output a string as a JSON file with Google script

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 3, 2022, 8:53:31 PM3/3/22

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Looking for a script that will download a string as a JSON file

I have a string "strJSON" I create with multiple scripts.

I output the string with showModalDialog

//Output to Html
  var template = HtmlService.createTemplateFromFile('copy');
  template.temp = strJSON;
  var htmlOutput = template.evaluate();
                  htmlOutput.setWidth(610)
                  htmlOutput.setHeight(750);
  SpreadsheetApp.getUi().showModalDialog(htmlOutput, 'AttributeRelevance');

I then copy the put and paste it into Notpad++ and save as a JSON file and this gives me a JSON file that validates and works as expected

Is there a way to output my string directly from Google as a JSON file? I have found scripts that will convert a Google sheet to a JSON but nothing that will save a string as a JSON file

Thanks in advance for any assistance with this

Tanaike

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Mar 3, 2022, 10:18:18 PM3/3/22

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I believe your goal is as follows.

You want to download `strJSON` as a file when a dialog is opened.

In this case, how about the following sample script?

Google Apps Script side:

function openDialog() {
var strJSON = JSON.stringify({"key1": "value1"}); // This is a sample value. Please replace this for your value.

var template = HtmlService.createTemplateFromFile('copy');

template.temp = `data:${MimeType.JSON};base64,${Utilities.base64Encode(strJSON)}`;

var htmlOutput = template.evaluate();
htmlOutput.setWidth(610)
htmlOutput.setHeight(750);
SpreadsheetApp.getUi().showModalDialog(htmlOutput, 'AttributeRelevance');
}

HTML & Javascript side:

<body></body>
<script>
const filename = "sample.json"; // If you want to change the filename, please modify this.
const a = document.createElement("a");
document.body.appendChild(a);
a.download = filename;
a.href = <?= temp ?>;
a.click();
</script>

I'm not sure about `copy` of your HTML file. So in this answer, I prepared a sample HTML and Javascript.

When the dialog is opened, "strJSON" is converted to the base64 data and it is downloaded as a file.

This sample is from https://stackoverflow.com/q/69375791/7108653

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 4, 2022, 10:16:29 AM3/4/22

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Hello Tanaike,

That is great exactly what I hoped for!

I have a follow-up question if I may.

Is it possible to a date stamp to the "const filename = "Kumu.json";

something like:

const filename = "Kume.json" + date stamp;

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 <body></body>
  <script>
    const filename = "Kume.json"; // If you want to change the filename, please modify this.

    const a = document.createElement("a");
    document.body.appendChild(a);
    a.download = filename;
    a.href = <?= temp ?>;
    a.click();
  </script>

</html>

Thank you this is much appreciated!!
Tim

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 4, 2022, 10:35:46 AM3/4/22

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I got it

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 <body></body>
  <script>

    const formatYmd = date => date.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
          formatYmd(new Date()); 
    const filename = "Kumu" + "_" + formatYmd(new Date()) + ".json"; // If you want to change the filename, please modify this.

    const a = document.createElement("a");
    document.body.appendChild(a);
    a.download = filename;
    a.href = <?= temp ?>;
    a.click();
  </script>
</html>

Thank you again

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 4, 2022, 10:56:07 AM3/4/22

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I have one more follow-up question

The modal is empty, is it possible to not show the modal but still have the JSON download?

I tried commenting out

//SpreadsheetApp.getUi().showModalDialog(htmlOutput, 'AttributeRelevance');

but then the JSON did not download

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 4, 2022, 11:10:08 AM3/4/22

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Or execute from a button click

Thank you

Timothy Hanson

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Mar 4, 2022, 12:39:34 PM3/4/22

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Sorry about all these replies

I add

google.script.host.close();

and this works

Thanks

Tanaike

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Mar 4, 2022, 8:47:52 PM3/4/22

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Thank you for replying. I apologize for my late response. I'm glad your issue was resolved.

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