Hey everyone! I’m trying to figure out how to use an external JavaScript file in my Google Apps Script project for Google Docs. I’ve got some cool functionality I want to add, but I’m not sure how to bring in code from outside the script editor. Is there a way to import or reference an external JS file? Maybe something like how we include scripts in HTML? I’d really appreciate any tips or examples on how to do this. I’ve looked around but haven’t found a clear answer yet. Thanks for any help you can give!
Having worked on several Google Apps Script projects, I can confirm that incorporating external JS files isn’t straightforward due to the platform’s security model. However, there’s a method I’ve found effective for larger projects.
You can use a library approach. Create a separate Google Apps Script project for your external code, then publish it as a library. In your main project, you can then add this library as a dependency.
This method allows you to maintain your code in separate files and projects, while still being able to use it in your main script. It’s particularly useful for code you might want to reuse across multiple projects.
Remember to version your library carefully, as updates can potentially break dependent projects. Also, be aware that there’s a slight performance overhead when using libraries, but for most applications, it’s negligible.
yo, I’ve got a trick for ya. instead of importing external JS, why not use Google’s HTML Service? u can create an HTML file in ur project, add ur JS there, and then use HtmlService.createHtmlOutputFromFile() to load it. its not perfect, but it works for me when i need to use external scripts. give it a shot!
As someone who’s worked extensively with Google Apps Script, I can tell you that unfortunately, there’s no direct way to include external JS files like you would in regular web development. Google Apps Script operates in a sandboxed environment for security reasons.
However, there are workarounds. One approach I’ve used is to host your external JS code on a web server, then use the UrlFetchApp.fetch() method to retrieve the code as a string. You can then use eval() to execute it, though be cautious with this method as it can pose security risks if not handled properly.
Another option is to simply copy the external code into your Apps Script project as a separate .gs file. This isn’t as elegant for maintenance, but it’s straightforward and works well for smaller projects.
For larger codebases, I’ve found it helpful to use a build process that combines external JS files into a single Apps Script file before deployment. This allows you to maintain separate files during development while still adhering to the Apps Script environment constraints.