Tag: getRange

Google Apps Script: Add and removed Google Sheets columns based on a search array

Google Apps Script: V8 engine, map, filter, reduce, includes, 2d arrays, matrix

Have you ever wanted to delete or add columns in a Google Sheet, based on another set of Sheet data?

I know I have.

There have been a number of instances where I wanted to insert new columns or removed unused columns in large Google Sheets projects with Google Apps Script.

In the past, I have dynamically set headers based on something like an IMPORTRANGE or FILTER, or simply from an array ({}) from another sheet tab or Google Sheet. However, when I update the original data the headers change but all the data underneath them does not move along to the updated column with it.

Now all my data is not lined up with the header! As you can imagine, this creates some serious problems.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use Google Apps Script to update your headers based on another sheets values. These sheets values can come from the current Google Sheet workbook or another one. We will also ensure that the data below the headers is migrated along with the new header location.

Take a look at the visual example below:

Add removes columns based on a search array visual example

As always, read as much or as little as you need to get the job done or learn the skill. 

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How to Automatically Navigate to the First Empty Row in a Google Sheet using Google Apps Script

Google Sheets, Google Apps Script: SpreadsheetApp, PropertiesService, Binary Search, onOpen, Button

Ever had to open a huge data entry spreadsheet an all you want to do is enter your data and move onto another task? Instead, you have to waste precious time navigating all the way down to the bottom of the page to add your data.

Boo!!!

Wouldn’t it be cool to just jump down to the first empty row and get clicky-clacking away?

Behold, dear biped! This friendly coding goat has a little gift for you.

In this tutorial, we are going to tackle two ways to automatically move down to the first available empty cell. One will be super easy and the other slightly more tricky, fun and versatile (You can thank one of the Google Apps Script outreach gurus for the inspiration for this one).

We’ll show you how to set up this little code so it can be run via a button at the top of your page or when you open the Google Sheet workbook each time.

Note! As always feel free to read the entire tutorial or take what you need. There is a quick start guide for those people who just want to copy and paste into their own projects and a deep dive for those who want to understand the code. 

Contents

Scenario 1: The Super Easy Way

Let’s say we have a simple data set that the user needs to enter a new row of data each time the open the Google Sheet workbook.

Something like this:

Sample File - Google Sheets first empty cell at end of data

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Google Apps Script – Iterating Through Ranges in Sheets the Right and Wrong Way

Google Apps Script: SpreadsheetApp, getRange, getLastRow, getDataRange

I was trying to rush out some Google Apps Script code to deal with a task on Google Sheets recently. Basically, I had to search through a heap of data and find certain values and do something too them.

My column was reaching across the page to something like Column BK and my rows were over 1000 deep. Running this code was taking forever!!!

My immediate instinct was:

What have I done wrong?

…and my instinct was right.

The Good and Bad Way to Search Through Code

So after looking at my code again, I discovered that for some reason I go it into my head that I should be searching each cell for the value I needed and then doing something with it.

Sounds logical right? It’s sorta what you are meant to do.

The problem is that I was calling the sever and asking for the range in each cell as I was looping through the entire document. This is super costly and inefficient in terms of time.

Google talks about this in their Google Apps Script Best Practice page under Batch Operations.

Also, if you do run a costly code like this, then you will get a little red light in your Script tool bar that represents your Execution Hints:

Google Apps Script Execution Hints

Clicking on Execution Hints and expanding the side bar with provide you with a far-too-deserving-polite dressing down about your slow and server costly code.

Method Range.getValue is heavily used

The Good

Continue reading “Google Apps Script – Iterating Through Ranges in Sheets the Right and Wrong Way”