Creating custom menus in Google Sheets - Practice Exercises

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What is the output when the custom menu is added?

You add this script to your Google Sheets project:

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('My Menu')
    .addItem('Say Hello', 'sayHello')
    .addToUi();
}

function sayHello() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi().alert('Hello!');
}

What happens when you open the spreadsheet?

Google Sheets

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('My Menu')
    .addItem('Say Hello', 'sayHello')
    .addToUi();
}

function sayHello() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi().alert('Hello!');
}

A A new menu named 'My Menu' appears with an item 'Say Hello'. Clicking it shows an alert 'Hello!'.

B The spreadsheet shows an error because 'onOpen' is not a valid function name.

C Nothing happens because custom menus require manual activation.

D The menu 'My Menu' appears but clicking 'Say Hello' does nothing.

💡 Hint

Think about what the onOpen function does in Google Sheets scripts.

The onOpen function runs automatically when the spreadsheet opens. It adds a custom menu called 'My Menu' with an item 'Say Hello'. Clicking that item runs sayHello, which shows an alert.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Which function correctly adds a submenu to a custom menu?

You want to add a submenu called 'Options' with two items under your custom menu. Which function code correctly does this?

A

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('Main Menu')
    .addItem('Options', 'funcOptions')
    .addToUi();
}

B

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('Main Menu')
    .addSubMenu('Options', ['Option 1', 'Option 2'])
    .addToUi();
}

C

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('Main Menu')
    .addSubMenu('Options')
    .addToUi();
}

D

function onOpen() {
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
    .createMenu('Main Menu')
    .addSubMenu(SpreadsheetApp.getUi().createMenu('Options')
      .addItem('Option 1', 'func1')
      .addItem('Option 2', 'func2'))
    .addToUi();
}

💡 Hint

Remember that addSubMenu requires a Menu object, not just a string.

Option D correctly creates a submenu by calling createMenu('Options') and adding items to it, then passing it to addSubMenu. Other options misuse the method or pass wrong arguments.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want a custom menu item to run a function that changes cell A1 to 'Done'. Which code snippet achieves this?

Choose the correct function that will be triggered by the custom menu item to set cell A1 to the text 'Done'.

A

function markDone() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  sheet.getRange('A1').setValue('Done');
}

B

function markDone() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Sheet1');
  sheet.getCell(1, 1).setValue('Done');
}

C

function markDone() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  sheet.getRange(1, 1).setText('Done');
}

D

function markDone() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  sheet.getRange('A1').setText('Done');
}

💡 Hint

Check the correct method to set a cell's value and how to get the active sheet.

Option A uses getActiveSheet() and getRange('A1').setValue('Done'), which is the correct way. Option A uses a non-existent method getCell. Options C and D use setText, which is not a valid method.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

What error occurs if you call a non-existent function from a custom menu?

You add this menu item:

.addItem('Run Task', 'nonExistentFunction')

What happens when you click 'Run Task'?

A Nothing happens, the menu item is ignored silently.

B A popup error saying 'Exception: The function nonExistentFunction was not found'.

C The spreadsheet crashes and reloads automatically.

D The menu item runs but does nothing.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if the script tries to run a function that does not exist.

Google Sheets shows an error popup indicating the function was not found. It does not silently ignore or crash the spreadsheet.

❓ data_analysis

expert

How many custom menu items are added by this script?

Consider this script:

function onOpen() {
  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();
  var menu = ui.createMenu('Tools');
  menu.addItem('Item 1', 'func1');
  menu.addItem('Item 2', 'func2');
  var subMenu = ui.createMenu('More');
  subMenu.addItem('SubItem 1', 'func3');
  subMenu.addItem('SubItem 2', 'func4');
  menu.addSubMenu(subMenu);
  menu.addToUi();
}

How many clickable menu items appear under the 'Tools' menu when the spreadsheet opens?

Google Sheets

function onOpen() {
  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();
  var menu = ui.createMenu('Tools');
  menu.addItem('Item 1', 'func1');
  menu.addItem('Item 2', 'func2');
  var subMenu = ui.createMenu('More');
  subMenu.addItem('SubItem 1', 'func3');
  subMenu.addItem('SubItem 2', 'func4');
  menu.addSubMenu(subMenu);
  menu.addToUi();
}

A 2

B 5

C 4

D 3

💡 Hint

Count both top-level items and submenu items visible after clicking the submenu.

The 'Tools' menu has 2 direct items ('Item 1' and 'Item 2') plus one submenu 'More' which contains 2 items. The submenu counts as 1 clickable item at top level, but inside it has 2 more items. So total clickable items are 2 (top-level) + 1 (submenu) + 2 (submenu items) = 5. But the question asks for items under 'Tools' menu, which includes submenu as one item plus its 2 items inside. So total clickable items visible after opening 'Tools' and expanding 'More' is 4: 'Item 1', 'Item 2', 'SubItem 1', 'SubItem 2'. The submenu itself is a container, not a clickable item that triggers a function. So the answer is 4.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of creating a custom menu in Google Sheets using Apps Script?

easy

A. To change the sheet's background color automatically

B. To add your own buttons for easy access to script functions

C. To protect cells from editing

D. To create charts from data automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what custom menus do

   Custom menus let you add buttons in the Google Sheets menu bar that run your scripts.

2. Step 2: Identify the main use

   They provide easy access to script functions without opening the script editor.

3. Final Answer:

   To add your own buttons for easy access to script functions -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Custom menus = easy script access [OK]

Hint: Custom menus add buttons to run scripts easily [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking custom menus change sheet colors automatically
• Confusing custom menus with cell protection
• Assuming custom menus create charts

2. Which of the following is the correct way to start the function that adds a custom menu when the Google Sheet opens?

easy

A. function onOpen() { ... }

B. function addMenu() { ... }

C. function onStart() { ... }

D. function openMenu() { ... }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the special trigger function name

   The function that runs automatically when the sheet opens must be named onOpen().

2. Step 2: Check the options

   Only onOpen() is the correct trigger name recognized by Google Sheets.

3. Final Answer:

   function onOpen() { ... } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Trigger function = onOpen() [OK]

Hint: Use onOpen() to run code when sheet opens [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong function names like onStart or openMenu
• Not using the exact name onOpen
• Thinking addMenu runs automatically

3. Given this Apps Script code snippet inside onOpen():

SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
  .createMenu('My Menu')
  .addItem('Say Hello', 'sayHello')
  .addToUi();

What happens when the Google Sheet is opened?

medium

A. A new menu named 'My Menu' appears with an item 'Say Hello' that runs the sayHello function

B. The sheet background changes to say 'Hello'

C. A popup appears saying 'Hello' automatically

D. Nothing happens until you run the script manually

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the code's purpose

   The code creates a new menu called 'My Menu' in the Google Sheets UI.

2. Step 2: Analyze the menu item

   The menu has one item labeled 'Say Hello' that runs the function named 'sayHello' when clicked.

3. Final Answer:

   A new menu named 'My Menu' appears with an item 'Say Hello' that runs the sayHello function -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   createMenu + addItem = new menu item [OK]

Hint: createMenu + addItem adds menu and function link [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking the script changes sheet colors automatically
• Expecting a popup without clicking menu
• Assuming nothing happens without manual run

4. You wrote this onOpen() function but the custom menu does not appear:

function onOpen() {
  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();
  ui.createMenu('Tools')
    .addItem('Run Task', 'runTask')
}

What is the error preventing the menu from showing?

medium

A. addItem should be addMenu

B. Function name should be onStart()

C. Menu name 'Tools' is invalid

D. Missing call to addToUi() at the end

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the menu creation chain

   The code creates a menu and adds an item but does not call addToUi().

2. Step 2: Understand addToUi() role

   This method is required to actually add the menu to the Google Sheets UI.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing call to addToUi() at the end -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   addToUi() adds menu to sheet [OK]

Hint: Always end menu chain with addToUi() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong function name instead of onOpen
• Thinking menu name is restricted
• Confusing addItem with addMenu

5. You want to create a custom menu with two items: 'Start Process' running startProcess and 'Stop Process' running stopProcess. Which code snippet correctly creates this menu inside onOpen()?

hard

A. function onOpen() {
SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
.createMenu('Process Control')
.addItem('Start Process')
.addItem('Stop Process')
.addToUi();
}

B. function onOpen() {
SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
.createMenu('Process Control')
.addItem('Start Process', 'startProcess')
.addToUi()
.addItem('Stop Process', 'stopProcess');
}

C. function onOpen() {
SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
.createMenu('Process Control')
.addItem('Start Process', 'startProcess')
.addItem('Stop Process', 'stopProcess')
.addToUi();
}

D. function onOpen() {
SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
.createMenu('Process Control')
.addItem('Start Process', startProcess)
.addItem('Stop Process', stopProcess)
.addToUi();
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method chaining order

   The menu is created, then two items are added with correct labels and function names as strings.

2. Step 2: Verify addToUi() is last

   The chain ends with addToUi() to add the menu to the UI.

3. Step 3: Confirm function names are strings

   Function names must be strings, not bare identifiers.

4. Final Answer:

   Code snippet D correctly creates the menu with two items and adds it to the UI -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Chain addItem with function names as strings, end with addToUi() [OK]

Hint: Chain addItem calls, end with addToUi() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling addToUi() before all addItem calls
• Passing function names without quotes
• Missing function names in addItem