Working with Google Sheets
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Google Apps Script Fundamentals course at London School of International Business. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
**Activate() method #
** A method that sets the current selection in a Google Sheets active sheet. It is used to shift the user's view to a specific cell or range of cells.
**Advanced Sheets Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that allows developers to access and manipulate Google Sheets data beyond the basic functionalities. It enables programmatic control over various aspects of spreadsheets, such as formatting, conditional formatting, data validation, and more.
**Apps Script #
** A JavaScript-based scripting platform developed by Google, enabling automation and customization of Google Workspace applications like Sheets, Docs, Forms, and Slides.
**ArrayFormula() #
** A special function in Google Sheets that allows users to perform calculations across an entire row or column with a single formula. It's particularly useful when working with large datasets, as it eliminates the need for repetitive formulas.
**Assertion #
** A statement or expression used to verify if a condition is true. In Google Apps Script, assertions are used for testing and debugging purposes, ensuring that specific conditions are met during script execution.
**Batch Operations #
** Performing multiple operations in a single request, reducing the number of API calls and improving performance. In Google Sheets, batch operations are possible using the `batchUpdate()` method.
**Basic Sheets Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that provides access to Google Sheets data and functionalities, such as reading and writing cells, formatting cells, and managing sheets.
**Cell #
** The smallest unit of data storage in a Google Sheets document, represented by an intersection of a row and a column.
**Charts #
** Graphical representations of data in Google Sheets, used to visualize trends, patterns, and relationships. Google Sheets supports various chart types, such as bar charts, line charts, and pie charts.
**Conditional Formatting #
** The process of applying formatting to cells based on specific conditions or rules. Google Sheets supports a wide range of conditional formatting options, including highlighting cells that meet certain criteria, color scales, and data bars.
**Data Validation #
** A feature in Google Sheets that allows users to restrict the type of data that can be entered into a cell or range of cells. This ensures data integrity by preventing incorrect or inconsistent entries.
**Drive Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to access and manipulate Google Drive files and folders programmatically.
**Event Objects #
** Special objects that contain information about a specific event, such as a user interacting with a Google Sheets document. Google Apps Script uses event objects to trigger functions based on user actions, like opening a spreadsheet or editing a cell.
**Filter Views #
** A feature in Google Sheets that allows users to create custom views of a dataset, hiding rows that do not meet specific criteria. This enables users to focus on a subset of data without affecting the original dataset.
**Formulas #
** Rules and expressions used to perform calculations and manipulate data in Google Sheets. Formulas can be as simple as adding two numbers or as complex as querying large datasets.
**Google Apps Script Fundamentals #
** A professional certificate program that teaches users how to automate and customize Google Workspace applications using Google Apps Script.
**Google Sheets #
** A web-based spreadsheet application developed by Google, part of the Google Workspace suite. Google Sheets allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time.
**Google Workspace #
** A collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google, including Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, Forms, and Drive.
**Grid Id #
** A unique identifier for a Google Sheets document, used to programmatically access the spreadsheet using Google Apps Script.
**HTML Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to create standalone web apps and add-ons for Google Workspace applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
**Jamboard #
** A virtual whiteboard application developed by Google, part of the Google Workspace suite. Jamboard allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on virtual whiteboards in real-time.
**Logging Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to log messages and errors during script execution. Logs can be viewed in the Google Apps Script editor or exported for further analysis.
**Macros #
** A series of actions and commands recorded in Google Sheets, which can be replayed to automate repetitive tasks. Macros can be created and managed using the Google Sheets macro recorder.
**OnEdit() trigger #
** A Google Apps Script function that is automatically executed when a user edits a cell in a Google Sheets document. The `onEdit()` trigger can be used to create custom responses to user edits, such as updating other cells or sending notifications.
**OnOpen() trigger #
** A Google Apps Script function that is automatically executed when a user opens a Google Sheets document. The `onOpen()` trigger can be used to create custom menus, sidebars, or other user interface elements.
**Pivot Tables #
** A data summarization tool in Google Sheets that allows users to reorganize, group, and aggregate data based on specific criteria. Pivot tables make it easy to analyze large datasets and identify trends and patterns.
**Properties Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to store and retrieve small pieces of data associated with a Google Sheets document or a user's account.
**Query Language #
** A specialized language used to query and manipulate data in Google Sheets, enabling users to extract specific subsets of data, perform calculations, and join datasets from multiple sheets.
**Range #
** A group of cells in a Google Sheets document, represented by a contiguous block of rows and columns. Ranges can be selected, formatted, and manipulated using various Google Sheets functions and methods.
**Script Editor #
** A web-based development environment for Google Apps Script, providing tools for creating, debugging, and deploying scripts that automate and customize Google Workspace applications.
**Sheet #
** A tab in a Google Sheets document that contains a collection of cells, used to organize and present data. Sheets can be added, removed, and renamed as needed.
**Sidebars #
** Custom user interface elements that can be added to Google Sheets documents, providing additional functionality and options for users. Sidebars can be created using Google Apps Script and the HTML Service.
**SpreadsheetApp #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to access and manipulate Google Sheets data programmatically.
**Strings #
** A sequence of characters, such as text or numbers, represented as a single unit in Google Apps Script. Strings can be manipulated and formatted using various methods and functions.
**Triggers #
** Automated events in Google Apps Script that execute functions based on specific user actions or system events, such as opening a document, editing a cell, or sending an email.
**UI Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to create custom user interfaces for Google Workspace applications, including dialogs, menus, and sidebars. The UI Service has been deprecated and replaced by the HTML Service.
**Variables #
** Named storage locations in Google Apps Script used to store and manipulate data, such as numbers, strings, arrays, and objects. Variables can be declared and assigned values using various data types and scoping rules.
**Workspaces #
** A collection of related Google Sheets documents, used to organize and manage data within a single project or organization. Workspaces can be shared, managed, and accessed by multiple users.
**XML Service #
** A Google Apps Script service that enables developers to parse, generate, and manipulate XML data programmatically. The XML Service has been deprecated and replaced by the XmlService class.
** #
** An HTML tag used to apply bold formatting to text, emphasizing specific words or phrases.
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** An HTML tag used to apply italic formatting to text, emphasizing specific words or phrases.