TASK_TEMPLATE

Function Overview

TASK_TEMPLATE is a dynamic template rendering function that replaces placeholders in text with actual content from cells, URLs, documents, or other sources. It creates flexible documents and outputs by processing template strings and rendering the results to cells, Google Docs, or text files.

Uses

  1. Creating documentation that incorporates live data from your spreadsheet
  2. Building dynamic reports that pull in content from multiple sources
  3. Generating text files with templated content for export
  4. Creating Google Docs that include spreadsheet data, URL content, and other documents
  5. Consolidating information from multiple cells, URLs, and documents into a single output
  6. Building templates with dynamic references that update when your data changes
  7. Constructing email templates with personalized content from spreadsheet cells
  8. Generating markdown files with content from various sources

Syntax and Parameters

=TASK_TEMPLATE(header, template, [output_doc_name], [output_textfile_name], [celladdress])

Parameter Data Type Required Description
header string No Column header for the task template (used for UI display)
template string Yes The text template containing placeholders like {A1}, {Header}, {URL}
output_doc_name string No Optional name for a Google Doc to create with the template result
output_textfile_name string No Optional name for a text file to create with the template result
celladdress string No Optional cell address to place the result (defaults to cell right of function)

Advanced Options

Template Placeholders

TASK_TEMPLATE supports various placeholder types within curly braces {}:

  • Cell references: {A1}, {B10} - Content from specific cells
  • Current row cells: {A}, {B} - Content from column in current row
  • Column headers: {Customer Name} - Content from the column with this header
  • URLs: {https://www.example.com} - Content from web pages
  • URL with format: {https://www.example.com|markdown} - Content in specified format (markdown/html/text)
  • Google Docs: {https://docs.google.com/document/d/...} - Content from Google Docs
  • Dictionary lookups: {A1:A5,B1:B5} - Key-value pairs from range pairs

Output Cell Targeting

TASK_TEMPLATE offers flexible output cell targeting options:

  • Default: Omit the celladdress parameter to output to the cell right of the function
  • Specific cell: Use an exact cell address like "D5"
  • Current cell: Use "current" to output directly to the cell containing the function
  • Column-only: Use just a column letter like "E" to target that column in the current row

File Creation Options

When creating files with TASK_TEMPLATE:

  • File hyperlinks are automatically inserted in the output cell
  • Google Docs preserve formatting and are created with the specified name
  • Text files store plain text content in your Drive
  • When both doc and file outputs are specified, the doc link appears in the specified cell and the text file link in the cell to its right

Examples

Basic cell reference template

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Customer Email", "Dear {A2},

Thank you for your purchase of {B2}. Your order #{C2} will be processed shortly.

Regards,
Customer Support")

Inserts a customized message using values from cells A2, B2, and C2 into the cell to the right.

Creating a Google Doc from template

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Report", "# Project Status Report

## Overview

{A5}

## Details

{B5:B10}

## Next Steps

{C5}", "Weekly Status Report")

Creates a Google Doc named "Weekly Status Report" with formatted markdown content from cells, and places a hyperlink to the doc in the cell to the right.

Creating a text file from template

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Data Export", "EXPORT DATE: {TODAY()}

CUSTOMER: {A1}
ORDER ID: {B1}

{C1:F10}", "", "order_export.txt", "G1")

Creates a text file named "order_export.txt" with content from cells, and places a hyperlink to the file in cell G1.

Using column headers in templates

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Invoice", "INVOICE

Customer: {Customer Name}
Product: {Product}
Amount: ${Amount}", "", "", "E5")

Creates text in cell E5 using values from columns with headers "Customer Name", "Product", and "Amount" in the current row.

Combining web content and spreadsheet data

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Product Info", "# {A1} Information

{https://api.example.com/products/{B1}|markdown}

Price: ${C1}")

Combines spreadsheet data with content fetched from a URL, with the URL itself containing a cell reference.

Creating both Doc and text file outputs

=TASK_TEMPLATE("Documentation", "# {A1} Documentation

## Overview

{B1}

## Details

{C1:C10}", "Project Docs", "project_text.md")

Creates both a Google Doc and a text file with the same content, placing links to both files in adjacent cells.

Best Practices

  • Click Run in the Sheet Workflows sidebar to execute the template after entering the formula
  • Use markdown formatting in templates when creating Google Docs for better organization
  • Keep template strings readable by using line breaks with characters
  • Verify that referenced cells, URLs and documents exist before running the template
  • Test complex templates with small examples before applying to large data sets
  • Use header references (e.g., {Customer Name}) instead of cell references for more maintainable templates
  • When including URL content, consider specifying the format (|markdown, |html, |text) for better control
  • Use the "current" celladdress option when you want to replace the formula with its result
  • Remember that very large template results (>50K characters) will be saved to a text file automatically

Troubleshooting

Error: Invalid JSON

Cause: The function parameters weren't correctly formatted in the cell
Solution: Check that your formula syntax is correct, especially quotes and commas between parameters

Error: Template error

Cause: A placeholder in your template couldn't be processed
Solution: Verify all cell references, URLs, and document IDs in your template are valid and accessible

Template doesn't replace all placeholders

Cause: Some placeholders might have invalid syntax or reference non-existent content
Solution: Check each placeholder follows the {value} format and references exist

Error: Invalid cell address

Cause: The specified celladdress parameter has invalid formatting
Solution: Use a valid cell address format like "A1" or "B10" (always in quotes)

URLs not fetching content

Cause: URL is invalid or unreachable from Google's servers
Solution: Verify the URL works, or try using the URL_READER function first to test access

Nothing happens when entering the formula

Cause: The template needs to be executed via the Run button
Solution: After entering the formula, select the cell and click "Run" in the Sheet Workflows sidebar

File permissions errors

Cause: Insufficient permissions to create Google Docs or text files
Solution: Ensure you have proper permissions in your Google Drive account

FAQ

How do I include line breaks in my template?

Use the character sequence in your template string to create line breaks.

Can I include images in the template output?

Not directly in the template, but you can reference Google Docs that contain images.

How many placeholders can I include in a single template?

There's no hard limit, but very complex templates with many placeholders may take longer to process.

Does TASK_TEMPLATE process formulas in referenced cells?

Yes, it uses the evaluated results of formulas, not the formula text itself.

Can I use TASK_TEMPLATE to create emails?

The function creates content but doesn't send emails directly. You can copy the output or create a Doc to use in your email client.

How do I reference cells from other sheets?

Use the standard Sheet!Cell notation: {Sheet2!A1} or reference the sheet name in a header.

Will my Google Doc maintain formatting from the template?

Yes, markdown formatting in your template (headings, lists, etc.) will be converted to Google Docs formatting.

Do I need an internet connection for TASK_TEMPLATE to work?

Yes, particularly when fetching URL content or creating Google Docs.

Can TASK_TEMPLATE handle large datasets?

Yes, but very large results (>50K characters) will be automatically saved to a text file with a link in the output cell.

Is there a limit to how large the created Google Doc can be?

Google Docs has its own size limits (about 1.02 million characters). If your template exceeds this, consider splitting it into multiple templates.

What happens if I don't specify an output cell?

The result will appear in the cell directly to the right of the cell containing the TASK_TEMPLATE formula.

Can I use TASK_TEMPLATE to update existing documents?

No, each execution creates a new document. To update existing content, you would need to replace the existing file or doc.

Elisha

1 week ago

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