Need help creating a custom paragraph style script for Google Docs

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1

I’m working on a Google Docs script to set up a specific paragraph style for my academic paper. I’m new to this and could use some guidance. Here’s what I’m trying to achieve:

  • Indent: 4 cm
  • Font: Arial, size 10
  • Single line spacing
  • 1.5 spacing before and after citations
  • Justified alignment

I found a script online that adds custom styles, but I’m not sure how to modify it for my needs. Here’s a simplified version of what I’m working with:

function customStyle() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();

  var style = {};
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.INDENT_FIRST_LINE] = 40;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_FAMILY] = DocumentApp.FontFamily.ARIAL;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE] = 10;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.LINE_SPACING] = 1;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.SPACING_AFTER] = 15;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.SPACING_BEFORE] = 15;
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT] = DocumentApp.HorizontalAlignment.JUSTIFY;

  body.setAttributes(style);
}

Can someone help me adjust this for my specific requirements? I’m really stuck and would appreciate any tips!

2

hey mate, i can help ya out! ur script looks good, just need a few tweaks. change INDENT_FIRST_LINE to 40 (4cm), and add INDENT_START: 40 for left indent. for citations, you’ll need a separate function to detect and adjust spacing. lemme know if u need more help!

3

I’ve worked with Google Docs scripts for academic formatting before, and I can offer some advice. Your script is on the right track, but there are a few adjustments needed.

For the indent, use INDENT_START instead of INDENT_FIRST_LINE to achieve a 4 cm left indent and set both to 113.39 (4 cm in points). For line spacing, consider using LINE_SPACING_EXACT and set it to 10 for single spacing.

The citation spacing is trickier and would require a separate function to detect citations and adjust spacing accordingly. Using named styles might also provide more flexibility.

4

I’ve been in your shoes, struggling with Google Docs scripts for academic papers. Here’s what I’ve learned:

The script you’ve got is a solid starting point. For the 4 cm indent, you’ll want to use INDENT_START and set it to 113.39 (that’s 4 cm in points). For the font and size, you’re spot on.

The tricky part is the spacing for citations. You’d need to create a separate function to detect citations and adjust the spacing accordingly. I’ve found using regular expressions can help identify citation patterns.

One tip: consider using named styles instead of directly applying attributes. It makes it easier to update formatting across the entire document later.

Remember to test your script on a copy of your document first. It can save you a lot of headaches!