Google-sheets – How to automatically open a created text document after it being created

google docsgoogle sheetsgoogle-apps-script

I've used this script to create a Google Document (like word document) with Google Spreadsheet. But, when I do so, the new text document created from a template is placed in the default chosen folder. And, after that, I have to go to that folder, find the new document and open it.

The million dollar question is: how could I make the newly created text document to automatically open? I think that if it wasn't a Google text Document but a spreadsheet I should use SpreadsheetApp.getActive(). Is there a document equivalent of .getActive()?.

Best Answer

I've found no direct way of opening a created document through Google Apps Script (GAS), via GAS. There's however an indirect way, which is presented below. It uses an Anchor element to show a pre-formatted hyperlink.

Code

// global
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();

function onOpen() {
  var menu = [{name: "Create Document", functionName: "createDoc"}];
  ss.addMenu("Extra", menu);
}

function createDoc() {
  var sh = ss.getActiveSheet(), aRow = sh.getActiveCell().getRowIndex();
  var title = sh.getRange(aRow, 1).getValue(), docDate = new Date(); 
  var docTitle = title + "-" + docDate, doc = DocumentApp.create(docTitle);
  var url = doc.getUrl();

  // create app and panel
  var app = UiApp.createApplication().setTitle("Open Google Document")
    .setHeight(50).setWidth(400);
  var vPanel = app.createVerticalPanel()
    .add(app.createAnchor(docTitle, url));

  // add to app
  app.add(vPanel);
  ss.show(app);  
}

Screenshot

enter image description here

Remarks

This piece of code creates a new menu entry called "Extra" upon opening of the file. The selection "Create Document" will create (in the back gound) a Google Document and displays a panel with a hyperlink to open the document.

Example

I've created an example file for you: How To Open Document

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