How to get url text out of field with HYPERLINK in it

Question

I have a column with hyperlinks formula in it, for example:

=HYPERLINK(\"http://example.com\", \"Link\")

I want to get additional column, w

Answer 1

You can accomplish this by using Apps Script to create a custom function. Try this:

1. Open your Google Sheet.
2. In the menu bar, open Tools > Script editor...

3. In Code.gs, paste the following and save:

   function EXTRACT_URL(input) {
   
     var range = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(input);
     var re = /^.+?\(\"(.+?)\",.+?$/;
     if (input.indexOf(':') != -1) {
       var formulas = range.getFormulas();
       for (var i in formulas) {
         for (var j in formulas[i]) {
           formulas[i][j] = formulas[i][j].replace(re, "$1");
         }
       }
       return formulas;
     } else {
       return range.getFormula().replace(re, "$1");
     }
   
   }
   

This creates a custom function. In your Google Sheet, you can use this function as you would use any other function; however, there's one caveat, which is that you'll have to put the cell in quotes, e.g.:

=EXTRACT_URL("A1")

To make the quotes thing less of a hassle, the above script supports ranges as well:

=EXTRACT_URL("A1:B10")

Hope this helps!