Google Add-on: Bulk Calendar Events

What it does

Bulk create Google Calendar™ events with optional video conferencing (Google Meet™). Add location, guests, change the event visibility, colour and much more.

Example uses:

• Meetings
• Workshops
• Events
• 1:1s

Demo video

Find out more

Bulk Calendar Events Add-on webpage.

onFormSubmit Trigger simultaneous executions

The following post is a caution around onFormSubmit triggers after I recently discovered a way that somebody had inadvertently managed to execute my code simultaneously over 253 times. Now unless a Google Form is submitted by 253 individuals all at the same time ... then this is baffling.

When should an onFormSubmit trigger run?

At the point when a Google Form has been completed and the 'Submit' button pressed.

Probation Tracker Tool

The following Google Apps Script tool was developed to allow you to easily be reminded of when upcoming probation review meetings are due. Enter the details into the Google Sheet, including upcoming review dates, and the tool will automatically email the Line Manager both 14 days before and on the day of the review date.

Manage probation review dates in a spreadsheet and be sent reminder emails

Totally Unscripted: Level Up Your Productivity: Unboxing the Gift of Apps Script

Are you looking for ways to supercharge your productivity with Google Apps Script? Then this episode of Totally Unscripted is for you!

Join us as we explore how Google Apps Script is being used to make a real impact in productivity. Our guest speaker, Phil Bainbridge, is an experienced IT specialist at the University of York and author of 'The Gift of Script.' He will share his insights on how Google Apps Script can be used to automate tasks, create custom solutions, and enhance your workflow. As part of this episode we will discover how Phil and other members of York’s Digital Inclusion, Skills & Creativity team support digital literacy development in Google Workspace and Apps Script as well as the solutions they have created to improve productivity.

20 March 2024 at 7pm.

Replace text in a Google Doc with an image

The following Google Apps Script is designed to search the body of a Google Doc for a specific string/pattern (i.e. a keyword) and insert an image in place of it, optionally making it a clickable hyperlink too.

Instructions

In this example the code is designed to sit behind the Google Doc so it is bound to it. There are 4 pieces of information to complete in order to setup the script:

1. searchText - this is the unique string/pattern in the Doc that you want to replace with an image e.g. "<<keyword>>"
   
   
2. imageURL - this is the direct link to the image in Google Drive that you wish to use in the Doc.
   
   
3. size - a numerical value representing the number of pixels for the image's width/height.
   
   
4. hyperlinkURL - if you want the image to be clickable then provide a link for it.
   

Google Add-on: Auto Close Form

What it does

The Add-on allows you to have a Google Form automatically close when a set number of responses has been reached or on a specific date. You define exactly how many responses or the date, per form, and then leave it to run in the background. Once a Form has closed you will receive an automated email informing you.

Example uses:

• Sign ups to an event/workshop/conference.
• A limited time offer.
• Submission deadlines.

Find out more

Auto Close Form Add-on webpage - includes instructions and demo videos.

Drive API - get file information

The following Google Apps Script is a snippet of code where I was learning how to use the Drive API to query a folder of files, to extract some specific file information. It is designed to work on both My/Shared drives.

Information to Extract

• Name;
• Type (e.g. Doc, Sheet);
• ID;
• Creation date;
• Last modified date;
• Clickable link;
• Owners
  

Enable Drive API

Please follow the steps to enable the 'Drive API' Service if you are not working from a copy of the file in this post.

Google Add-on: Form Calendar Invites

What it does

The Add-on allows you to link a Google Form™ with Google Calendar™ events so that when people complete the Form and select a particular title/date/time from it, they are sent an automated email invite to one of the respective Calendar events.

This allows you to have Calendar events with all guests attached to it such as for conferences, workshops, drop-ins, training sessions, etc. Therefore any changes to an event (description/conferencing, etc) will be reflected for all guests - just like any other event.

Sessions listed in the Form can be selected

Find out more

Form Calendar Invites Add-on webpage - includes instructions and demo videos.