test(text)) {
      p.setText(text.replace(/^##\s+/, ''));
      p.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2);
    } else if (/^#\s+/.test(text)) {
      p.setText(text.replace(/^#\s+/, ''));
      p.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);
    }
  }
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Markdown headings converted.');
}

/* ---------------------------------------------
 * 5) Quick Header & Footer (title, author, date)
 * --------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_headerFooterQuick() {
  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  const props = PropertiesService.getDocumentProperties();

  const defaultAuthor = Session.getActiveUser().getEmail() || '';
  const author = props.getProperty('PPT_AUTHOR') || defaultAuthor;
  const tz = Session.getScriptTimeZone();
  const today = Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), tz, 'yyyy-MM-dd');

  // --- Header ---
  let header = doc.getHeader();
  if (!header) header = doc.addHeader();
  header.clear(); // HeaderSection, not a Body
  header.appendParagraph(doc.getName()).setBold(true);

  // --- Footer ---
  let footer = doc.getFooter();
  if (!footer) footer = doc.addFooter();
  footer.clear(); // FooterSection, not a Body
  footer.appendParagraph('Author: ' + author);
  footer.appendParagraph('Date: ' + today);

  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Header & Footer inserted.');
}


/* -------------------------------------------
 * 6) Save as PDF to Drive (+ optional email)
 * ------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_savePdfWithEmail() {
  const ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  const res = ui.prompt('Email PDF to (leave blank to skip):', ui.ButtonSet.OK_CANCEL);
  if (res.getSelectedButton() !== ui.Button.OK) return;

  const email = (res.getResponseText() || '').trim();
  const pdfFile = ppt_savePdf_();

  if (email) {
    GmailApp.sendEmail(
      email,
      'PDF: ' + pdfFile.getName(),
      'Attached is the PDF export.',
      { attachments: [pdfFile.getAs(MimeType.PDF)] }
    );
    ui.alert('Saved to Drive and emailed PDF to ' + email);
  } else {
    ui.alert('Saved PDF to Drive: ' + pdfFile.getName());
  }
}

function ppt_savePdf_() {
  const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  doc.saveAndClose();
  const file = DriveApp.getFileById(doc.getId());
  const blob = file.getAs(MimeType.PDF);
  const stampedName = file.getName() + ' - ' +
    Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), Session.getScriptTimeZone(), 'yyyyMMdd_HHmm') + '.pdf';
  const pdf = DriveApp.createFile(blob).setName(stampedName);
  DocumentApp.openById(doc.getId()); // reopen for continued editing
  return pdf;
}

/* --------------------------------------------
 * 7) Mail Merge from Google Sheet
 *    - Active Doc is the template with {{Placeholders}}
 *    - Prompts for Sheet ID and Sheet Name
 *    - Creates a copy per row and replaces placeholders
 * -------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_mailMergeFromSheetDialog() {
  const html = HtmlService.createHtmlOutput(`
    <div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; padding: 12px;">
      <h3>Mail Merge from Sheet</h3>
      <label>Google Sheet ID:<br/><input id="sid" style="width:100%" placeholder="1AbC..."/></label><br/><br/>
      <label>Sheet name:<br/><input id="sname" style="width:100%" placeholder="Sheet1"/></label><br/><br/>
      <label>Output folder ID (optional):<br/><input id="fid" style="width:100%" placeholder="leave blank to root"/></label><br/><br/>
      <button onclick="google.script.run.withSuccessHandler(alertAndClose).ppt_mailMergeFromSheet(
        document.getElementById('sid').value,
        document.getElementById('sname').value,
        document.getElementById('fid').value
      )">Run</button>
      <button onclick="google.script.host.close()">Close</button>
      <script>
        function alertAndClose(msg){ alert(msg); google.script.host.close(); }
      </script>
    </div>
  `).setWidth(460).setHeight(340);
  DocumentApp.getUi().showModalDialog(html, 'Mail Merge from Sheet');
}

function ppt_mailMergeFromSheet(sheetId, sheetName, folderId) {
  if (!sheetId || !sheetName) throw new Error('Sheet ID and Sheet name are required.');
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.openById(sheetId);
  const sh = ss.getSheetByName(sheetName);
  if (!sh) throw new Error('Sheet not found: ' + sheetName);

  const values = sh.getDataRange().getValues();
  if (values.length < 2) throw new Error('No data rows found.');

  const headers = values[0];
  const rows = values.slice(1);

  const templateDoc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  const templateId = templateDoc.getId();
  const folder = folderId ? DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId) : DriveApp.getRootFolder();

  let count = 0;
  rows.forEach((row, idx) => {
    const map = {};
    headers.forEach((h, i) => map[h] = row[i]);
    const copy = DriveApp.getFileById(templateId).makeCopy(templateDoc.getName() + ' - ' + (map['Name'] || ('Row ' + (idx + 2))), folder);
    const doc = DocumentApp.openById(copy.getId());
    const body = doc.getBody();

    Object.keys(map).forEach(key => {
      const pattern = '{{\\s*' + escapeRegExp_(String(key)) + '\\s*}}';
      body.replaceText(pattern, String(map[key] ?? ''));
    });

    doc.saveAndClose();
    count++;
  });

  return count + ' document(s) created in: ' + (folderId ? ('folder ' + folderId) : 'My Drive');
}

function escapeRegExp_(s) {
  return s.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
}

/* --------------------------------------------
 * 8) Insert Image from URL at Cursor (width px)
 * -------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_insertImageFromUrl() {
  const ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  const urlRes = ui.prompt('Image URL:', ui.ButtonSet.OK_CANCEL);
  if (urlRes.getSelectedButton() !== ui.Button.OK) return;
  const url = urlRes.getResponseText().trim();
  if (!url) return;

  const widthRes = ui.prompt('Desired width in pixels (leave blank to keep original):', ui.ButtonSet.OK_CANCEL);
  if (widthRes.getSelectedButton() !== ui.Button.OK) return;
  const widthStr = (widthRes.getResponseText() || '').trim();

  const cursor = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getCursor();
  if (!cursor) {
    ui.alert('Place the cursor where you want the image.');
    return;
  }

  const blob = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url).getBlob();
  const img = cursor.insertInlineImage(blob);
  if (widthStr) {
    const w = parseInt(widthStr, 10);
    if (!isNaN(w) && w > 0) {
      const aspect = img.getHeight() ? (img.getHeight() / img.getWidth()) : 0;
      img.setWidth(w);
      if (aspect) img.setHeight(Math.round(w * aspect));
    }
  }
  ui.alert('Image inserted.');
}

/* --------------------------------------------
 * 9) Split Doc into new Docs by Heading 1
 * -------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_splitByHeading1() {
  const srcDoc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  const srcBody = srcDoc.getBody();
  const total = srcBody.getNumChildren();

  // Accumulators
  let currentDoc = null;
  let created = 0;

  for (let i = 0; i < total; i++) {
    const el = srcBody.getChild(i);
    const type = el.getType();

    // Detect new section start: Heading 1
    if (type === DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH &&
      el.asParagraph().getHeading() === DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1) {

      // Start a new doc
      const title = el.asParagraph().getText().trim() || 'Section';
      currentDoc = DocumentApp.create(srcDoc.getName() + ' - ' + title);
      created++;
      // Add the heading itself first
      currentDoc.getBody().appendParagraph(title).setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);
      continue; // Skip copying the original heading paragraph (already added)
    }

    // Copy subsequent content into the current section doc
    if (currentDoc) {
      const copy = el.copy();
      // Append based on element type for best fidelity
      const destBody = currentDoc.getBody();
      appendElement_(destBody, copy);
    }
  }

  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Split complete. Created ' + created + ' document(s).');
}

function appendElement_(destBody, el) {
  const type = el.getType();
  switch (type) {
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.PARAGRAPH:
      destBody.appendParagraph(el.asParagraph());
      break;
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.TABLE:
      destBody.appendTable(el.asTable());
      break;
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.LIST_ITEM:
      destBody.appendListItem(el.asListItem());
      break;
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.PAGE_BREAK:
      destBody.appendPageBreak(el.asPageBreak());
      break;
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.HORIZONTAL_RULE:
      destBody.appendHorizontalRule();
      break;
    case DocumentApp.ElementType.INLINE_IMAGE:
      destBody.appendImage(el.asInlineImage());
      break;
    default:
      // Fallback: try appending as paragraph text
      destBody.appendParagraph(el.getText ? el.getText() : '');
  }
}

/* --------------------------------------------
 * 10) Document Stats (word/char) + reading time
 * -------------------------------------------- */
function ppt_showStats() {
  const body = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getBody();
  const text = body.getText();
  const words = (text.match(/\b[\p{L}\p{N}’'-]+\b/gu) || []).length; // handles words incl. unicode
  const chars = text.replace(/\s/g, '').length;
  const wpm = 200; // average reading speed
  const minutes = Math.max(1, Math.round(words / wpm));
  const msg = `Words: ${words}\nCharacters (no spaces): ${chars}\nEstimated reading time: ${minutes} min`;
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Document Stats', msg, DocumentApp.getUi().ButtonSet.OK);
}

/* ----- Small helpers / permissions ----- */
// Add this one-time if you want to set author via menu
function onInstall() { onOpen(); }

(I recommend keeping the full working file exactly as you have it. If you’d like, you can link to a GitHub repo so readers can download the code easily.)

Why This Matters

Most of these features fill gaps in Google Docs’ native tools.

Writers and editors save time cleaning up drafts.
Teachers and trainers can generate personalized docs from a Sheet in seconds.
Students and researchers can create fast stats or split huge reports into sections.

It’s like giving Docs a Swiss Army knife of automation.

Final Thoughts

Apps Script is one of the most underrated productivity boosters inside Google Workspace. With Doc Power Tools, you don’t need to install anything from the Marketplace—you can roll your own add-on, tailored exactly for your workflow.

What You’ll Get

How to Install

The Full Code

Why This Matters

Final Thoughts

Share this:

Related