Operational Governance Knowledge Flashcards No. 11/19
Google Apps Script
From the Operational Governance flashcard deck; today this discipline goes by BizOps. The original card is republished here as a field note.
01 What is it
A rapid application development platform that makes it fast and easy to create business applications that integrate with G Suite.
Google
A scripting framework for lightweight application development in the Google platform, written in JavaScript.
02 When is it useful
Google Drive offers great features for storing and working with different types of files, but it lacks some features that are crucial for your work. Google Apps Script is an easy-to-use scripting language to get things done that are otherwise not available in Drive.
It interacts with other Google services, including AdSense, Analytics, Calendar, Drive, Gmail, and Maps.
03 How to use it
You write code in JavaScript. To create and run a script:
- Create or open a Google Doc or Sheet. From the Tools menu, select Script editor.
- Remove the existing code and add your own. Go to File → Save, add a script name, click OK.
- To execute, click ►, or select a function from the Run menu. On first run it will ask for your authentication — check the required permissions and click Allow.
- A yellow bar appears at the centre-top to indicate that the script is running.
04 Common pitfalls
- If you are new to JavaScript, it can feel like a limitation — and a reason to give up. Never do it; don’t let this be a deterrent.
- Processing limitations: as a cloud-based service, Apps Script limits the time a user’s script may run, and limits access to Google services.