Google-sheets – Is it possible to link a cell in Google Spreadsheets to a Google text document? (not spreadsheets)

IMPORTRANGE() appears to be the function you want.

From the Google spreadsheets function list:

Google Spreadsheets lets you reference another workbook in the spreadsheet that you're currently editing by using the ImportRange function. ImportRange lets you pull one or more cell values from one spreadsheet into another. To create your own ImportRange formulas, enter =importRange(spreadsheet-key, range). For languages where comma is used for decimal separation, use a semicolon instead of a comma to separate arguments in your formula.

Spreadsheet-key is a STRING which is the key value from the spreadsheet URL.

Range is a STRING representing the range of cells you want to import, optionally including the sheet name (defaults to first sheet). You can also use a range name if you prefer.

Given that the two arguments are STRINGs, you need to enclose them in quotes or refer to cells which have string values in them.

For example:

=importrange("abcd123abcd123", "sheet1!A1:C10") "abcd123abcd123" is the value in the "key=" attribute on the URL of the target spreadsheet and "sheet1!A1:C10" is the range which is desired to be imported.

=importrange(A1,B1) Cell A1 contains the string ABCD123ABCD123 and cell B1 contains sheet1!A1:C10

Note: In order to use ImportRange, you need to have been added as a viewer or collaborator to the spreadsheet from which ImportRange is pulling the data. Otherwise, you'll get this error: "#REF! error: The requested spreadsheet key, sheet title, or cell range was not found."

"key" is, of course, the string in the URL for the spreadsheet that matches to the key= parameter.

I just tested it by creating two spreadsheets. In cell A1 of the first, I put a string. In cell A1 of the second, I put =importRange("tgR2P4UTz_KT0Lc270Ijb_A","A1") and it displayed the string from the first spreadsheet. (Your key will obviously be different.)

(The format of the function may depend on your locale. In France the formula is not valid with a comma, so you'll need to replace it with a semi-colon: =importRange("tgR2P4UTz_KT0Lc270Ijb_A";"A1"))

NOTES:

1. Google currently sets a hard limit of 50 "cross-workbook reference formulas" per spreadsheet. Source: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides size limits. (h/t JJ Rohrer)

2. The "new" Google Spreadsheet (soon to be the standard) removes the 50 limit of 50 "cross-workbook reference formulas (Google Support) (h/t Jacob Jan Tuinstra)

3. In the "new" Google Sheets you also use the entire URL as the key (Google Support) (h/t Punchlinern)

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

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