How to get the file URL from file name in Google Sheets with correct Authorization via custom function/script

Question

I would like to create a custom function that pulls a Drive URL from a file name in Google Sheets.

So, using the code below:

1. If I have a valid file nam

Answer 1

This may be a solution for some needs.

My particular need was: loop through a column of file names and pull the Google Docs URL at a set interval. The code below just loops through filenames in "Column A" of "My Sheet" and returns the value into the adjacent cell of "Column B" (starting at row 2 because I had column headers). I'm not concerned about security because I'm only referencing internal organization files.

To get the code below to work you need to:

1. Google Sheet Doc Nav > Tools > Script Editor
2. Create a .gs file & input code below (Referencing The Respective Sheet
3. Within Script Editor > Edit > Current Project’s Triggers > Name Your Project
4. Within Script Editor > Edit > Current Project’s Triggers > Click on modal link “No triggers set up. Click here to add one now” > set your time-based trigger (reference replaceFileColumn in the select field within that modal)

My mistake was: thinking that I needed to use a custom function in each cell to do so. (I still don't fully understand the auth reasons why this wouldn't work, so if anyone could explain in lay-man's terms that would be fabulous; my solution is just a workaround for expediency's sake).

In my spreadsheet I have a time-driven trigger calling replaceFileColumn()

Hope this helps someone!

function getMyFile(cell) {
  var filename = encodeURI(cell);
  var files = DriveApp.getFilesByName(cell);
  while (files.hasNext()) {
    var file = files.next();
    if(file){
      var fileValue = file.getUrl();
      return(fileValue);
    };
  };
}

function replaceFileColumn() {
  var spreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName('My Sheet');
  var range = spreadsheet.getRange("A2:A");
  var range_update = spreadsheet.getRange("B2:B");
  var values = range.getValues();
  for (var i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
    var fileName = values[i];
    var getFileUrl = getMyFile(fileName);
    values[i][0] = getFileUrl;
  }
  range_update.setValues(values);
}

Answer 2

Custom functions runs as if run by a anonymous animal(user). ScriptApp.getOAuthToken will return a anonymous token without the required scopes. What you're attempting is not possible, unless the file in question is public.

References:

• Custom functions permissions
• Custom functions access services

Answer 3

@I'-'I's answer is correct. Although I'm not sure whether this is what you want, how about this workaround? I have also experienced the same issue. At that time, I had used the following workaround.

• Set and get access token using PropertiesService.

The flow is as follows.

Flow:

1. Set access token every 1 hour by the time-driven trigger.
   • By this, the access token is updated every 1 hour. Because the expiration time of access token is 1 hour.
2. When the custom function is run, it gets the access token using PropertiesService.
   • By this, the access token can be used.

Modified script:

Please install this function as the time-driven trigger. Of course, you can run manually this function.

function setAccessToken() {
  PropertiesService.getScriptProperties().setProperty("accessToken", ScriptApp.getOAuthToken());
}

In your script, please modify as follows.

From:

var params = {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {"Authorization": "Bearer " + ScriptApp.getOAuthToken()},
  muteHttpExceptions: true
};

To:

var params = {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {"Authorization": "Bearer " + PropertiesService.getScriptProperties().getProperty("accessToken")},
  muteHttpExceptions: true
};

Note:

• In this case, the owner of access token is the owner of project.
• I think that this can be also used by CacheService.

Reference:

• PropertiesService