G Suite Developers Blog

New Advanced services in Apps Script

April 6, 2015

Posted by Kalyan Reddy, Developer Programs EngineerApps Script includes many built-in Google services for major products like Gmail and Drive, and lately, we've been working to add other APIs that developers have been clamoring for as advanced Google services. Today, we are launching seven more advanced services, including:

Admin SDK Groups Migration service

Admin SDK Groups Settings service

Admin SDK License Manager service

Admin SDK Reseller service

Apps Activity service

DoubleClick Campaigns service

Google+ service

Like all other advanced services in Apps Script, they must first be enabled before use. Once enabled, they are just as easy to use as built-in Apps Script services -- the editor provides autocomplete, and the authentication flow is handled automatically. Here is a sample using the Apps Activity advanced service that shows how to get a list of users that have performed an action on a particular Google Drive file.function getUsersActivity() { var fileId = 'YOUR_FILE_ID_HERE'; var pageToken; var users = {}; do { var result = AppsActivity.Activities.list({ 'drive.fileId': fileId, 'source': 'drive.google.com', 'pageToken': pageToken }); var activities = result.activities; for (var i = 0; i < activities.length; i++) { var events = activities[i].singleEvents; for (var j = 0; j < events.length; j++) { var event = events[j]; users[event.user.name] = true; } } pageToken = result.nextPageToken; } while (pageToken); Logger.log(Object.keys(users)); }This function uses the AppsActivity.Activities.list() method, passing in the required parameters drive.fileId and source, and uses page tokens to get the full list of activities. The full list of parameters this method accepts can be found in the Apps Activity API's reference documentation.

Publishing Google Docs add-ons for domain-wide installation

March 20, 2015

Cross-posted from the Google Developers Blogadd-ons for Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms

Installing and pre-authorizing of an add-on for every user in a domain or group. Starting today, admins can do just that, if the add-on's developer has published the add-on for domain-wide installation. This automatically creates a listing for the add-on in the Google Apps Marketplace.

Installing some approved add-ons while restricting users from installing others. Thanks to the feature above, a domain admin can now disable add-on installation for users, then personally install approved add-ons either for all users in the domain or for a specific organizational unit.

Changes to OAuth in Apps Script

March 4, 2015

Update (2015-06-15): The sunset date listed below has been changed from June 26th to July 6th, 2015. Posted by Eric Koleda, Developer Platform EngineerOAuth is the de facto standard for authorization today and is used by most modern APIs. Apps Script handles the OAuth flow automatically for dozens of built-in and advanced services, but until recently only had limited support for connecting to other OAuth-protected APIs such as Twitter, etc. The URL Fetch service’s OAuthConfig class only works with the older OAuth 1.0 standard and only allows the developer of the script (not its users) to grant access to their data. To address this, we’ve create two new open source libraries:

OAuth1 for Apps Script

OAuth2 for Apps Script

With only a few clicks, you can add these libraries to your scripts. The full source code is available on GitHub if you need to tinker with how they work. These libraries allow for greater control over the OAuth flow, including the ability for users to grant access separately, a long standing feature request from the community.We believe that these open libraries are a better alternative to our previous solution, and therefore we are deprecating the OAuthConfig class. The class will continue to function until July 6, 2015, after which it will be removed completely and any scripts that use it will stop working We’ve prepared a migration guide that walks you through the process of upgrading your existing scripts to use these new libraries. Separate from these changes in Apps Script and as announced in 2012, all Google APIs will stop supporting OAuth 1.0 for inbound requests on April 20, 2015. If you use OAuthConfig to connect to Google APIs, you will need to migrate before that date. Update your code to use the OAuth2 library or the API’s equivalent Advanced Service if one exists. table, th, td { border: 1px solid black; border-collapse: collapse; } td { padding: 5px; }

OAuthConfig Connecting To

Migrate To

Migration Deadline

Google API (Calendar, Drive, etc)

OAuth2 for Apps Script or Advanced Service

April 20, 2015

Non-Google API (Twitter, etc)

OAuth1 for Apps Script

July 6, 2015

We see Apps Script and Sheets as the perfect hub for connecting together data inside and outside of Google, and hope this additional OAuth functionality makes it an even more compelling platform.

Control protected ranges and sheets in Google Sheets with Apps Script

February 19, 2015

improved control over protected sheets and rangeswe added data validation to the Spreadsheet servicecontrol over protected rangesApps Script issue trackerProtectionPageProtectionCode samples// Protect range A1:B10, then remove all other users from the list of editors.
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
var range = ss.getRange('A1:B10');
var protection = range.protect().setDescription('Sample protected range');

// Ensure the current user is an editor before removing others. Otherwise, if the user's edit
// permission comes from a group, the script will throw an exception upon removing the group.
var me = Session.getEffectiveUser();
protection.addEditor(me);
protection.removeEditors(protection.getEditors());
if (protection.canDomainEdit()) {
  protection.setDomainEdit(false);
}// Remove all range protections in the spreadsheet that the user has permission to edit.
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
var protections = ss.getProtections(SpreadsheetApp.ProtectionType.RANGE);
for (var i = 0; i < protections.length; i++) {
  var protection = protections[i];
  if (protection.canEdit()) {
    protection.remove();
  }
}// Protect the active sheet except B2:C5, then remove all other users from the list of editors.
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
var protection = sheet.protect().setDescription('Sample protected sheet');
var unprotected = sheet.getRange('B2:C5');
protection.setUnprotectedRanges([unprotected]);

// Ensure the current user is an editor before removing others. Otherwise, if the user's edit
// permission comes from a group, the script will throw an exception upon removing the group.
var me = Session.getEffectiveUser();
protection.addEditor(me);
protection.removeEditors(protection.getEditors());
if (protection.canDomainEdit()) {
  protection.setDomainEdit(false);
}

Retiring the Email Migration API

February 18, 2015

Posted by Wesley Chun, Developer Advocate, Google AppsLast summer, we launched the new Gmail API, giving developers more flexible, powerful, and higher-level access to programmatic email management, not to mention improved performance. Since then, it has been expanded to replace the Google Apps Admin SDK's Email Migration API (EMAPI v2). Going forward, we recommend developers integrate with the Gmail API.EMAPI v2 will be turned down on November 1, 2015, so you should switch to the Gmail API soon. To aid you with this effort, we've put together a developer’s guide to help you migrate from EMAPI v2 to the Gmail API. Before you do that, here’s your final reminder to not forget about these deprecations including EMAPI v1, which are coming even sooner (April 20, 2015).

Reminder to migrate to updated Google Data APIs

December 15, 2014

announced the deprecationa set of corresponding APIs.

Discontinued API

Replacement API

Documents List API

Drive API

Admin Audit

Admin SDK Reports API

Google Apps Profiles

Admin SDK Directory API

Provisioning

Admin SDK Directory API

Reporting

Admin SDK Reports API

Email Migration API v1

Gmail API

Reporting Visualization

No replacement available

OAuth2Drive APIAdmin SDKPosted by Steven Bazyl, Developer Advocate

Speeding up HtmlService in Apps Script

December 11, 2014

HTML serviceIFRAME sandbox mode

Your UI loads up much faster

Standard HTML, JavaScript, and CSS features are now available without any restrictions

It requires very few code changes: just set the SandboxMode to IFRAME:

var html = HtmlService.createHtmlOutputFromFile('foo'); html.setSandboxMode(HtmlService.SandboxMode.IFRAME);We couldn’t resist using the new HTML service ourselves, so we’ve published an alternate version of the Google Translate add-on on GitHub that uses the iframe sandbox mode as well as Polymer and material design concepts.

With the launch of the IFRAME sandbox, it is now time to bid goodbye to UiApp. The UI service was a very useful way to serve user interfaces in Docs and Sheets at a time when sandboxing technologies were still evolving. Effective today, UI service is deprecated. It will be removed from documentation and autocomplete in the script editor on June 30, 2015. If you have built any UIs using UiApp, they will continue to work.deprecating the DocsList servicePosted by Saurabh Gupta, Product Manager, Google Apps Script

Get your Google Drive App listed on the Google Apps Marketplace

December 8, 2014

Google Apps MarketplaceGoogle Apps for WorkmarketplaceGoogle Apps Marketplace documentationGoogle Cloud consoleGoogle Apps Marketplace documentationChrome Web Store developer consolePublishing your app documentationGoogle Apps Marketplace G+ communityPosted by Hiranmoy Saha, Software Engine, Google Apps Marketplace

Make your emails stand out in Inbox

October 30, 2014

announced last weekHighlightsreservation confirmations<script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "FoodEstablishmentReservation", "reservationNumber": "WTA1EK", "reservationStatus": "http://schema.org/Confirmed", . . . information about dining customer . . . "reservationFor": { "@type": "FoodEstablishment", "name": "Charlie’s Cafe", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway", "addressLocality": "Mountain View", "addressRegion": "CA", "postalCode": "94043", "addressCountry": "United States" }, "telephone": "+1 650 253 0000" }, "startTime": "2015-01-01T19:30:00-07:00", "partySize": "2" } </script>developers.google.com/gmail/markupby Shalini Agarwal, Product Management, Inbox by Gmail

Introducing Add-ons for Google Forms

October 23, 2014

Cross-posted from the Google Apps Updates blog.Formsnew theme choicesDocs and SheetsForms add-on store

formLimiter: Close your survey automatically, after a maximum number of responses is reached, or at a date and time of your choosing.

Ultradox Trigger: Create custom emails, reports, invoices, newsletters, etc., based on information that people enter into your form.

Form Values: Store and pull from lists that you use regularly in Forms, like a list of staff, students, rooms, resources or anything you want.

some documentationPosted by Saurabh Gupta, Product Manager

Reminder: ScriptDB is shutting down soon

October 13, 2014

Back in May, we announced that ScriptDB, an experimental database in Google Apps Script, would be turned off on November 20, 2014. Hopefully you've already migrated your data to another database, but if not, now is the time to check out alternatives like Cloud SQL. The migration guide explains how to export your data from ScriptDB.We’ve also improved the documentation for connecting to external databases through JDBC, makingit easier for you to set up Cloud SQL with Apps Script.
To summarize: ScriptDb will shut down on November 20, 2014, so please ensure you migrate your scripts before then!Posted by Saurabh Gupta, Product Manager, Google Apps Script

Updates on Authentication for Gmail IMAP, POP, and SMTP

October 6, 2014

Additional Scrutiny for Password Authentication previously announcedXOAUTH2 mechanismenable “Less Secure Apps”XOAUTH support ends May 5, 2015 deprecatedmigration guideXOAUTH2 documentation

Installable triggers in add-ons for Google Docs and Sheets

October 1, 2014

Update (Oct 17, 2014): Add-ons can now also use time-driven triggers.Earlier this yearadd-ons for Google Docs and Sheetsour add-on storeinstallable Apps Script triggers

Sheets add-ons can use the change, edit, open, and form-submit installable triggers.

Docs add-ons can use the (new!) open installable trigger.

Yet Another Mail Mergebe sure to check out the documentation

Sudoku, Linear Optimization, and the Ten Cent Diet

September 30, 2014

Originally posted on the Google Research blog. Cross posted on the Google Developers blogGeorge StiglerThe Cost of Subsistencelinear optimizationYouTube video stabilization systemGoogle Docs Sudoku add-onSCIP

Today we’re proud to announce two new ways for everyone to solve linear optimization problems. First, you can now solve linear optimization problems in Google Sheets with the Linear Optimization add-on written by Google Software Engineer Mihai Amarandei-Stavila. The add-on uses Google Apps Script to send optimization problems to Google servers. The solutions are displayed inside the spreadsheet. For developers who want to create their own applications on top of Google Apps, we also provide an API to let you call our linear solver directly.

Bruno de Backeror-tools suitefew exampleshereinstall the add-on firstSimplex algorithm

Enriched wheat flour

Liver

Cabbage

Spinach

Navy beans

Foie Linéaire à la Stigler

Posted by Jon Orwant, Engineering Manager

New Google Apps Activity API

September 25, 2014

This post was originally posted on the Google Developer Blog

Back in January, Google Drive launched an activity stream that shows you what actions have been taken on files and folders in your Drive. For example, if someone makes edits on a file you’ve shared with them, you’ll see a notification in your activity stream.
Today, we’re introducing the new Google Apps Activity API designed to give developers programmatic access to this activity stream. This standard Google API will allow apps and extensions to access the activity history for individual Drive files as well as descendents of a folder through a RESTful interface. The Google Apps Activity API will allow developers to build new tools to help users keep better track of what’s happening to specific files and folders they care about. For example, you might use this new API to help teachers see which students in their class are editing a file or, come tax season, you might want to create a quick script to audit the sharing of items in your financial information folder. Check out the documentation at https://developers.google.com/google-apps/activity/. We can't wait to see what you build! Posted by Justin Hicks, Software Engineer, Technical Lead for Google Apps Activity API

New features in Admin SDK: Custom user attributes, and opening up access to all domain users

September 23, 2014

[ed: This post originally appeared on the Google Developers Blog]

By Muzammil Esmail, Product Manager, Google for Work

The Admin SDK provides a comprehensive directory experience for Google for Work customers to help them meet specific business needs around data storage for customers. Here are some important updates to this SDK.
Custom attributes in the user’s profile Now available is a new feature in the Directory API which allows you to add custom attributes for your users. For instance, you could store the projects your users work on, their desk number, job level, hiring date — whatever makes sense for your business.
Once the custom attributes for your domain have been defined, they behave just like regular fields in the user profile. You can get and set them for your users and also perform searches on custom fields (e.g. “all employees that work on the shinyNewApp in Hyderabad”).
Custom attributes can be of different data types; they can be single- or multi-valued. You can configure whether they are “public” i.e. visible to everyone on the domain, or “private” i.e. visible only to admins and the users themselves.
Read access to all domain users Historically, only admins have been able to access the data in the Admin SDK. Beginning today, any user (not just admins) will now be able to call the Directory API to read the profile of any user on the domain (of course, we will respect ACLing settings and profile sharing settings).
We hope that you will be able to use this new feature to build business applications (e.g. corporate yellow pages, expense approval, vacation management, workflow applications, etc.) that can be used by all your users. Please feel free to go through our documentation to go learn more about the Admin SDK, and specifically the Directory API. Happy hacking!

Change in Apps Script's DocsListDialog

September 18, 2014

DocsListDialog is a widget used by only a small fraction of Apps Script projects to provide a Google Drive "file open" dialog in a UI service user interface. In almost all cases, using Google Picker in HTML service is preferable and more secure.Before September 30, 2014, we require scripts using DocsListDialog to make a small update to improve security.Specifically, if you use DocsListDialog, you'll need to start calling a new method, setOAuthToken(oAuthToken) before you call showDocsPicker(). The new method sets an OAuth 2.0 token to use when fetching data for the dialog, on behalf of the user whose content should be shown.So long as the app isn't a web app set to execute as "me" (the developer), you can get the necessary OAuth 2.0 token by calling ScriptApp.getOAuthToken(). The example below shows how to convert an old DocsListDialog implementation to the new model.Old examplefunction showDialog() { var app = UiApp.createApplication(); app.createDocsListDialog() .addCloseHandler(serverHandler) .addSelectionHandler(serverHandler) .showDocsPicker(); SpreadsheetApp.getUi() .showModalDialog(app,' '); }New examplefunction showDialog() { var app = UiApp.createApplication(); app.createDocsListDialog() .addCloseHandler(serverHandler) .addSelectionHandler(serverHandler) .setOAuthToken(ScriptApp.getOAuthToken()) .showDocsPicker(); SpreadsheetApp.getUi() .showModalDialog(app,' '); }To ensure your script continues to work properly, be sure to make this change before September 30.Posted by Dan Lazin, Googler

Allowing end users to install your app from Google Apps Marketplace

September 17, 2014

Crossposted from the Google Developers Blog

by Chris Han, Product Manager Google Apps Marketplace
The Google Apps Marketplace brings together hundreds of third-party applications that integrate and enhance Google Apps for Work. Previously, only administrators were able to install these applications directly for people at work. Now, any Google Apps user can install these applications by logging into Google Apps, clicking the app launcher icon

, clicking More, and then clicking More from Apps Marketplace. By default, any Google Apps user can install apps from the Google Apps Marketplace—excluding K-12 EDU domains that are defaulted off. For more information, please see our Help Center
If you have an app in the Google Apps Marketplace utilizing oAuth 2.0, you can follow the simple steps below to enable individual end users to install your app. If you’re not yet using oAuth 2.0, instructions to migrate are here.
1. Navigate to your Google Developer Console.

2. Select your Google Apps Marketplace project.

3. Click APIs under the APIs & auth section.

4. Click the gear icon next to Google Apps Marketplace SDK.

5. Check Allow Individual Install.

6. Click Save changes.

How to move your files to Google Drive

August 21, 2014

Posted by Chuck Coulson, Drive Technology Partnerships, Google

Google Drive for Work is a new premium offering for businesses that includes unlimited storage, advanced audit reporting and new security controls and features, such as encryption at rest.

If you're getting ready to move your company to Drive, one of the first things on your mind is how to migrate all your existing files with as little hassle as possible. It's easy to migrate your files by uploading them directly to Drive or using the Drive Sync client. But, what if you have files stored elsewhere that you want to consolidate? Or what if you want to migrate multiple users at once? Many independent software vendors (ISVs) have built solutions to help organizations migrate their files from different File Sync and Share (FSS) solutions, local hard drives and other data sources. Here are some of the options available for you to use:

Cloud Migrator, by Cloud Technology Solutions, migrates user accounts and files to Google Drive and other Google Apps services. (website, blogpost)
Cloudsfer, by Tzunami, transfers files from Box, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive to Google Drive. (website)
Migrator for Google Apps, by Backupify, migrates and consolidates personal Google Drive or other Google Apps for Business accounts into a single domain. (website, blogpost)
Mover migrates data from 23 cloud services providers, web services, and databases into Google Drive. (website, blogpost)
Nava Certus, by LinkGard, provides a migration and synchronization solution for on-premise and cloud-based storage platforms, including Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon S3, as well as local file systems. (website,blogpost)
SkySync, by Portal Architects, integrates existing on-site storage systems as well as other cloud storage providers to Google Drive. (website, blogpost)

These are just a few companies that offer migration solutions. Please visit the Google Apps Marketplace for a complete listing of tools and offerings that add value to the Google Apps platform.

Advanced security for Google Drive for Work

July 23, 2014

Posted by: Chuck Coulson, Head of Google Apps and Drive Technology PartnershipsGoogle Drive for WorkDrive auditing

Backupify protects your Google Apps data through secure, automatic, daily backup allowing IT users to easily search and restore ﬁles with advanced administrative features, safeguarding your business from data loss caused by user errors, malicious deletions, hackers, and app errors. (website, blogpost)

BetterCloud, through their flagship cloud management and security tool, FlashPanel, has enhanced their offering through the Audit API to provide additional controls and insight. (website, blogpost)

CloudLock, who provides a pure-cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution for SaaS applications, has released a new version of CloudLock for Google Drive, leveraging the new Google Drive audit APIs, to enable large organizations to extend their enterprise security controls to the cloud. (website, blogpost)

SkyHigh for Google Drive delivers Data Loss Prevention (DLP), mobile-to-cloud support, application auditing, data discovery, and anomaly detection without changing the Google Drive experience users love. (website, blogpost)

developers.google.comdevelopers.google.comGoogle Apps Marketplace