Copy a Docs template and replace placeholders with episode summary and timestamp chapters. The workbook becomes the system of record; Apps Script owns the joins and business rules so analysts are not pasting monthly formulas.
Entry point `generateShowNotesDoc` reads typed columns with SpreadsheetApp batch APIs. DocumentApp is the primary service; Manual describes how you usually invoke it after authorization.
Keep thresholds (grace days, bands, alert emails, API keys) in Config cells or Script Properties so the same .gs file promotes from sandbox to production without code edits.
This page is technical only: sheet layout, edge cases, runnable code, deploy steps, and FAQs for generate episode show notes docs. No consulting pitch—just the pattern you can paste and harden.
Need this built? Hire a Google Apps Script developer →
Sheet / project setup
| Tab | Columns | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Episodes | Id, Title, Summary, DocUrl | Row-driven |
| Timestamps | EpisodeId, Time, Topic | Chapters |
What this script does
generateShowNotesDoc() copy a Docs template and replace placeholders with episode summary and timestamp chapters.
- Doc template copy
- replaceText
- URL writeback
Prerequisites
Container-bound script on the workbook that contains the tabs in the setup table. Authorize DocumentApp scopes on first run.
- V8 runtime
- Exact sheet names
- Script timezone = ops timezone
Walkthrough
makeCopy template, DocumentApp replaceText for title/summary/timestamps, write Doc URL back.
Paste the code, set Config/Properties, run generateShowNotesDoc once, verify the output tab, then attach a Manual trigger.
Edge cases
Active row drives generation—select the episode row before running from the menu.
Testing
Use a sandbox copy with 3–5 known rows. Compute expected outputs for generate episode show notes docs offline, run generateShowNotesDoc, and diff the output tab including one intentional bad row.
Hardening
Add LockService around multi-sheet writes if triggers can overlap. Log run timestamps. Keep API keys and alert emails in PropertiesService—not in shared cells.
Variations
Fork ideas: filter to one business unit, change grain (daily→weekly), or POST a summary payload after generateShowNotesDoc succeeds.
Operations notes
Assign an owner for the output tab, document regenerate steps, and treat `generateShowNotesDoc` as source of truth over ad-hoc cell formulas.
Full code: generateShowNotesDoc()
Run generateShowNotesDoc when source tabs are current. Edit sheet names and Config/Properties first.
function generateShowNotesDoc(){
const ss=SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
const ep=ss.getSheetByName('Episodes').getActiveRange().getRow();
const row=ss.getSheetByName('Episodes').getRange(ep,1,ep,5).getValues()[0];
const title=row[1], summary=row[2], templateId=PropertiesService.getScriptProperties().getProperty('NOTES_TEMPLATE');
const copy=DriveApp.getFileById(templateId).makeCopy('Show Notes — '+title);
const doc=DocumentApp.openById(copy.getId());
const body=doc.getBody();
body.replaceText('{{TITLE}}', title);
body.replaceText('{{SUMMARY}}', summary);
const stamps=ss.getSheetByName('Timestamps').getDataRange().getValues().slice(1)
.filter(r=>String(r[0])===String(row[0]));
const lines=stamps.map(r=> r[1]+' — '+r[2]).join('\\n');
body.replaceText('{{TIMESTAMPS}}', lines);
doc.saveAndClose();
ss.getSheetByName('Episodes').getRange(ep,6).setValue(copy.getUrl());
}- Line 1: Entry point — bind triggers to generateShowNotesDoc.
- Line 5: Script Properties for thresholds/secrets.
- Line 6: Drive file resolve/copy for artifacts.
- Line 7: Edit the copied Google Doc placeholders.
- Line 6: Rename sheet constants before production.
Deploy this example
- 01
Open Apps Script
In the bound spreadsheet: Extensions → Apps Script. For standalone projects, create one at script.google.com and link your Sheet by ID.
- 02
Paste and save
Add a .gs file, paste the code below, rename constants at the top (sheet names, column letters, API property keys), then save.
- 03
Authorize once
Run the main function from the editor. Accept OAuth scopes when prompted — triggers cannot run until authorization succeeds once.
- 04
Add the trigger
Triggers → Add trigger → choose the handler function and event (time-driven, on edit, or on form submit). Delete test triggers before production.
Before you run: generate episode show notes docs
- 1Setup tabs exist with headers matching generateShowNotesDoc
- 2Dry-run on a copy workbook
- 3Timezone verified
- 4DocumentApp authorization completed
- 5Output spot-checked against hand calc
- 6Manual trigger added only after validation
- 7Owners + alert recipients documented
Frequently asked questions
At minimum the tabs listed in the setup table for Generate Episode Show Notes Docs. Output tabs may be cleared each run—do not store source-of-truth data there.
Run from the Apps Script editor for dry runs. Production usually uses a Manual trigger after OAuth succeeds once.
Active row drives generation—select the episode row before running from the menu.
Per-cell calls burn quota and wall time. One read + one write keeps this pattern under the 6-minute execution cap longer.
PropertiesService (Script Properties) for API keys and alert inboxes. Config sheet is fine for non-secret thresholds.
Simple ratios maybe; generate episode show notes docs needs joins, branching, or side effects (email/Docs/API) that Apps Script handles cleanly.
Keep the .gs in clasp/git. Avoid divergent copies of formulas on the output tab—regenerate from the script.