Automation of work steps in Google Sheets with macros

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use macros in Google Sheets to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Macros allow you to record simple actions that can then be executed as many times as needed, without manually repeating each action. This is especially useful for iterative processes that are common in many areas of Google Sheets.

Key Takeaways

• Macros allow for automation of repetitive tasks in Google Sheets.
• You can easily record macros using the macro recorder.
• After recording, you can save, name, and execute macros using keyboard shortcuts.
• A basic understanding of the generated scripts can help you customize and optimize macros.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Record Macro

To record a macro, open your Google Sheets document and go to the "Tools" tab. Click on "Macros" and select "Record Macro". The system will start recording your actions.

Step 2: Perform Actions

Perform the desired actions you wish to automate. For example, click on cell B3 and highlight it in yellow. Remove gridlines, enter the number 3 in the cell, and change the font style to bold and italic. All these actions will be logged in the macro.

Step 3: Save Macro

Once you are satisfied with the recorded actions, click on "Save". You will be prompted to give your macro a name. Choose a descriptive name like "testmro_1". Optionally, you can also assign a keyboard shortcut to execute the macro more quickly.

Step 4: Execute Macro

After saving, you can run your macro at any time. Go back to "Tools", then to "Macros". Select your saved macro and run it. You may be prompted for authorization as Google needs to review your script before executing it.

Step 5: Edit Scripts

If you want to customize your macro or add more actions, go back to "Tools", then to "Macros" and select "Manage Macros". Click on "Edit Script". Here you can view the automatically generated code and make changes. Don't worry, even if the script looks complex, it's not necessary to understand everything in detail.

Step 6: Record Additional Macros

In addition to your first macro, you can create additional macros for different tasks. For example, if you regularly copy data from one sheet to another, you can create a new macro to automate this process. Repeat steps 1 to 5 for your new macro.

Step 7: Benefits of Macros

Using macros can significantly increase the flexibility and efficiency of your work in Google Sheets. Instead of manually executing complex tasks, you can simply call a macro and save time. This is especially useful when your spreadsheet is updated monthly and the structure remains constant.

Summary

In this tutorial, you have learned how to create and use macros in Google Sheets to automate your work. You'll find the process easy and intuitive, and you'll quickly see how much time and effort you can save.