Nightly sync
Time-driven installable trigger imports CSV every night.
What is an installable trigger?
An installable trigger is configured in Apps Script > Triggers and binds a function to an event such as on edit, on form submit, or time-driven clock. It can run with authorization the simple trigger cannot, and you can set failure notifications.
When to use it
Use installable triggers for scheduled reports, form-submit processing, or edits that call Gmail, UrlFetchApp, or Drive as a specific user.
When to skip it
Stay with simple onOpen menus when no extra permissions are needed.
How it works
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1
Write a handler function with any valid name.
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2
Open Triggers > Add trigger.
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3
Pick event source and type.
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4
Authorize when prompted.
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5
Enable email notifications for failures on production files.
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6
Delete duplicate triggers after testing.
Examples in Google Sheets
Form to CRM
Form submit trigger appends and emails ops.
Build this without starting from a blank cell
Use a Better Sheets tool for installable trigger, then watch a walkthrough when you want the full pattern.
Better Sheets resources
Common mistakes
- Creating a new trigger every save without deleting test triggers.
- Using installable onEdit when simple onEdit suffices.
- Forgetting triggers do not copy when duplicating files without verification.
Frequently asked questions
- Installable onEdit vs onEdit?
- Installable version is created in Triggers UI and can have broader auth. Simple onEdit is just a reserved function name.
- Who owns trigger quota?
- The account that created or authorized the trigger.
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Read post →Related glossary terms
Apps Script triggers
Triggers tell Apps Script when to run a function: on edit, on open, on a schedule, or when a form is submitted. Simple triggers use reserved names like onEdit. Installable triggers are created in the Apps Script Triggers page and can do more, including running as a specific user or on a timer.
Read guide →simple trigger
A simple trigger is an Apps Script function with a reserved name such as onEdit, onOpen, or onInstall that Google Sheets runs automatically when that event happens. You do not create it in the Triggers UI; you just name the function correctly in Code.gs.
Read guide →time-driven trigger
A time-driven trigger (clock trigger) runs an Apps Script function on a schedule you choose, such as every hour or every Monday at 8 a.m. It works even when the spreadsheet is closed, subject to Apps Script quotas.
Read guide →onEdit trigger
The onEdit trigger runs a script automatically when someone changes a cell in your spreadsheet. It is one of the simplest ways to make Sheets react to user input without clicking a custom menu. You define the function in Apps Script and bind it to the onEdit event for that file.
Read guide →Done reading about installable trigger?
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