Class Document

Document

A document, containing one or more Tab objects, each of which contains rich text and elements such as tables and lists.

Documents may be opened or created using DocumentApp.

// Open a document by ID.
let doc = DocumentApp.openById('<my-id>');

// Create and open a document.
doc = DocumentApp.create('Document Title');

Methods on the Document class that directly access and modify text contents operate on either the active tab (in scripts bound to a particular document) or the first tab (if an active one isn't available). Scripts relying on these methods (for example, getBody()) can be migrated to support tabs using getTabs() and then Tab.asDocumentTab().

Methods

MethodReturn typeBrief description
addBookmark(position)BookmarkAdds a Bookmark at the given Position to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
addEditor(emailAddress)DocumentAdds the given user to the list of editors for the Document.
addEditor(user)DocumentAdds the given user to the list of editors for the Document.
addEditors(emailAddresses)DocumentAdds the given array of users to the list of editors for the Document.
addFooter()FooterSectionAdds a footer section, if none exists, to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
addHeader()HeaderSectionAdds a header section, if none exists, to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
addNamedRange(name, range)NamedRangeAdds a NamedRange, which is a Range that has a name and ID to use for later retrieval, in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
addViewer(emailAddress)DocumentAdds the given user to the list of viewers for the Document.
addViewer(user)DocumentAdds the given user to the list of viewers for the Document.
addViewers(emailAddresses)DocumentAdds the given array of users to the list of viewers for the Document.
getActiveTab()TabGets the user's currently active Tab in the document.
getAs(contentType)BlobRetrieves the current Document contents as a blob of the specified type.
getBlob()BlobRetrieves the current Document contents as a blob.
getBody()BodyRetrieves the first tab's Body or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's DocumentBodySection.
getBookmark(id)BookmarkGets the Bookmark with the given ID in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
getBookmarks()Bookmark[]Gets all Bookmark objects in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
getCursor()PositionGets the user's cursor in the active tab.
getEditors()User[]Gets the list of editors for this Document.
getFooter()FooterSectionRetrieves the first tab's footer section or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's footer section.
getFootnotes()Footnote[]Retrieves all the Footnote elements in the first tab's body or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's body.
getHeader()HeaderSectionRetrieves the first tab's header section or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's header section.
getId()StringRetrieves the document's unique identifier.
getLanguage()StringGets the document's language code.
getName()StringRetrieves the title of the document.
getNamedRangeById(id)NamedRangeGets the NamedRange with the given ID in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
getNamedRanges()NamedRange[]Gets all NamedRange objects in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
getNamedRanges(name)NamedRange[]Gets all NamedRange objects with the given name in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
getSelection()RangeGets the user's selection in the active tab.
getSupportedLanguageCodes()String[]Gets all language codes that are supported in Google Docs files.
getTab(tabId)TabGets the Tab with the specified ID.
getTabs()Tab[]Gets all unnested Tabs that are part of the document.
getUrl()StringRetrieves the URL to access the current document.
getViewers()User[]Gets the list of viewers and commenters for this Document.
newPosition(element, offset)PositionCreates a new Position, which is a reference to a location in the tab, relative to a specific element in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
newRange()RangeBuilderCreates a builder used to construct Range objects from tab elements in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab.
removeEditor(emailAddress)DocumentRemoves the given user from the list of editors for the Document.
removeEditor(user)DocumentRemoves the given user from the list of editors for the Document.
removeViewer(emailAddress)DocumentRemoves the given user from the list of viewers and commenters for the Document.
removeViewer(user)DocumentRemoves the given user from the list of viewers and commenters for the Document.
saveAndClose()voidSaves the current Document.
setActiveTab(tabId)voidSets the user's selected Tab in the current document to the tab with the specified ID.
setCursor(position)DocumentSets the user's cursor, given a Position.
setLanguage(languageCode)DocumentSets the document's language code.
setName(name)DocumentSets the document title.
setSelection(range)DocumentSets the user's selection in the active tab, given a Range.

Detailed documentation

addBookmark(position)

Adds a Bookmark at the given Position to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To add a bookmark to any tab, use the DocumentTab.addBookmark(position) method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the active or first tab's body and adds a paragraph.
const paragraph = doc.getBody().appendParagraph('My new paragraph.');

// Creates a position at the first character of the paragraph text.
const position = doc.newPosition(paragraph.getChild(0), 0);

// Adds a bookmark at the first character of the paragraph text.
const bookmark = doc.addBookmark(position);

// Logs the bookmark ID to the console.
console.log(bookmark.getId());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
positionPositionThe position of the new bookmark.

Return

Bookmark — The new bookmark.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addEditor(emailAddress)

Adds the given user to the list of editors for the Document. If the user was already on the list of viewers, this method promotes the user out of the list of viewers.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressStringThe email address of the user to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addEditor(user)

Adds the given user to the list of editors for the Document. If the user was already on the list of viewers, this method promotes the user out of the list of viewers.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
userUserA representation of the user to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addEditors(emailAddresses)

Adds the given array of users to the list of editors for the Document. If any of the users were already on the list of viewers, this method promotes them out of the list of viewers.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressesString[]An array of email addresses of the users to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addFooter()

Adds a footer section, if none exists, to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To add a footer section to any tab, use the DocumentTab.addFooter() method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Adds a footer to the document's active or first tab.
const footer = doc.addFooter();

// Sets the footer text to 'This is a footer.'
footer.setText('This is a footer');

Return

FooterSection — The tab footer.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addHeader()

Adds a header section, if none exists, to the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To add a header section to any tab, use the DocumentTab.addHeader() method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Adds a header to the document's active or first tab.
const header = doc.addHeader();

// Sets the header text to 'This is a header.'
header.setText('This is a header');

Return

HeaderSection — The tab header.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addNamedRange(name, range)

Adds a NamedRange, which is a Range that has a name and ID to use for later retrieval, in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To add a NamedRange in any tab, use the DocumentTab.addNamedRange(name, range) method. Names aren't necessarily unique; several different ranges in the same document can share the same name, much like a class in HTML. By contrast, IDs are unique within the document, like an ID in HTML. After you add a NamedRange to a document, you can't modify it, you can only remove it.

Any script that accesses the document can access a NamedRange. To avoid unintended conflicts between scripts, consider prefixing range names with a unique string.

// Creates a named range that includes every table in the active tab.
const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
const rangeBuilder = doc.newRange();
const tables = doc.getBody().getTables();
for (let i = 0; i < tables.length; i++) {
  rangeBuilder.addElement(tables[i]);
}
// Adds the named range to the document's active tab.
doc.addNamedRange('Document tables', rangeBuilder.build());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
nameStringThe name for the range, which doesn't need to be unique; range names must be between 1-256 characters.
rangeRangeThe range of elements to associate with the name; the range can be the active selection, a search result, or manually constructed with newRange().

Return

NamedRange — The NamedRange.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addViewer(emailAddress)

Adds the given user to the list of viewers for the Document. If the user was already on the list of editors, this method has no effect.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressStringThe email address of the user to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addViewer(user)

Adds the given user to the list of viewers for the Document. If the user was already on the list of editors, this method has no effect.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
userUserA representation of the user to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

addViewers(emailAddresses)

Adds the given array of users to the list of viewers for the Document. If any of the users were already on the list of editors, this method has no effect for them.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressesString[]An array of email addresses of the users to add.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getActiveTab()

Gets the user's currently active Tab in the document. A script can only access the active tab of the user who is running the script, and only if the script is bound to the document.

// Display a dialog box that shows the title of the tab that the
// user is currently viewing.
const tab = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getActiveTab();
DocumentApp.getUi().alert(`ID of selected tab: ${tab.getTitle()}`);

Return

Tab — The user's currently active Tab, or null if the script is not bound to the document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getAs(contentType)

Retrieves the current Document contents as a blob of the specified type.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the document as a PDF.
const pdf = doc.getAs('application/pdf');

// Logs the name of the PDF to the console.
console.log(pdf.getName());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
contentTypeStringThe MIME type to convert to; 'application/pdf' and 'text/markdown' are supported.

Return

Blob — The current document as a blob.


getBlob()

Retrieves the current Document contents as a blob.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Retrieves the current document's contents as a blob and logs it to the
// console.
console.log(doc.getBlob().getContentType());

Return

Blob — The current document as a blob.


getBody()

Retrieves the first tab's Body or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's DocumentBodySection. To get the DocumentBodySection of any tab, use the DocumentTab.getBody() method.

Tabs may contain different types of sections (for example, HeaderSection, FooterSection). The active section for a tab is the Body.

Element methods in Document delegate to the active Body.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the active or first tab's body.
const body = doc.getBody();

// Gets the body text and logs it to the console.
console.log(body.getText());

Return

Body — The tab body section.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getBookmark(id)

Gets the Bookmark with the given ID in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To get a bookmark in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getBookmark(id) method. This method returns null if no such Bookmark exists within the tab.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the bookmark by its ID in the document's active or first tab.
const bookmark = doc.getBookmark('id.xyz654321');

// If the bookmark exists, logs the character offset of its position to the
// console. otherwise, logs 'No bookmark exists with the given ID.' to the
// console.
if (bookmark) {
  console.log(bookmark.getPosition().getOffset());
} else {
  console.log('No bookmark exists with the given ID.');
}

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
idStringThe ID for the Bookmark.

Return

Bookmark — The Bookmark with the given ID, or null if no such Bookmark exists within the tab.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getBookmarks()

Gets all Bookmark objects in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To get all bookmarks in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getBookmarks() method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets all of the bookmarks in the document's active or first tab.
const bookmarks = doc.getBookmarks();

// Logs the number of bookmarks in the tab to the console.
console.log(bookmarks.length);

Return

Bookmark[] — An array of the Bookmark objects in the tab.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getCursor()

Gets the user's cursor in the active tab. A script can only access the cursor of the user who is running the script, and only if the script is bound to the document.

// Insert some text at the cursor position and make it bold.
const cursor = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getCursor();
if (cursor) {
  // Attempt to insert text at the cursor position. If the insertion returns
  // null, the cursor's containing element doesn't allow insertions, so show the
  // user an error message.
  const element = cursor.insertText('ಠ‿ಠ');
  if (element) {
    element.setBold(true);
  } else {
    DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Cannot insert text here.');
  }
} else {
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Cannot find a cursor.');
}

Return

Position — A representation of the user's cursor, or null if the user does not have a cursor placed in the tab or if the script is not bound to the document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getEditors()

Gets the list of editors for this Document.

Return

User[] — An array of users with edit permission.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getFooter()

Retrieves the first tab's footer section or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's footer section. To get the footer section of any tab, use the DocumentTab.getFooter() method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the text of the active or first tab's footer and logs it to the console.
console.log(doc.getFooter().getText());

Return

FooterSection — The tab's footer.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getFootnotes()

Retrieves all the Footnote elements in the first tab's body or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's body. To get all the footnotes in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getFootnotes() method.

Calls to getFootnotes cause an iteration over the tab's elements. For large tabs, avoid unnecessary calls to this method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the first footnote in the active or first tab's body.
const footnote = doc.getFootnotes()[0];

// Logs footnote contents to the console.
console.log(footnote.getFootnoteContents().getText());

Return

Footnote[] — The tab's footnotes.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getHeader()

Retrieves the first tab's header section or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab's header section. To get the header section of any tab, use the DocumentTab.getHeader() method.

// Opens the Docs file by its ID. If you created your script from within
// a Google Docs file, you can use DocumentApp.getActiveDocument() instead.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const doc = DocumentApp.openById('123abc');

// Gets the text of the active or first tab's header and logs it to the console.
console.log(doc.getHeader().getText());

Return

HeaderSection — The tab's header.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getId()

Retrieves the document's unique identifier. The document ID is used with DocumentApp.openById() to open a specific document instance.

Return

String — The document's ID.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getLanguage()

Gets the document's language code. This is the language shown in the document editor's File > Language, which may not be the actual language that the document contains.

Return

String — The document language, or null if not defined.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getName()

Retrieves the title of the document.

Return

String — The document title.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getNamedRangeById(id)

Gets the NamedRange with the given ID in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To get the NamedRange with the given ID in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getNamedRangeById(id) method. This method returns null if no such NamedRange exists in the tab. Names are not necessarily unique, even across tabs; several different ranges in the same tab may share the same name, much like a class in HTML. By contrast, IDs are unique within the tab, like an ID in HTML.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
idStringThe range's ID, which is unique within the tab.

Return

NamedRange — The NamedRange with the given ID, or null if no such range exists in the tab.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getNamedRanges()

Gets all NamedRange objects in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To get all NamedRange objects in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getNamedRanges() method.

A NamedRange can be accessed by any script that accesses the tab. To avoid unintended conflicts between scripts, consider prefixing range names with a unique string.

Return

NamedRange[] — An array of the NamedRange objects in the tab, possibly including multiple ranges with the same name.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getNamedRanges(name)

Gets all NamedRange objects with the given name in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To get all NamedRange objects in any tab, use the DocumentTab.getNamedRanges(name) method. Names are not necessarily unique, even across tabs; several different ranges in the same tab may share the same name, much like a class in HTML. By contrast, IDs are unique within the tab, like an ID in HTML.

A NamedRange can be accessed by any script that accesses the document. To avoid unintended conflicts between scripts, consider prefixing range names with a unique string.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
nameStringThe range's name, which is not necessarily unique.

Return

NamedRange[] — An array of the NamedRange objects in the tab with the given name.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getSelection()

Gets the user's selection in the active tab. A script can only access the selection of the user who is running the script, and only if the script is bound to the document.

// Display a dialog box that tells the user how many elements are included in
// the selection.
const selection = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getSelection();
if (selection) {
  const elements = selection.getRangeElements();
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert(`Number of selected elements: ${elements.length}`);
} else {
  DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Nothing is selected.');
}

Return

Range — A representation of the user's selection, or null if the user does not have anything selected in the tab, if only the end of a paragraph is selected, if only the end of a paragraph and a new line are selected, or if the script is not bound to the document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getSupportedLanguageCodes()

Gets all language codes that are supported in Google Docs files.

Return

String[] — An array of language codes.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getTab(tabId)

Gets the Tab with the specified ID. This method returns null if no such Tab exists. Can access tabs at any nesting level.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
tabIdStringThe ID of the tab to get.

Return

Tab — The Tab with the specified ID, or null if no such Tab exists.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getTabs()

Gets all unnested Tabs that are part of the document.

Tabs can contain child tabs, a tab nested within another tab. Child tabs are accessible using Tab.getChildTabs().

Return

Tab[] — The list of all Tabs that are part of the document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getUrl()

Retrieves the URL to access the current document.

const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

// Send out the link to open the document.
MailApp.sendEmail('<email-address>', doc.getName(), doc.getUrl());

Return

String — The URL to access the current document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

getViewers()

Gets the list of viewers and commenters for this Document.

Return

User[] — An array of users with view or comment permission.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

newPosition(element, offset)

Creates a new Position, which is a reference to a location in the tab, relative to a specific element in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To create a Position relative to a location in any tab, use the DocumentTab.newPosition(element, offset) method. The user's cursor is represented as a Position, among other uses.

// Append a paragraph to the active tab, then place the user's cursor after the
// first word of the new paragraph.
const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
const paragraph = doc.getBody().appendParagraph('My new paragraph.');
const position = doc.newPosition(paragraph.getChild(0), 2);
doc.setCursor(position);

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
elementElementThe element that should contain the new Position; this must be either a Text element or a container element like Paragraph.
offsetIntegerFor Text elements, the number of characters before the Position; for other elements, the number of child elements before the Position within the same container element.

Return

Position — The new Position.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

newRange()

Creates a builder used to construct Range objects from tab elements in the first tab or, for scripts that are bound to a document, the active tab. To create a builder used to construct DocumentRange objects from tab elements in any tab, use the DocumentTab.newRange() method.

// Change the user's selection to a range that includes every table in the
// active tab.
const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
const rangeBuilder = doc.newRange();
const tables = doc.getBody().getTables();
for (let i = 0; i < tables.length; i++) {
  rangeBuilder.addElement(tables[i]);
}
doc.setSelection(rangeBuilder.build());

Return

RangeBuilder — The new builder.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

removeEditor(emailAddress)

Removes the given user from the list of editors for the Document. This method doesn't block users from accessing the Document if they belong to a class of users who have general access—for example, if the Document is shared with the user's entire domain, or if the Document is in a shared drive that the user can access.

For Drive files, this also removes the user from the list of viewers.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressStringThe email address of the user to remove.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

removeEditor(user)

Removes the given user from the list of editors for the Document. This method doesn't block users from accessing the Document if they belong to a class of users who have general access—for example, if the Document is shared with the user's entire domain, or if the Document is in a shared drive that the user can access.

For Drive files, this also removes the user from the list of viewers.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
userUserA representation of the user to remove.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

removeViewer(emailAddress)

Removes the given user from the list of viewers and commenters for the Document. This method has no effect if the user is an editor, not a viewer or commenter. This method also doesn't block users from accessing the Document if they belong to a class of users who have general access—for example, if the Document is shared with the user's entire domain, or if the Document is in a shared drive that the user can access.

For Drive files, this also removes the user from the list of editors.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
emailAddressStringThe email address of the user to remove.

Return

Document — This Document for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

removeViewer(user)

Removes the given user from the list of viewers and commenters for the Document. This method has no effect if the user is an editor, not a viewer. This method also doesn't block users from accessing the Document if they belong to a class of users who have general access—for example, if the Document is shared with the user's entire domain, or if the Document is in a shared drive that the user can access.

For Drive files, this also removes the user from the list of editors.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
userUserA representation of the user to remove.

Return

Document — This Document for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

saveAndClose()

Saves the current Document. Causes pending updates to be flushed and applied.

The saveAndClose() method is automatically invoked at the end of script execution for each open editable Document.

A closed Document can't be edited. Use DocumentApp.openById() to reopen a given document for editing.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

setActiveTab(tabId)

Sets the user's selected Tab in the current document to the tab with the specified ID.

const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();

// Sets the user's selected tab by its ID.
// TODO(developer): Replace the ID with your own.
const tab = doc.setActiveTab('123abc');

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
tabIdStringThe ID of the tab to set as active.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

setCursor(position)

Sets the user's cursor, given a Position. A script can only access the cursor of the user who is running the script, and only if the script is bound to the document.

Providing a Position from an inactive Tab switches the user's active tab.

const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
const documentTab = doc.getActiveTab().asDocumentTab();

// Append a paragraph, then place the user's cursor after the first word of the
// new paragraph.
const paragraph = documentTab.getBody().appendParagraph('My new paragraph.');
const position = documentTab.newPosition(paragraph.getChild(0), 2);
doc.setCursor(position);

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
positionPositionThe new cursor location.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

setLanguage(languageCode)

Sets the document's language code. This is the language shown in the document editor's File > Language, which may not be the actual language that the document contains. Use getSupportedLanguageCodes() to get all the valid language codes.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
languageCodeStringThe language code.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

setName(name)

Sets the document title.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
nameStringThe new document title.

Return

Document — The current document.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents

setSelection(range)

Sets the user's selection in the active tab, given a Range. A script can only access the selection of the user who is running the script, and only if the script is bound to the document.

const doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
const documentTab = doc.getActiveTab().asDocumentTab();

// Change the user's selection to a range that includes every table in the
// document.
const rangeBuilder = documentTab.newRange();
const tables = documentTab.getBody().getTables();
for (let i = 0; i < tables.length; i++) {
  rangeBuilder.addElement(tables[i]);
}
doc.setSelection(rangeBuilder.build());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
rangeRangeThe new range of elements to select.

Return

Document — This Document, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the following scopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents