Google Apps Script for Beginners

Google Apps Script for Beginners

by Serge Gabet
Released February 2014
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781783552177

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Book description

Building on your basic JavaScript knowledge, this book takes you into the world of Google Apps Script and shows you how to develop and customize your own apps. The step-by-step approach provides all the necessary skills.

In Detail

Google Apps Script is a JavaScript-based programming language that works on the cloud and is 100% free to use. It provides all the tools necessary for Google services to work. Users can easily transfer any data from one service to another, save their important e-mails as files, save and share files with anybody, and even build their own website. It's a great way of allowing people with minimal technical knowledge to create great solutions for their company.

This book is a practical hands-on guide which is presented and explained with working examples to help you get started with Google Apps Script. You will create custom functions in your spreadsheets, design your own forms, filter your emails, and publish web applications that you can use every day.

You are going to be part of a great journey from basic spreadsheet functionality and customization to fully automated workflows; all of this almost seamlessly and without complications.

On your way, you will filter your e-mails, create your forms, calculate all sorts of parameters, and be able to share just about anything that can be shared; all of this with the power of Google Apps Script at your fingertips. You will learn to embed scripts and text documents in Google sites, and will also be taken through standalone applications and user interfaces. The book ends with some tips and tricks to expand your knowledge.

What You Will Learn

  • Get acquainted with the tools you have at hand
  • Exchange and communicate information between Google services
  • Build a private website using your private files
  • Construct a web app that really helps you at work
  • Solve common issues when using shared documents
  • Embed scripts and text documents in Google sites
  • Know where to find the information you will need to go further

Table of contents

  1. Google Apps Script for Beginners
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Google Apps Script for Beginners
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. About the Reviewers
    6. www.PacktPub.com
      1. Support files, eBooks, discount offers, and more
        1. Why subscribe?
        2. Free access for Packt account holders
    7. Preface
      1. What this book covers
      2. What you need for this book
      3. Who this book is for
      4. Conventions
      5. Reader feedback
      6. Customer support
        1. Downloading the example code
        2. Errata
        3. Piracy
        4. Questions
    8. 1. Enhancing Spreadsheets
      1. Spreadsheet functions versus Google Apps Script – how to choose?
        1. An example
          1. The spreadsheet-formula approach
          2. The Google Apps Script approach – a few comments
          3. The Google Apps Script approach – the code
      2. Using the development environment – the script editor
        1. The advantages of autocompletion
        2. Reading the documentation
      3. Custom spreadsheet functions
      4. Formatting your spreadsheets automatically
        1. Menus and custom buttons in spreadsheets
      5. Reading and writing data from spreadsheets – best practices and performances
        1. Example
      6. Catching events
      7. Who is doing what? Script authorizations
      8. Protecting your data
      9. Publishing your data on the Web
      10. Printing and exporting the result
      11. Summary
    9. 2. Create and Manipulate Forms
      1. What tools do we have?
      2. Forms' limitations
      3. Handling answers
      4. Forms' alternatives
      5. A quick peek at the UiApp and HTML services
      6. Summary
    10. 3. Managing an E-mail Account
      1. Retrieving Gmail data
      2. Creating labels
      3. Counting, sorting, archiving, and deleting e-mails and threads
        1. Execution time versus time limit
      4. Creating e-mail messages
      5. Automating a complete workflow
      6. Summary
    11. 4. Embedding Scripts in Text Documents
      1. What can be done
      2. Generating a Google document from spreadsheet data using a script
      3. Analyzing, duplicating, and modifying document elements
      4. Using a script to insert an image into a document
      5. Compiling and presenting data from other services
      6. Summary
    12. 5. Embedding Scripts in Google Sites
      1. Site gadget's limitations/restrictions/use cases
      2. Creating and maintaining sites with Google Apps Script
      3. Creating pages
      4. Interactivity
      5. Summary
    13. 6. Standalone Web Applications / User Interfaces
      1. UI or not UI, that's the question
        1. Common concepts to all web apps
        2. Building an efficient UI
        3. Building a good-looking UI
        4. Building an amazing UI
      2. Limiting user access
      3. Protecting your data (and your script)
      4. Summary
    14. 7. Using User Interfaces in Spreadsheets and Documents
      1. Pop ups
      2. Sidebars
      3. Summary
    15. 8. How to Expand your Knowledge
      1. JavaScript versus Google Apps Script
      2. Infinite resources
      3. Being a newbie is, by definition, temporary
      4. Try to find your own best learning method
      5. Summary
    16. 9. Conclusion
      1. Development perspectives
      2. Google's secrets
      3. Personal point of view
    17. Index

Product information

  • Title: Google Apps Script for Beginners
  • Author(s): Serge Gabet
  • Release date: February 2014
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781783552177