Creating a Google Web App to Collect User Emails Without Sharing Your Sheet

Are you looking to create a Google web app that can collect user emails without sharing your Google sheet file each time a new user visits? Look no further! The solution lies in creating a web app that runs as the visitor and calls the API of the sheet containing the main data to manipulate the information using Google Apps Script code.

When it comes to collecting visitor emails, running the web app as the visitor is essential. However, this does not mean that the users will have access to the code that interacts with the sheet. Your sheet remains safe and secure!

If you’ve tried consulting artificial intelligence tools like Chat GPT and Gemini for instructions but found them ineffective, don’t worry. The simple summary of the process involves the web app capturing the visitor’s email to identify the account and then using the API to manipulate data within the original sheet.

If you’re feeling stuck or confused about how to proceed, don’t hesitate to seek help. By following these steps, you can create a seamless user experience while protecting your data. Good luck!

Creating a Google web app that can collect user emails without sharing your Google Sheet file with them sounds like a tricky task. But fear not, with the help of Google Apps Script and a bit of know-how, you can achieve this goal. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a web app that collects user emails and interacts with a Google Sheet without compromising your data security.

How can I create a web app that collects user emails?

The first step in creating a web app that collects user emails is to set up a Google Apps Script project. To do this, open your Google Drive account and click on the “New” button, then select “More” and finally “Google Apps Script.” This will open a new Apps Script project where you can write the code for your web app.

Once you have your project set up, you can start writing the code that will collect user emails. You can use the `google.script.run` method to call a Google Apps Script function that collects the user’s email address and stores it in a variable. Here is an example of how you can do this:

“`javascript
function collectUserEmail() {
var userEmail = Session.getActiveUser().getEmail();
// Do something with the user’s email address
}
“`

In this code snippet, we use the `Session.getActiveUser().getEmail()` method to retrieve the user’s email address and store it in the `userEmail` variable. You can then use this variable to store the email address or perform any other actions you need.

How can I interact with a Google Sheet using the Google Apps Script API?

Now that you have collected the user’s email address, you can use the Google Apps Script API to interact with a Google Sheet. To do this, you will need to set up a Google Sheet and create a script that allows your web app to manipulate the data in the sheet.

First, create a new Google Sheet in your Google Drive account and populate it with some sample data. Then, open the Apps Script editor by clicking on “Extensions” > “Apps Script” in the Google Sheets menu.

In the Apps Script editor, you can write the code that will interact with the Google Sheet. Here is an example of how you can read data from a Google Sheet using the Apps Script API:

“`javascript
function readDataFromSheet() {
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
// Do something with the data
}
“`

In this code snippet, we use the `SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet()` method to get the active sheet in the Google Sheet and the `getDataRange().getValues()` method to retrieve all the data in the sheet. You can then use this data in your web app to manipulate it as needed.

How can I protect my Google Sheet while allowing my web app to interact with it?

One of the main concerns when creating a web app that interacts with a Google Sheet is data security. You want to make sure that your Google Sheet is protected from unauthorized access while still allowing your web app to manipulate the data.

One way to do this is to use the Google Apps Script API to create a web app that runs as the visitor but calls the API of the Google Sheet to manipulate the data. This way, the visitor’s email address can be used to identify the account, but they will not have direct access to the Google Sheet itself.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a secure web app that collects user emails and interacts with a Google Sheet without compromising your data security. With a bit of coding and some creativity, you can achieve your goal of collecting user emails while protecting your Google Sheet.