Scripting Google Apps with JavaScript

Scripting Google Apps with JavaScript

Mirko Kiefer, LivelyCode @mirkokiefer

mail@mirkokiefer.com

Why script Google Apps?

• Automate your workflows

• Add features to apps

• Do complex calculations in Sheets

• Integrate external data sources

• Expose your data through HTTP interfaces

Google Apps Script• Hosted scripting environment for Google services

• “The Visual Basic for Google Apps”

• Stand-alone scripts

• Container-bound scripts / Add-ons

• It’s just JavaScript!

Stand-alone scripts

• Run manually

• Run through triggers(timer, document open/edit, http requests)

• Stored in Google Drive

• Import/Export code through SDK API

Container-bound scripts

• Tied to Google Doc, Sheet or Form

• Elevated permissions

• Custom functions in Sheets

• No API to import/export scripts!

Add-ons

• Share container-bound scripts

• Published on store or only domain-wide

• In beta (manual review of submissions)

User Interfaces for Add-ons

• Custom dialogs, menus and sidebars

• All HTML and JavaScript

• UI-style guidelines

Storage

• Property service (key-value store)

• JDBC: Google Cloud SQL, MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle

• HTTP access

Authorization

• Multiple authorization levels

• User is asked for permissions

• Scripts can use OAuth in HTTP requests

External APIs

• HTTP APIs for all major services

• Less features than Apps Script SDKs

• Activities API

Mirko Kiefer, LivelyCode @mirkokiefer

mail@mirkokiefer.com

Questions?