Export menu
Custom Export menu sends CSV of filtered range to Drive folder.
What is a custom menu in Google Sheets?
A custom menu is a menu bar section your Apps Script adds with SpreadsheetApp.getUi().createMenu(), typically from an onOpen trigger. It gives teammates one-click buttons for exports, sorts, or wizards instead of remembering hidden functions.
When to use it
Use custom menus when non-technical editors need safe, labeled actions on a shared ops sheet.
When to skip it
Skip menus for personal one-user sheets where keyboard shortcuts or macros are enough.
How it works
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1
Write onOpen that builds menu items linked to function names.
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2
Keep menu labels short and action-oriented.
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3
Authorize script on first menu click if needed.
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4
Document each item in README tab.
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5
Hide dangerous dev items before client handoff.
Examples in Google Sheets
Build this without starting from a blank cell
Use a Better Sheets tool for custom menu, then watch a walkthrough when you want the full pattern.
Better Sheets resources
Common mistakes
- Menu item calls a renamed function causing silent failure.
- Too many items without separators.
- onOpen fails for viewers who cannot run simple trigger.
Frequently asked questions
- Custom menu vs macro?
- Macros record UI steps. Custom menus call functions you wrote with full logic.
- Refresh menu?
- Close and reopen the sheet or rerun onOpen during testing.
Related Tutorials
Watch how custom menu works
Spreadsheet Automation 101 Lesson 1: onOpen() Trigger - Custom Menu
Breaking Through Errors In Apps Script
Make a Tour of Your Sheet
Add-on menu on open
Activate A Certain Sheet When Opening a Spreadsheet
Advanced Coding in Google Sheets for Programmers
Related blog posts
Guides that explain custom menu in more depth.
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Read post →Related glossary terms
onOpen trigger
The onOpen trigger runs an Apps Script function automatically when someone opens the spreadsheet. It is the standard way to add custom menus, show instructions, or refresh lightweight cache without asking the user to run a macro first. Name the function onOpen or bind it as an installable open trigger.
Read guide →Script Editor
The Script Editor is the Apps Script workspace inside your spreadsheet where you write JavaScript that talks to Sheets, Gmail, and other Google services. You open it from Extensions > Apps Script. Every function you save can be run manually, bound to a trigger, or linked from a custom menu.
Read guide →Google Apps Script
Apps Script is Google's JavaScript platform for automating Sheets and other Workspace apps. From a spreadsheet you can open Extensions > Apps Script to write code that reads cells, sends email, builds menus, and runs on triggers. It goes beyond formulas when you need custom workflows tied to your file.
Read guide →Google Sheets macros
A macro records your clicks and keystrokes in Google Sheets, then saves them as an Apps Script function you can run again from the Extensions menu or a keyboard shortcut. Macros are the fastest on-ramp to automation when your task is a fixed sequence of formatting or edits.
Read guide →Done reading about custom menu?
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