I’m struggling to understand how scripts work in Google Sheets. Every time I open the script editor, I have to make a new project. Is this normal? How do I connect the script to my spreadsheet?
When I paste a script into the editor, I’m not sure how to run it. Sometimes a new menu item shows up after refreshing, but where is the script actually saved?
My main goal is to add trendlines to my spreadsheets. I’d like to create a script that adds a menu item for trendlines, letting me pick which data to use. Any tips or example scripts would be great. I’m new to programming but willing to learn the basics.
It seems odd that Google Sheets doesn’t already have this feature. I always want to show the trend and equation when making scatterplots. Any help would be appreciated!
I’ve worked with Google Sheets scripts for a while now, and I can assure you that the process becomes more intuitive with time and practice. When you open the script editor via the Tools menu, you can paste your custom code directly into the project. After saving the project and refreshing your spreadsheet, the script is stored within the file, and a new menu option may appear that connects to your script. For adding trendlines, you can utilize the Charts service to programmatically modify your charts. This service allows you to apply trendlines dynamically based on your selected data range. It is also important to authorize the script when you first run it, as this step is essential for proper functionality. With patience and experimentation, even those new to programming can effectively integrate custom scripts into their spreadsheets.
As someone who’s been using Google Sheets for years, I can relate to your frustration with scripts and trendlines. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Scripts are actually saved within your spreadsheet file, even though it might not seem like it. When you create a new project in the script editor, it’s automatically linked to your current sheet.
For trendlines, I’ve found a workaround. Instead of relying on built-in features, I use a custom function to calculate trendline equations. Then I plot this alongside my data.
Here’s a basic script to get you started:
function TRENDLINE(range) {
var sum_x = 0, sum_y = 0, sum_xy = 0, sum_xx = 0;
var count = range.length;
for (var i = 0; i < count; i++) {
sum_x += i;
sum_y += range[i][1];
sum_xy += i * range[i][1];
sum_xx += i * i;
}
var m = (count * sum_xy - sum_x * sum_y) / (count * sum_xx - sum_x * sum_x);
var b = (sum_y - m * sum_x) / count;
return [m, b];
}
This calculates the slope and y-intercept. You can then use these in your spreadsheet to plot the trendline.