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@cossio
Forked from thomxc/InsertDate.gs
Created December 15, 2017 16:37
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Google Docs Script Macro: Insert Date
/**
* The onOpen function runs automatically when the Google Docs document is
* opened. Use it to add custom menus to Google Docs that allow the user to run
* custom scripts. For more information, please consult the following two
* resources.
*
* Extending Google Docs developer guide:
* https://developers.google.com/apps-script/guides/docs
*
* Document service reference documentation:
* https://developers.google.com/apps-script/reference/document/
*/
function onOpen() {
// Add a menu with some items, some separators, and a sub-menu.
DocumentApp.getUi().createMenu('Utilities')
.addItem('Insert Date', 'insertAtCursor')
.addToUi();
}
/**
* Inserts the sentence "Hey there!" at the current cursor location in boldface.
*/
function insertAtCursor() {
var cursor = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().getCursor();
if (cursor) {
// Attempt to insert text at the cursor position. If insertion returns null,
// then the cursor's containing element doesn't allow text insertions.
var date = Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), "GMT", "yyyy-MM-dd"); // "yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss'Z'"
var element = cursor.insertText(date);
if (element) {
element.setBold(true);
} else {
DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Cannot insert text at this cursor location.');
}
} else {
DocumentApp.getUi().alert('Cannot find a cursor in the document.');
}
}
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cossio commented Dec 15, 2017

Open your Google Document and under Tools select Script editor. This opens Google's script editor where it’s possible to create macros for Google Documents.

Paste this script and save it as Date Macro or something: (also available here)

Now refresh or reopen your document and a new menu item appears: Utilities. Under this menu an item appears called Insert Date. Click that to insert todays date at your cursor position.

To change the format of the date you need to change the “format” used in the script. The format can contain the following characters: yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss'Z'

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