Chanel Greco is back with more exciting news for Google Workspace developers in the latest Google Workspace Developer News video. As always Chanel is able to pack in lots of detail in under 4 minutes, and if you prefer text over video here are the highlights!
Spreadsheet Class Gets a Boost:
The Apps Script Spreadsheet class has received a handy new method: getSheetById(). This allows developers to directly fetch a sheet within a spreadsheet using its unique ID, simplifying sheet management within scripts.
Transparency for Calendar Events:
Developers can now control the transparency of Google Calendar events programmatically. The new functionality allows setting an event as TRANSPARENT (showing the calendar as Available during that time) or OPAQUE (showing the calendar as Busy). This granular control enhances calendar integration and automation possibilities.
Deprecation Notice:
While new features are welcomed, it’s also important to note deprecations. The getUrl() method for CellImage, CellImageBuilder, and OverGridImage classes within the Apps Script Spreadsheet service is now deprecated. This change reflects the fact that an image’s source URL isn’t consistently accessible regardless of the image insertion method.
Workspace Policy API Goes GA:
A significant announcement for Workspace administrators is the general availability of the Workspace Policy API. This API enables programmatic access to over 60 Google Workspace Admin settings, making auditing and monitoring the Workspace environment more efficient.
Open-Source Drive Picker on NPM:
The Google Drive Picker web component has been published to NPM, making it easier for developers to integrate the Google Picker API into their web applications. This open-source component, designed as a reusable custom HTML element, simplifies the process of adding Google Drive file selection capabilities to web projects.
Chat App Enhancements:
For developers working with Google Chat, there are several exciting updates, primarily available through the Developer Preview Program. These include:
- Quick Commands: Users can interact with Chat apps more quickly and efficiently using quick commands, which invoke the app directly without requiring slash commands or additional input.
- AppCommandPayload for Slash Commands: Chat apps built as Google Workspace Add-ons now utilize
AppCommandPayloadinstead ofMessagePayloadfor handling slash and quick commands. - Carousel Support: Chat apps can incorporate carousels to display scrollable collections of items, further enhancing the user experience.
- Announcement Space Management: Developers can programmatically create announcement spaces and manage space permission settings using the Chat API with App Authentication.
- Expanded UI Widget Library: More Google Workspace Add-on UI widgets are now available for Chat apps, providing developers with a richer set of tools for creating interactive experiences.
Stay Up-to-Date:
To learn more and explore these features in detail, visit the Google Workspace Developers YouTube channel and check the video description for links to relevant documentation.
Source: Update to Apps Script’s Spreadsheet class, new Workspace Policy API, and more!
Member of Google Developers Experts Program for Google Workspace (Google Apps Script) and interested in supporting Google Workspace Devs.