The provided text comprises numerous tutorials on leveraging spreadsheet software (primarily Google Sheets and Excel) for various tasks. These include creating personal finance trackers, automating calendar events, building dynamic search bars, and employing user-defined functions. Additional tutorials cover automating email reminders, mail merging with Google Docs, data extraction techniques, utilizing new Google Sheets tables, and tracking daily tasks. Finally, the text demonstrates creating custom color-by-number grids from images and integrating YouTube analytics into spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet and Automation Study Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. Why did the creator choose Google Sheets over Excel for their finance tracker?
2. Explain how the reconcile and clear checkboxes work in the finance tracker.
3. What is the purpose of the “type” and “month” columns in the finance tracker’s transaction sheet?
4. In the finance tracker’s analysis tab, what do the pie chart and pivot table represent?
5. How does the provided app script function create all-day events on a Google Calendar?
6. In the context of Excel, why is VBA split used instead of Worksheet Function.textsplit?
7. How does the Google Forms-to-Calendar app script work to create calendar events?
8. Briefly explain the difference between “show sidebar” and “show modeless dialog” in the context of app script.
9. In the context of sending emails via app script, what are the three essential pieces of information required?
10. How does Leo help automate email reminders for contract expirations?

Answer Key

1. The creator chose Google Sheets over Excel because it is easier to share and use on the go with the mobile app. This allowed both the creator and their wife to easily input financial transactions while away from their computer, eliminating the need to keep paper receipts.
2. The reconcile and clear checkboxes are used to track credit card payments. Users select the transactions that match the credit card balance, and then once the credit card is paid, the “clear” checkbox is selected, and the transaction lines are grayed out.
3. The “type” column automatically classifies each transaction as either income or expense, and the “month” column extracts the abbreviated month from the date for categorization and analysis purposes. Both are used in pivot tables and charts to gain insights into finances.
4. The pie chart illustrates the proportion of total income versus total expenses for the year, and the pivot table displays the total spending by month for each expense category, allowing for detailed analysis of where money is spent.
5. The app script retrieves event information from a specified range, filters out empty rows and checked events, and then creates a new calendar event using the title and start date, updating the checkbox to avoid duplicates.
6. VBA split is used because the worksheet function for textsplit is not available, even though it appears that it should be. The creator, a “lowly Google Sheets nerd,” can find no explanation for this.
7. The app script runs automatically upon form submission, grabs the responses, extracts the event details, and then uses them to create a new calendar event, including title, start and end times and dates, and invitees.
8. The “show sidebar” function displays the HTML output within the fixed-width sidebar of Google Sheets. In contrast, “show modeless dialog” creates a floating window allowing the user to interact with the spreadsheet while the dialog is open.
9. The three essential pieces of information required for sending emails via app script are: the recipient’s email address, the subject line of the email, and the body content of the email.
10. Leo pulls data from a Google Sheet, allows users to set up custom formulas and email templates, and then sets up automations to send reminder emails based on specific dates, without requiring any manual coding in app script.

Essay Questions

Instructions: Answer the following questions in a well-organized essay format. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Rather, these are meant to test your ability to express your opinion and ideas based on the source material.

1. Discuss the benefits and potential drawbacks of using spreadsheets for personal finance tracking, drawing upon the methods and tools described in the “01.pdf” excerpts.
2. Evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of using built-in spreadsheet functions versus custom scripting (e.g., app script or VBA) for automating tasks, referencing specific examples from the provided materials.
3. Compare and contrast the different user interface elements discussed in the documents, such as sidebars, dialogs, and menus, and consider how each contributes to the overall user experience and productivity within spreadsheet environments.
4. Analyze the significance of data validation, range naming, and tables in constructing complex and functional spreadsheets, citing concrete examples from the source materials.
5. Synthesize insights from the various projects outlined in the documents to offer best practices for building efficient and effective spreadsheet solutions for automation, data tracking, and analysis purposes.

Glossary

• App Script: A scripting language for light-weight application development in the Google Workspace ecosystem, allowing for automation and customization.
• VBA (Visual Basic for Applications): A programming language developed by Microsoft for automating tasks within the Microsoft Office suite, including Excel.
• Data Validation: A feature that restricts the type of data a user can enter into a cell, helping to ensure data quality and consistency.
• Name Ranges: A way to give a user-friendly, identifiable name to a cell, or range of cells, to be used in formulas instead of referencing cell locations directly.
• Named Range: A user-defined name given to a specific cell or a range of cells.
• Table (Spreadsheet): A structured way of organizing data within a spreadsheet that allows for dynamic expansion and reference within formulas.
• Pivot Table: A tool used to summarize and analyze data by reorganizing and grouping information in a spreadsheet.
• Conditional Formatting: A feature that applies specific formatting (e.g., colors, styles) to cells based on predefined rules or criteria.
• Slicer: A visual filter used in spreadsheets (often with pivot tables) to interactively filter data.
• String Template: A function that substitutes specified placeholders in a text string with actual values dynamically.
• CSV (Comma Separated Values): A plain text file format used to store tabular data where each field is separated by a comma.
• Indirect Function: A function that returns a cell reference based on a text string, allowing for dynamic referencing.
• Array Formula: A formula that performs calculations on multiple values in an array or range of cells simultaneously.
• Delimiter: A sequence of characters, in this case a comma, that are used to define the boundaries of each piece of data.
• Module: A container where user-defined functions and macros written in Visual Basic for Applications reside within a Microsoft Excel workbook.
• Subroutine: A block of VBA code within a module designed to perform a specific set of actions.
• Booleans: A logical data type that can only have one of two values, true or false.
• Variables: Named storage locations in a program’s memory used to hold data that can change during program execution.
• Loop: A programming construct that allows you to repeat a block of code multiple times.
• Filter (Spreadsheet): A feature that shows only data that meets user-defined criteria, hiding the rest of the data.
• Sidebar (Spreadsheet): A dedicated area in a spreadsheet UI (typically on the right) for displaying extra information or tools.
• Modaless Dialog (Spreadsheet): A popup window in a spreadsheet that allows the user to interact with the underlying spreadsheet while the dialog is still open.
• Data Type: A classification of data (e.g., text, number, date, currency) that determines how it can be used and manipulated within a spreadsheet.
• Dynamic Range: A range of cells that automatically expands or contracts to accommodate changes in the number of rows or columns.
• Text Join: A function that concatenates multiple strings from different cells or a given array of values.

Spreadsheet Power: Automation, Analysis, and Beyond

Okay, here’s a detailed briefing document summarizing the main themes and ideas from the provided sources.

Briefing Document: Spreadsheet Projects, Automation, and Data Analysis

Overview:

This document summarizes key concepts, ideas, and techniques from a collection of sources focused on leveraging spreadsheets for various tasks, including personal finance, event tracking, form automation, and data analysis. The sources span a range of complexity, from basic spreadsheet setup to more advanced topics like app script, VBA programming, and utilizing external tools with spreadsheet data.

Key Themes & Ideas:

1. Personal Finance Tracking with Spreadsheets:

• Comprehensive Transaction Logging: The core idea is to meticulously record all financial transactions (income and expenses) in a spreadsheet. This includes the date, transaction description, amount, category, and payment method. This builds a detailed history of spending.
• Real-Time Balance Tracking: A running balance column automatically updates after each transaction, providing an immediate snapshot of current funds.
• “The balance will pull from the starting balance on this first line and then every subsequent line we will check to see whether or not the category is income or expense and then either add or subtract to the running balance.”
• Categorization and Analysis: Transactions are categorized (e.g., grocery, paycheck) for analysis. The spreadsheet uses data validation and named ranges to facilitate consistent and easy categorization.
• Reconciliation System: The document describes a unique credit card reconciliation system. Users check transactions that match their bank balance and then clear them, helping to ensure no transactions are missed.
• “I operate under the assumption that I’m going to pay off my credit card on time every month… I need to find the Amazon transactions which add up to 10461… once I’ve selected all of the transactions here which account for the current balance this will turn green indicating that is happened.”
• Monthly ATM Transaction Tracking: A unique feature mentioned is tracking ATM transactions and roundups to get a bonus from their bank. This highlights how spreadsheets can be tailored to specific financial needs.
• Data Visualization: The analysis includes charts (pie and bar) for income/expense breakdowns, totals by category per month, and a running balance, providing a visual understanding of the user’s financial position.

1. Calendar Event Creation and Management:

• App Script for Automation: Google Apps Script is used to automatically create calendar events from spreadsheet data.
• Event Data Organization: The spreadsheet contains event details (title, start/end dates/times, description, location, invitees) in a structured format.
• Avoiding Duplicate Events: The app script uses a checkbox system to ensure events are not created multiple times.
• “column J is where I’m going to have our appscript check it off if it’s been added to the calendar so it won’t Reit and duplicate the event.”
• Handling All-Day Events: Specific app script functions are discussed that create all-day events, emphasizing the ability to handle various calendar event types.
• Integration with Google Forms: Apps Script is employed to trigger calendar events directly from form submissions. The form captures the necessary information, and the script adds it to the calendar.

1. Data Manipulation and Analysis Techniques:

• User-Defined Functions (UDFs): The use of user-defined functions in both Excel VBA and Google App Script is showcased, including the creation of a sort function for comma-separated values within a cell.
• “what if we just had a user Define function as I’ve created here that sorts the objects in the cell just like it’s supposed to in one F swoop so we don’t have to have all this garbage and risk messing something up”
• Text Manipulation: Functions such as TEXTJOIN, SORT, TRANSPOSE, and SPLIT are used for manipulating text data within cells, and the difference between VBA SPLIT and the missing worksheet TEXTSPLIT is highlighted.
• Pivot Tables and Slicers: These are utilized for summarizing and filtering data for insightful analysis in the personal finance tracking portion.
• “we have a pivot table and this is bringing in all of the transactions the category totals for each transaction amount and we’re doing it by month…”
• String Templating: This is shown as a way of creating dynamic text strings for emails and document generation. This allows for personalizing communications and documents.
• “we’re going to use a built-in function called string template… the templated part of it is this bracketed part where we’ve got bracket at contact”
• Regex for Data Extraction: The use of regular expressions (REGEXEXTRACT, REGEXREPLACE) for data extraction and manipulation in Excel is discussed.
• Tables for Data Management: There is an emphasis on utilizing tables in both Google Sheets and Excel for data organization and manipulation, including dynamic formula ranges that adjust to table size.
• “the real power here of course is the ability to now inventory if I could Spell correctly is now include tables and table columns dynamically inside of formulas.”

1. Spreadsheet as a UI and Automation Platform:

• Custom Menus and Triggers: The ability to create custom menus and triggers (on form submit, on open, etc.) are detailed, demonstrating the ability to build custom workflows and automation.
• “we need it to trigger if you go over here in this menu go away from the editor and down to this this is triggers and as you can see I’ve added a trigger on form submit that’s going to run the function to calendar”
• Modal Dialogues and Sidebars: The use of HTML sidebars and modal dialogues to embed videos and other information in the spreadsheet interface was discussed, expanding the interface of spreadsheets.
• “this takes that HTML output and throws it into the sidebar and that’s really all there is to it”
• Email Automation: App script is used to send emails directly from the spreadsheet, with the recipient, subject, and body pulled directly from spreadsheet cells.
• “we’re going to send an email from our spreadsheet and it’s very simple to do… We’ll walk through everything that it does how it does it and how to make it”
• External Tool Integration (Leo): Leo is presented as a no-code platform for automating spreadsheet tasks, particularly email reminders, contract tracking, and mail merging Google Docs to create custom PDFs.
• “Leo is a program that basically lets my data live here and a gole sheet or other data source that I’m used to the master copy of it and then I pull it into Leo…”
• PDF Generation: Leo is used to convert Google Doc templates into customized PDF files, using spreadsheet data, showing powerful document automation.

1. Specific Spreadsheet Use Cases:

• Task Tracking: The documents detail how to create a task list within a spreadsheet, using checkboxes and date tracking to achieve goals on a daily basis.
• Packing List Manager: A detailed packing list spreadsheet is created using data validation for dropdown menus for bags and items, plus conditional formatting for visual tracking of packing status.
• “we’ve got the basic set up to where we can assign a bag for the item that we’re about to bring in… we’ve kind of got something looking close close to what he had in the Tik Tok video but we’re going to add a few nice touches to it”
• Automated Invoice Generator: The document showcases a method of generating PDF invoices directly from an Excel spreadsheet, including dynamic invoice numbers, and automated clearing of form data.
• Coloring Sheet Generator The process of generating a coloring sheet based on a PNG image, with color coding and visual aids for children is outlined.
• YouTube Analytics Integration: The process of importing YouTube analytics data into Google Sheets for sorting, filtering, and finding insights into channel performance is outlined.
• Multiple Selection Data Validation: The usage of a new multiple selection checkbox feature for data validation within Google Sheets is explored.

1. Comparison between Excel and Google Sheets:

• Excel Wins on Dynamic Functionality: Excel is seen to be the winner in terms of advanced table functionality, such as dynamic spilling in columns, whereas Google Sheets is more manual.
• Both Offer Table Options: While Excel has had tables for years, Google Sheets now offers its own version, which is good news for those who prefer Google Sheets.
• Spreadsheet Program of Choice Ultimately the choice between the programs is dependent on the user’s use cases, preferences, and familiarity with each program.
• Shortcuts: Excel provides handy shortcuts that are not available in Google Sheets.
• New Functionality: Excel is also seen to be the winner in the functionality of newer features such as Regex.

Conclusion:

The provided sources demonstrate the versatility and power of spreadsheets as a tool for managing personal finance, automating workflows, manipulating data, and generating insights. The projects leverage both built-in functions and more advanced coding techniques, showcasing a range of capabilities for both beginners and advanced users of spreadsheet software. The use of external tools like Leo and built-in tools like Google App Script expand the functionality of these traditional programs and bring a new level of sophistication to data management.

Spreadsheet Productivity and Automation

Frequently Asked Questions about Spreadsheet Productivity and Automation

• Q: What kind of projects can I create using spreadsheets?A: Spreadsheets are incredibly versatile, and you can create a variety of projects. Some examples include a personal finance tracker to manage income, expenses, and reconcile credit card statements, and even track ATM transactions to maximize bank bonuses. You can also build a packing list, with progress tracking, and a project management system to organize and track tasks. These are just a few examples; the possibilities are vast.
• Q: How can I make my personal finance tracking more efficient with spreadsheets?A: You can build a comprehensive finance tracker using tools such as Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Set up a sheet with your accounts, including income, expense, and payment methods. Then, create a transaction sheet to record every purchase or income, categorized by type and payment method. Formulas can be used to maintain a running balance and calculate totals. Use conditional formatting to highlight discrepancies, and mobile apps make it easy to log transactions on the go. Finally, use pivot tables and charts to analyze spending habits.
• Q: How can spreadsheets enhance my calendar management?A: Spreadsheets can help you manage your calendar by creating custom calendars. You can link these calendars to other applications using app scripts, which will allow you to automate event creation or send reminder emails. By using named ranges and App Script, you can add events directly from your spreadsheet or Google Forms submissions to your Google Calendar.
• Q: Can I use spreadsheets to send automated emails?A: Yes, spreadsheets can be used to send automated emails. Using the built-in functions of Google App Script or by using third party integrations like Leta, you can send emails based on data within your spreadsheet, such as reminders for contract expiration. You can also send templated emails, using custom fields to personalize messages with values from the spreadsheet.
• Q: How can I manipulate data within a spreadsheet to get my desired results?A: Spreadsheets offer powerful data manipulation capabilities. You can use built-in functions like TEXTJOIN, SORT, TRANSPOSE, and SPLIT to organize and combine text data. You can use formulas with built-in functions, which can do everything from finding the total of a column to doing string templating. You can use custom User Defined Functions (UDFs), to handle specific tasks like sorting comma separated lists in one cell. You can also use regular expressions (REGEXEXTRACT and REGEXREPLACE) to extract or replace text patterns within cells.
• Q: How can I create dynamic interactive elements within a spreadsheet, such as dependent drop-down lists?A: Dependent drop-down lists, where the options in one list depend on the selection in another, can be created using named ranges and the INDIRECT function. This approach allows you to link options logically, making the data entry process more intuitive and error free. You can use an onEdit app script to trigger the content of a dependent list to clear out if it isn’t compatible with the main data, to ensure a clean user experience.
• Q: How do tables in Google Sheets enhance functionality?A: Tables in Google Sheets provide structured data management by offering dynamic ranges and integrated features such as formatting options, saved views, and filtering. They enable you to use table ranges inside of formulas, making calculations more accurate and allowing data to be added and adjusted dynamically.
• Q: What are some useful shortcuts and tips for efficient spreadsheet use?A: There are many keyboard shortcuts that can boost efficiency within spreadsheet software such as:
• Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Quickly navigate to the edges of data ranges.
• Ctrl + Home/End: Jump to the beginning or end of a worksheet.
• Alt + Down Arrow: Open filter menus.
• Alt + N, SF: Quickly insert a slicer.
• Alt + N, R: Open the recommended charts menu
• Ctrl + ~: Toggle formula view.
• Alt + W, V, G: Toggle gridlines on/off.
• Alt + N, C, B: Insert a checkbox
• Alt + H, F, C: Open the font color menu.
• Additionally, tools like named ranges and conditional formatting can significantly improve the usability of spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet Automation Projects

The sources provide details on several spreadsheet projects, including:

• Personal finance tracking A spreadsheet can be used to track income, expenses, and payment methods, with a starting balance, and can calculate a running balance [1]. The transaction sheet includes columns for date, transaction details, amount, category, payment method, and balance. It can also classify transactions as income or expense, and reconcile credit card and bank accounts [1].
• Sorting objects in a cell: A user-defined function can be created using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to sort objects within a cell [2]. This involves using functions like textjoin, sort, transpose, and split [2].
• Creating a calendar event from a Google Form: A Google Form can be set up to collect event details (email, title, start/end date/time, invites), and an Apps Script can use the form responses to create calendar events [2].
• Displaying YouTube videos: Apps Script can be used to display YouTube videos in a sidebar or modal within a spreadsheet. This involves creating HTML files with embedded video code [3].
• Sending emails: An Apps Script can send emails using data from a spreadsheet, with columns for recipient, subject, and body, and a checkbox to select which rows to send. It can be set up to run from a custom menu [3].
• Automated email reminders: A program called Leo can be used to set up automated email reminders based on data from a Google Sheet. It can perform calculations, use string templates to create email content, and send emails based on specified dates [4].
• Mail merge: Leo can also perform mail merges using data from a Google Sheet to generate personalized PDF invoices from a template, and then send them via email [5].
• Inventory tracking: Spreadsheets can be used to track inventory, filter items, and calculate percentages [5].
• Task tracking: A spreadsheet can be used to track daily tasks with columns for dates and checkboxes for task completion, also including bonus items [6].
• Creating a dynamic calendar: A spreadsheet can be used to create a dynamic month calendar where the month and year can be selected using data validation and then a calendar will be populated based on the selection [7, 8]. The calendar uses conditional formatting to hide days that are not part of the month [9].
• Lesson and student logs: A system can be built to check off lessons for students [9]. This is done by creating tables and using formulas with IF, countif, and arrayformula [10].
• Extracting data using regular expressions: The regexextract function can be used to extract specific parts of text, and the regexreplace function can replace text in a cell based on a pattern [11].
• Finding date and time from a LinkedIn post: An app script can be used to extract the date and time a LinkedIn post was published based on the URL of that post [10].
• Creating dependent drop-down lists: The INDIRECT function can be used to create drop-down lists where the options depend on the selection in another drop-down list [12]. App Script can then clear the selections in the dependent drop-down lists when the selection in the parent list changes [13].
• Multiple data validation selections: Data validation rules can allow multiple selections using checkboxes [13]. Functions can be used to count the unique values or the number of occurrences of specific values in the selection [13, 14].
• YouTube analytics: YouTube analytics data can be exported to a spreadsheet for analysis, filtering, and sorting [14, 15].
• Dynamic invoice generator: A dynamic invoice generator can be created with VBA code, with a button to generate a PDF invoice and clear the form after it is generated, and automatically increment the order number [15].
• Pixel art color by number: A spreadsheet can be used to create pixel art color-by-number grids, with VBA or app script code to analyze background colors of cells in an image, assign them numbers, and generate a color map legend [8, 16].
• Creating a sheet directory: VBA code can be used to create a sheet directory with clickable hyperlinks to other sheets in the workbook [16].

These projects demonstrate the power of spreadsheets for a variety of tasks and purposes, using both built-in functions, custom functions, and app scripts.

Spreadsheet-Based Personal Finance Tracker

The sources describe using spreadsheets for budget tracking [1]. A spreadsheet can be set up to track personal finances, using a setup sheet and a transaction sheet [1].

The setup sheet includes a few pieces of information such as:

• Starting balance [1]
• Income accounts [1]
• Expense accounts [1]
• Payment methods [1]

These are set up with named ranges that are then referenced in the transaction sheet [1].

The transaction sheet is the core of the finance tracker and includes columns for [1]:

• Date: With date validation to ensure entries are valid dates [1].
• Transaction: Where items were purchased from [1].
• Amount: How much was spent [1].
• Category: A drop down list of expense and income categories from the setup sheet [1].
• Payment method: A drop down list from the setup sheet [1].
• Balance: A running balance that updates based on whether a transaction is an income or expense [1].
• Type: Automatically classifies transactions as income or expense [1].
• Month: Classifies transactions by month [1].
• Reconcile and Clear: Checkboxes that are used to reconcile and clear credit card transactions. When transactions are selected to match the current balance on the credit card, the total will turn green and the transaction line is grayed out when the boxes are checked [1].

The spreadsheet can also be used to track specific bank account features, like ATM card usage, and round-up savings [1].

The analyze tab of the spreadsheet displays:

• A running balance [2]
• A pie chart of income and expenses for the year [2]
• A pivot table of transaction category totals by month [2]
• Bar charts of amounts by month and category [2]

The spreadsheet is designed to be used on a mobile device for on-the-go tracking, and it can be shared with multiple users [1].

Automating Calendar Events with Google Apps Script

The sources describe several ways to use spreadsheets and other tools for creating and managing calendar events:

• Creating Calendar Events from Google Forms: A Google Form can be used to collect event details and then an Apps Script can be used to automatically create events on a Google Calendar [1]. The form should include fields for:
• Email address (for invites)
• Event title
• Start date
• Start time
• End date
• End time
• Invites (optional) The Apps Script will then:
• Get the form responses.
• Combine the start and end dates and times into date objects.
• Create a calendar event using the provided details, including optional parameters for guests and sending invites.
• The script can use the default calendar or a specified calendar ID [1].
• The script should be set up with a trigger to run whenever a new form is submitted [1].
• Creating All-Day Events from a Spreadsheet: An Apps Script can be used to create all-day calendar events directly from data within a spreadsheet [2]. The spreadsheet should include:
• Calendar ID: To specify which calendar the events should be added to [2].
• Event list: A named range that includes the event details [2].
• Columns for:Title
• Start date
• End date (optional)
• Description (optional)
• Location (optional)
• Guests (optional)
• Send invites (optional)
• Checkbox (to prevent duplication) The Apps Script will then:
• Get the calendar ID and the event list from the sheet [2].
• Loop through each event in the list [2].
• Check if the event has already been added to the calendar via the checkbox [2].
• Create an all-day event using the title and start date (or start and end dates) [2].
• Set the checkbox to true, indicating the event has been added [2].
• Optional parameters can be included such as description, location, guests, and send invites [2].
• A recurrence parameter is also available to create recurring events, though this is hardcoded and not pulled directly from the spreadsheet in the example [2].

These methods allow for the automatic creation of calendar events based on data from Google Forms and Google Sheets. Using Apps Script provides flexibility and customization for managing calendar events.

Spreadsheet Data Analysis Techniques

The sources describe several data analysis techniques using spreadsheets, including:

• Analyzing financial transactions: Spreadsheets can be used to analyze financial data, by using a transaction sheet that tracks income, expenses, and payment methods and automatically calculates a running balance [1]. The data can be further analyzed using pivot tables to show category totals by month and charts to visualize income and expenses [1]. The spreadsheet can also be used to reconcile credit card and bank accounts [1].
• Analyzing inventory: Spreadsheets can be used to track inventory, filter items, and calculate the percentage of items packed in different bags [2]. The spreadsheet uses a formula with COUNTIFS to sum up the number of checked items for each category and divides it by the total number of items in that category to get the percent packed [2].
• Analyzing YouTube analytics: YouTube analytics data can be exported to a spreadsheet for analysis [3]. This allows for sorting, filtering, and arranging the data to gain insights into views, watch time, subscribers, revenue, and other metrics [3]. Users can filter by condition, for example to see only videos that have earned more than one dollar, or sort by various metrics such as estimated revenue, click-through rate, or subscriber count [3]. This enables users to identify what content is performing best and where revenue is coming from [3].
• Using formulas for analysis:
• COUNTIF: This function counts the number of cells that meet a specific criteria [2, 4, 5].
• COUNTIFS: This function counts the number of cells that meet multiple criteria [2].
• ARRAYFORMULA: This function enables the use of formulas with arrays [4, 6].
• SPLIT: This function splits text into different columns based on a delimiter [6].
• XLOOKUP: This function looks up a value in a range and returns a corresponding value from another range [7].
• MATCH: This function returns the position of an item in a range [5].
• EXACT: This function checks if two text strings are exactly the same and returns an array of TRUE or FALSE values [5].
• FILTER: This function filters a range based on specified criteria [5].
• ISNUMBER: This function checks if a value is a number and returns a boolean TRUE or FALSE value [5].
• SEARCH: This function finds text within a cell, and returns a number or an error if no match is found [5].
• Using Regular Expressions: The functions REGEXEXTRACT, REGEXREPLACE, and REGEXTEST can be used to analyze and manipulate text based on regular expression patterns [8].
• Conditional formatting: Conditional formatting is used in the sources to highlight certain cells, such as when a checkbox is checked [1, 2]. Conditional formatting is also used to hide dates on a calendar that do not belong to the selected month [9].
• Filtering and sorting: Spreadsheets allow for filtering and sorting of data based on various criteria, including values, colors, and text [8, 10, 11]. Multiple levels of sorting and custom filters using AND or OR statements are also possible [11].

These techniques enable users to organize, visualize, and extract meaningful information from their data using spreadsheet software [1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11].

Automating Emails from Spreadsheets

The sources describe several methods for automating emails using spreadsheet data:

• Using Apps Script:
• An Apps Script can be created to send emails using data from a Google Sheet [1].
• The script requires columns for recipient email address, subject line, and email body [1].
• A checkbox column can be used to select which rows should have emails sent [1].
• The script can use the GmailApp.sendEmail method to send the emails [1].
• A custom menu can be created to run the script directly from the spreadsheet [1].
• Using Leo:
• Leo is a program that can automate spreadsheet tasks without code, including sending automated emails [2].
• Leo can connect to a Google Sheet as a data source and create a table that can be manipulated for automations [2].
• String templates can be used to create custom email subjects and bodies [2].
• A built-in send email function in Leo allows for sending emails based on data from the spreadsheet [2, 3].
• This function can use a specific Gmail address for sending and requires permissions to do so [3].
• It takes parameters for recipient email, subject, body, and an optional status cell for errors [3].
• Emails can be sent based on a date, such as for contract expiration reminders [2].
• The send email automation can be triggered based on a schedule [3].
• Leo allows for chaining actions together, so that a PDF can be generated and then sent in an email [4].
• Mail Merge with Leo:
• Leo can perform a mail merge, creating personalized PDF invoices from a Google Docs template, and sending them via email [5].
• The process involves:
• Connecting to a Google Sheet as the data source [5].
• Using string templates to create custom email subjects and bodies [5].
• Using a create PDF function to generate a PDF based on a template and data in a row [5].
• Using a send Gmail function to send the generated PDF as an attachment in an email [4, 5].
• Chaining the actions so the PDF is created before the email is sent [4].
• Setting up a schedule for the automation [4].

These methods provide ways to automate emails from spreadsheets, whether it is a simple email or a more complex process that involves generating files, and provide a good variety of options that can be customized for a variety of needs and scenarios.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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