Opens an existing spreadsheet using its Drive file ID.
class SpreadsheetApp method .openById()
SpreadsheetApp is the Apps Script service.
.openById() is the method name you will see after a dot in your code.
What it does
Why it's used
- Pull data from another spreadsheet without asking the user to open it.
- Common in dashboards that roll up numbers from several files.
Common errors
- Forgetting parentheses on openById. Write SpreadsheetApp.openById(), not SpreadsheetApp.openById or openById by itself.
- Skipping dots between chained calls. Each step needs a dot, like SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Data').openById().
- Adding spaces where they do not belong. Write SpreadsheetApp.openById(), not SpreadsheetApp .openById(), SpreadsheetApp.openById (), or SpreadsheetApp . openById().
- Wrong capitalization. Use SpreadsheetApp and openById, not spreadsheetapp or openbyid.
Snippets using this method
- How to Power Testimonials with Google Forms and Sheets
- How do I reference a different spreadsheet in Apps Script?
- How to Create a Google Form Automatically
- Curate Google Sheets Easily - Automatic Bookmarklet Maker
- Automatically Copy Spreadsheet Tab to New File with Values Only, No Formulas
- Different Kinds of Automation
Explore
Related methods
-
.openByUrl()
Opens an existing spreadsheet from its full URL.
-
.create()
Creates a new blank spreadsheet file in Drive.
-
.getActiveSpreadsheet()
Returns the spreadsheet the user currently has open.
-
.showModalDialog()
Opens a modal dialog that blocks interaction with the sheet.
-
.activate()
Makes a sheet or range the active selection.
More Apps Script
Better Sheets tutorials
Automate Emails
Automatically Copy Spreadsheet Tab to New File with Values Only, No Formulas
Curate Google Sheets Easily - Automatic Bookmarklet Maker
How do I reference a different spreadsheet in Apps Script?
How to Create a Google Form Automatically
Related blog posts
Written guides about SpreadsheetApp.openById().
How to reference a different Google Spreadsheet in Apps Script?
Transferring Data Between Cells in Different Spreadsheets
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