Scripting Google
with Google Apps
and maps systems. Included in the
scripting system is a rich API filled
with objects that let you automate
almost any task you can imagine.
Scripts
REVIEW: Updates to the scripting add-on for
Google Apps enables users to create what are
essentially macros, but the scripts run on the
server side and use JavaScript.
By Jeff Cogswell
integration support via JDBC (Java
Database Connectivity); custom user
interfaces (still reserved for the paid
Premier edition of Apps); stand-
alone invocation of scripts (letting
you run the scripts from non-Google
Websites); additional integration
into Google properties, such as the
Google has made available
examples such as one that lets you
simulate a stock trading strategy
in the spreadsheet application, one
that generates fractals and one
that’s an entire course registration
system. (Admittedly, that last one
seems a bit out of place. I can’t
imagine why somebody would use
an online spreadsheet program as
a course registration system, but it
does demonstrate the wide range of
things you can do.)
At its recent I/O conference, Google discussed some important updates to its scripting add-on for
Google Apps, which enables Apps
users to create what are essentially
macros—much like the macros used
to extend Microsoft’s
desktop-based Office
products. In Google’s
case, however, the scripts
run on the server side (that
is, on Google’s servers)
and use JavaScript (yes,
on the server side).
Personally, I’m still a bit skeptical.
There are certainly some handy
features here, but I’m not sure how
popular the scripting system will be.
The JDBC part is cool, and if you’re
a premium member, you’ll be able
to build some decent applications
on top of the spreadsheet system.
When Google Apps
Scripts was introduced
about a year ago, it
was available only to
premium members.
Then in January, Google
made a majority of the
features available to
standard customers.
These include classes for
accessing the contact list,
classes for accessing the
folders and classes for manipulating
the spreadsheets down to the cell level
Google Apps Scripts can run from individual apps, such as Google’s
spreadsheet, and can access data stored in other Google applications.
That functionality
has existed in Microsoft Excel for many
years, but how many
people actually build
applications in Excel
compared with the
large number of people
who simply use Excel
for its basic spreadsheet
features? Perhaps that
will change, and the
Google Apps Script
system does have some
nice features. We’ll just
have to wait and see how
popular it becomes.
Documents list and Google Maps;
and installable event handlers.
JDBC integration
(similar to what you would find with
desktop-based spreadsheet software).
Then, in May, Google added
several updates ( tinyurl.com/
Presently, the scripting system
is available primarily from the
spreadsheet application, although
there’s integration into other Google
applications, such as the e-mail
If you’re familiar with JDBC from
the Java world, you’ll be right at home
with the JDBC integration. The set
of classes is smaller than the official
Sun JDBC API that runs under Java.
