"doc.replaceText" in google apps script not working

Question

I have searched and searched for the answer to this but no luck. Am trying to replace text from a doc using doc.replaceText(). (Referring to the same tutorial on sending emails from spreadsheets). Whatever I may try, %, #, or any other special characters, my string does not get replaced. Any help would be appreciated.

Here's my code snippet:

function createHtmlMessage(gradesList) 
{

  var templateDocId = ScriptProperties.getProperty("EmailTemplateDoc");
  var docId = DocsList.getFileById(templateDocId).makeCopy().getId();
  var doc = DocumentApp.openById(docId);
  var body = doc.getActiveSection();
  var html = "";

  var keys = {
      STUDENT_NAME: "student",
      GR_ENGLISH: gradesList[0],
      GR_MATHS: gradesList[1],
      GR_SCIENCE: gradesList[2],
      GR_SOCIAL: gradesList[3],
      GR_2NDLANG: gradesList[4],
      GR_3RDLANG: gradesList[5],
      GR_COMPUTERS: gradesList[6],
      REMARKS: "remarks"
  };


  for ( var k in keys ){
     var source = k;
     var dest = keys[k];
     body.replaceText("%" + k + "%", keys[k]);
  }
  html = getDocAsHtml(docId);

  DocsList.getFileById(docId).setTrashed(true);
  return html;
}

All my 'keys' are present in the document with a preceeding and following "%" sign.

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 20 '12 at 06:30

1

I see that you trash the document after making the changes. Not sure of the purpose In any case, you should try Document.saveAndClose() after you make your changes.

answered Jul 20 '12 at 06:30

Srik

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 20 '12 at 06:44

0

You need to save the document before getting it as HTML

for ( var k in keys ){
     var source = k;
     var dest = keys[k];
     body.replaceText("%" + k + "%", keys[k]);
  }
doc.saveAndClose();
html = getDocAsHtml(docId);

answered Jul 20 '12 at 06:44

Waqar Ahmad

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yes, Srik is right. He posted the answer while I was writing. – Waqar Ahmad Jul 20 '12 at 06:45

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

Did you see this post that was on the very same subject ?

Also, I'm not sure about what Srik said about saving since we don't know what is in your getDocAsHtml(docId) function .... maybe you could post that part too ?

EDIT : I just tested your code and the replace part works as expected... I suspect the problem is in the conversion to html. You should keep the doc you trash to see if this one is ok.

"doc.replaceText" in google apps script not working

3 Answers3