Automate data transfer from Google Docs tables to Google Sheets

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1

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to figure out how to move data from tables in Google Docs to a Google Sheet automatically. Here’s what I’m dealing with:

  • I’ve got a bunch of Google Docs in one folder
  • Each Doc has tables with the same layout
  • I want to copy the table data into rows in a Google Sheet
  • It needs to update daily

I’m stuck on the first step. How do I get my script to open each Doc and grab the table info? Any ideas?

Both the Docs and the Sheet are in the same folder, which has restricted access. Thanks for any help you can give!

2

I’ve implemented a similar solution for a client recently. Here’s a high-level approach:

Use Google Apps Script to automate this process. Start by accessing your folder with DriveApp.getFolderById(). Iterate through the files, opening each Doc with DocumentApp.openById(). Extract table data using getBody().getTables().

To transfer data to Sheets, utilize SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet() and sheet.appendRow() methods. This allows you to append each table row as a new row in your Sheet.

For daily updates, set up a time-driven trigger in the Apps Script dashboard. This will run your script automatically at specified intervals.

Remember to handle potential errors, such as empty tables or inconsistent formats. Also, ensure your script has the necessary permissions to access both Docs and Sheets in the restricted folder.

3

hey miadragon, i’ve dealt with this before. u can use google apps script for this. first, get all docs in the folder using DriveApp. then loop thru each doc, extract tables with DocumentApp. finally, use SpreadsheetApp to add data to ur sheet. for daily updates, set a time trigger. good luck!

4

I’ve actually tackled a similar challenge before. Here’s what worked for me:

First, you’ll need to use Google Apps Script. Create a new script in your Google Sheet and start by getting all the files in your folder using DriveApp.getFolderById().

Then, loop through each file, checking if it’s a Google Doc. For each Doc, use DocumentApp.openById() to access its content. You can then use the getBody().getTables() method to extract all tables.

Once you have the table data, it’s fairly straightforward to append it to your Sheet using the SpreadsheetApp class.

For the daily updates, set up a time-driven trigger in Apps Script to run your function automatically.

One caveat: make sure your script has the necessary permissions to access both the Docs and the Sheet. You might need to run it manually once to grant those permissions.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction!