How to Name Your Add-on

<div>0:00 Now we are naming an add-on , or at least the custom function . And this is so important, and as I said, we're gonna go through some of these other sections in this Google workspace help, and one of those sections is naming. 0:13 This is naming four custom functions , which, if you are naming your add-on , your custom function . It's very important to get the custom function name correct, and there are just some limit , a little, a few limits that you need to know about. 0:26 First off you cannot name a custom function the same name that exists already in Google Sheets.

So just over 500 formulas already exists, like some filter . 0:41 If some product. So you cannot name the same thing. You must name something different. There is, there is also about functionality, something about a similar thing that you need to know, is that you cannot produce an add-on that has the same exact functionality that all so I have a 1:03 video actually completely separate about creating a custom function that is the title case.

That is an actual function called proper inside of Google Sheets. 1:13 And the reason I didn't put that out as an add-on is because it already exists. It's just named differently. And I was just tired of, remembering that it was the proper case. 1:25 I wanted it to be called the title case. That's why I made that custom function . But I did not produce that as an add-on . 1:32 The name cannot end with an underscore. So you can't name it some underscore. You can't name it if underscore.

You do have to have some text there. 1:41 And actually that underscore makes a heck of a difference. It enables you to create a plethora of custom functions with similar names at the front. 1:51 And then you can add an underscore to make it clear that this is something, some other function .

Also, back in our function , I just wanted to double check. 2:01 And double make sure that you knew this, that it was function , the word function , then the name of the function , with a space, then the name of the function , then parentheses for any inputs, if you have any inputs at all. 2:11 Because maybe you don't. And then curly brackets.

So that's what this is reminding you, is that you must have function , my function , if you're familiar with, syntax of JavaScript, and you use variable my function equals new function , that cannot happen in a custom function . 2:29 Also, in here says that capitalization does not matter. Although in here says that capitalization does not matter.

And if a custom function actually tries to return a value based on one of these voli- what they call volatile built-in functions , it'll just display loading indefinitely. 3:13 But you can use- I don't know why you would use that, because you can just use JavaScript, which has random things, but it- it- it produces or returns an actual- or number even though it is a random number . 3:25 So I think now, ran, I think also maybe today, maybe can't use- any- anything that is non-deterministic. Also must return something. 3:35 Must return a value. That is the return.

It's literally returns a- something. In- when you're testing Apps Script , you can do something like logger.log. 3:48 CPM.

So that might be- that might come in handy if you're testing your- the usability of your app, but you do need to return something. 3:58 And it- what I wanna point out here is that it will return the- e-result to the cell that is written. 4:05 If you're trying to create some automation and some thing that adds text somewhere else, this custom function an Apps Script won't be the way you do it. 4:16 It must- it will return the value to the cell it's in, and then also if you have multiple- values , they'll- like all long multiple lines, it will overflow into multiple cells , and if there is something in that cell, it'll give you an error which you'd then need to just delete the cells that 4:35 it's trying- it's blocking.

And it also tell- it says a custom function can't edit- cannot- and it- arbitrary cells that are not the cell that it's in. 4:46 But it will have that overflow , so. A little bit different. Also make sure that the exact name of your app- or add-on is not already in the Google Workspace marketplace, so. 5:03 Something like table styles, which is very popular. Literally there is one already called table styles, and you can see the other ones here. 5:10 Visual table styles are literally by a different company. There's awesome table table-er, visual tables.

So you can see there are lesser known add-ons that are similar name. 5:23 But just double check that the name you want. That is one of the reasons why I did only sheet- only sheets doesn't exist. 5:29 But tiny sheets? I just knew nobody would have tiny sheets. Oh, and it has a space, actually. I wonder if it's small. 5:39 Nope, it's not there. But yeah, small outbox app sheet is actually- by Google split names. So if you want to create like a split function , you can maybe call it split custom function . 5:51 There we go. See? Nothing comes up. But if we just type split .

Or you might want to go a little bit- there's split names, split sheet. 6:00 You might want to say split this. You might want to go a little- corny or split names and more. That's funny. 6:07 There's add on here called split names by AbleBits with 2 million installs. And then split names and more. By someone completely different add on apps and only 213. 6:18 So. Very interesting. If you're trying to take in, you know, mail create an app. Add on that sort of a well known feature like mail merge . 6:27 Searching for it first. Very few minutes you have to spend on this..

There are mail merges if you're trying to create a mail merge . 6:36 There's a lot.. You can't. What I would also do is consider creating add on. That is the name of your company so you know maybe that's what people are going to be searching for here. 6:48 Mail meteor is literally the name instead of like add on to Gmail. They just called it mail meteor. Buy mail meteor. 6:55 Know though that the name of your company will show up here. Depending on how you sign up as a. As a developer. 7:04 . This name will show up here.

So you don't necessarily have to name your add on by your name. Let's see if I type in better sheets. 7:15 Does anything come up? Just actually any any of my apps come up. So that's a pretty. Or. Thing right? You're not searching his why is she. 7:31 Oh my god. News to me. But. Yeah, maybe that's why male media actually did mail me here. I think. Yeah. 7:41 Hmm. And this is probably pretty logical, but you can. Can't name it like something that Google already has like slides. 7:48 I don't think anything is called actual just slides..

If you do use docs sheets slides in your name, not as your name, but like in your name. 8:00 You do have to add this trademark and that will come up later as. You'll see when I create the site that will definitely come up later. 8:09 But it seems like it's only when it's in relation to Google. You don't need to add that. I think if it's some other company. 8:19 But don't quote me on that. But also don't use other companies names. Maybe like the thing they do.

Alright, I hope this is helping you for naming your add-on , naming a custom function . 8:34 We're gonna add some more functionality to this to actually take it from a custom function that is bound to this, this sheet. 8:41 And we're gonna make it an add-on . Bye.</div>