How do I configure Google Apps Scripts to scan for a keyword (like ‘livestream’) and insert a preset paragraph into my Google Doc automatically?
hey emma, u could try using the onedit trigger to scan the doc for ‘livestream’ and append your para. i did something simlar once, so it might be worth a shot. good luck!
Based on my experience, implementing a keyword detection feature in Google Docs using Apps Script can be somewhat tricky. Unlike in Sheets where onEdit triggers work seamlessly, Google Docs does not support these triggers, requiring alternative approaches. One effective method was to set up a time-based trigger that periodically scans the document for the keyword. Once the script detects a match, it inserts the preset paragraph into the document. This approach, while not immediate, proved reliable. It’s important to incorporate error handling and test the script on smaller documents to ensure it works as expected before deploying it on larger files.
Based on my experience, a viable implementation involves scheduling a periodic scan of the document to detect the keyword. I used a time-driven trigger that runs a function checking the document body for a defined keyword. When found, the script locates the appropriate insertion point and adds the preset paragraph. This approach, while not real-time, mitigates the limitation of the onEdit trigger in Google Docs. I also found it beneficial to include error checking to prevent unwanted insertions in larger documents.
hey, i tried addin a custom menu in my docs that runs a function when you click it. that func searches for the keyword and adds your text. it’s not auto realtime but works well for my needs. may require tweaking if docs get too long
In my own experiments with Apps Script and Google Docs, I’ve found that the key challenge is the lack of a direct onEdit trigger. I resorted to using a time-based trigger that periodically scans the document, and while this approach isn’t instantaneous, it reliably identifies the keyword and then appends the required text. I enhanced the script with logging to track activations and to avoid duplicate insertions when multiple triggers occur close together. Testing on sample documents helped me fine tune the process before applying it on larger files, ensuring stable performance.