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Task guide

Create a Google Doc from each Sheet row

Create one short Google Doc for each row on a Projects tab that has no document link yet. The script writes the link to the new Doc back into the row.

Google SheetsGoogle Docs

1 · Prepare

Put these pieces in place

  • Create a Sheet tab named Projects.
  • Put a person or project name in column A, a note in column B, and leave column C for the document link.
  • Use short notes that you are comfortable putting in a new Google Doc. Only one person should run the script at a time. Wait for each run to finish, and do not edit or sort the rows while it runs.

Change these values

Change these values

Make the code yours before you run it.
Sheet tab name
Projects

This must match the tab holding the source rows.

Document title ending
project note

This wording is added after the name from column A.

Link column
Column C

The script writes the link to the new Doc here, and a later run skips rows that show a link. If a run fails, a Doc can exist even though column C is empty.

2 · Review before running

What the script can access and change

Permissions you approve

  • See, edit, create, and delete all your Google Sheets spreadsheets. The code only reads the Projects tab and writes links into column C of this spreadsheet.
  • See, edit, create, and delete all your Google Docs documents. The code only creates new Docs and writes the note into them.

Effects of one run

  • Creates a Google Doc in your Drive for each row that has a name in column A and an empty column C when the run starts.
  • Writes the link to column C right after each Doc is saved, so a later run skips that row. The script writes one row at a time, instead of all rows at the end, because each Doc already exists in Drive as soon as it is created. If the run stops between creating a Doc and writing its link, or before Sheets saves the write, the Doc exists, possibly with only part of its text, but column C stays empty.
  • Does not change the Projects tab except for column C, and never edits or deletes an existing Doc.

3 · Copy

Paste this into the Apps Script editor

Create or open a script file, replace the example values marked above, then save the project.

Code.gs 
function createDocsFromSheetRows() {
  const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Projects');
  if (!sheet) throw new Error('Add a Sheet tab named Projects before running this function.');

  const firstDataRow = 2;
  const lastRow = sheet.getLastRow();
  if (lastRow < firstDataRow) return;

  const rows = sheet.getRange(firstDataRow, 1, lastRow - firstDataRow + 1, 3).getValues();
  rows.forEach((row, index) => {
    const [name, note, documentUrl] = row;
    if (!name || documentUrl) return;

    const document = DocumentApp.create(String(name) + ' project note');
    document.getBody().appendParagraph('Project note for ' + name);
    document.getBody().appendParagraph(String(note || 'No note was entered.'));
    document.saveAndClose();
    sheet.getRange(firstDataRow + index, 3).setValue(document.getUrl());
  });
}

4 · Run

Follow these steps in order

  1. Prepare one test row

    On the Projects tab, put headers in row 1. In row 2, add a sample name in column A and a short note in column B. Leave column C empty.

  2. Add the script

    Choose Extensions, then Apps Script. Paste the function over the starter code and save.

  3. Run it and open the new Doc

    Choose createDocsFromSheetRows in the function dropdown above the code, then click Run. Approve access when Google asks. A link appears in C2. Open it and read the text before you add more rows.

  4. Add the remaining rows

    When the test Doc looks right, fill in the other rows and run the function again. Rows that already show a link in column C are left alone. If a run fails, search Drive for the Docs it made and paste each link into its row before you run again.

5 · Confirm

How to tell it worked

Each row that had an empty column C now shows a link, and the Doc behind it is titled with the name from column A followed by project note. Running the function again changes nothing.

If the result is different

Troubleshooting

The run finishes but no link appears.
Check that the tab is named Projects, that the name is in column A, and that at least one row has a name and an empty column C.
The run stops with "Add a Sheet tab named Projects before running this function."
Rename your tab to Projects, or change the tab name in the code to the name of your tab.
The same person needs a second Doc.
Clear the link in column C for that row, then run the function again. The first Doc stays in Drive.
The run failed and a row has no link.
Do not run the script again yet. Search Drive for the name from the row followed by project note. Open each match and check its text and creation time. Paste the link into column C only if the Doc is complete. Finish an incomplete Doc by hand. If several files match, or you cannot tell whether the run finished a Doc, decide what to keep before you run again. Two files can have the same name, and two runs at the same time can create duplicates.

Technical details

Names used in this script

Open these details when you want to adapt the example or look up an exact service or method name.

Show Apps Script symbols and service pages

Keep going

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