openByUrl() document indicates that:
the spreadsheet is NOT physically opened on the client
side. It is opened on the server only (for modification by the
script).
To open link in new tab, you can copy Stephen M. Harris answer here.
Try this:
function openUrl( ){
var url = 'insert your spreadsheet url here';
var html = HtmlService.createHtmlOutput('<html><script>'
+'window.close = function(){window.setTimeout(function(){google.script.host.close()},9)};'
+'var a = document.createElement("a"); a.href="'+url+'"; a.target="_blank";'
+'if(document.createEvent){'
+' var event=document.createEvent("MouseEvents");'
+' if(navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("firefox")>-1){window.document.body.append(a)}'
+' event.initEvent("click",true,true); a.dispatchEvent(event);'
+'}else{ a.click() }'
+'close();'
+'</script>'
// Offer URL as clickable link in case above code fails.
+'<body style="word-break:break-word;font-family:sans-serif;">Failed to open automatically. <a href="'+url+'" target="_blank" onclick="window.close()">Click here to proceed</a>.</body>'
+'<script>google.script.host.setHeight(40);google.script.host.setWidth(410)</script>'
+'</html>')
.setWidth( 90 ).setHeight( 1 );
SpreadsheetApp.getUi().showModalDialog( html, "Opening ..." );
}
Note: The sheet will open right next to the spreadsheet where the Apps script is connected and this might not work on your first run due to PopUp Blocker, allow the site and re-run the function.