Creating a custom formatting script for Google Docs

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1

I’m working on a Google Docs script to apply custom paragraph formatting. I need help setting up these specific styles:

  • 4 cm indent
  • Arial font, size 10
  • Single line spacing
  • 1.5 spacing before citations
  • Justified alignment

I found a script online but I’m not sure how to modify it for my needs. Here’s what I have so far:

function applyCustomStyle() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  
  body.setAttributes({
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_FAMILY]: 'Arial',
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE]: 10,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.LINE_SPACING]: 1,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.INDENT_FIRST_LINE]: 151, // 4 cm in points
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT]: DocumentApp.HorizontalAlignment.JUSTIFY
  });
}

This applies some of the formatting, but I’m not sure how to add the spacing before citations. Can anyone help me improve this script or suggest a better approach? It’s for an important school project. Thanks!

2

Your script is on the right track, but it needs a few tweaks to fully meet your requirements. Here’s a suggestion to improve it:

function applyCustomStyle() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  
  body.setAttributes({
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_FAMILY]: 'Arial',
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE]: 10,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.LINE_SPACING]: 1,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.INDENT_START]: 151,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT]: DocumentApp.HorizontalAlignment.JUSTIFY
  });
  
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();
  for (var i = 0; i < paragraphs.length; i++) {
    if (isCitation(paragraphs[i].getText())) {
      paragraphs[i].setSpacingBefore(22.5);
    }
  }
}

function isCitation(text) {
  return /^\(.*?\)$/.test(text.trim());
}

This script applies all your specified formatting and adds the 1.5 spacing before citations. The isCitation function checks for parentheses at the start and end of a paragraph to identify citations. You may need to adjust this based on your specific citation format. Remember to test the script on a copy of your document first.

3

I’ve tackled similar custom formatting challenges in Google Docs before. Your script is a good start, but you’re right that it’s missing a few key elements. For the spacing before citations, you’ll want to use a separate function to identify citation paragraphs and apply the 1.5 spacing specifically to those.

Here’s a modified version of your script that should work:

function applyCustomStyle() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  
  body.setAttributes({
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_FAMILY]: 'Arial',
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE]: 10,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.LINE_SPACING]: 1,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.INDENT_FIRST_LINE]: 151,
    [DocumentApp.Attribute.HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT]: DocumentApp.HorizontalAlignment.JUSTIFY
  });
  
  applyCitationSpacing(body);
}

function applyCitationSpacing(body) {
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();
  for (var i = 0; i < paragraphs.length; i++) {
    if (paragraphs[i].getText().match(/^\[.*\]$/)) {
      paragraphs[i].setSpacingBefore(22.5); // 1.5 line spacing
    }
  }
}

This should cover all your requirements. The citation spacing function assumes citations are in square brackets at the start of a paragraph. Adjust the regex if needed. Hope this helps with your project!

4

hey tom, looks like ur script is good. to add spacing for citations, loop through paragraphs and if the text fits a citation pattern, use setSpacingBefore(22.5). run it after applying the main formatting. hope it helps, cheers!