Receiving the error "Exception: Invalid argument: timeZone. Should be of type: String"

[ad...@umcmonroe.org]

I just created a new form/spreadsheet that I want to merge with a document.  When running a Preview OR just trying to run the tool it bombs with the error "Exception: Invalid argument: timeZone. Should be of type: String."  The autocrat tool works for merges on older forms (created within the last few weeks) but it does not work with this new form.  I tried copying one of the working forms to create a new one and that bombs, too.  I have no idea what the reference to timeZone or string means.  Anyone else having this issue?  Any ideas how to fix it?

[Amanda Smith]

Hello,

In your spreadsheet, go to file > spreadsheet settings > change time zone. Change the time zone and then change back to what you need it to be set as.

See if that resolves the issue. Thanks!

[ad...@umcmonroe.org]

Amanda - thank you so much for your response. It worked just as you said it would!  Thank you!

[Amanda Smith]

Great. So glad to hear that!!

Thank you for explaining the error and updating us that these steps worked for you, it is helpful for others to see.

For some reason Google Sheets has been acting a little funny lately, many people are having issues with the timezone setting, I'm not sure why but glad we know a way to correct it.

[Hugo Nascimento]

 a

I changed the time zone, but the error persists. Any other suggestions?
persists. Any other suggestions?

[ALYSA COZART]

Thank you! This corrected the problem.

[dennisg...@gmail.com]

Having same issue.

I changed the time zone but still getting error.

FWIW, I did upgrade to autocrat 3x

[Jessa Loranger]

This is happening to me too. The fix from Amanda Smith works--I just have to change the time zone to be correct. And I have to do it every time I do a new merge, on every sheet. My time zone is set wrong, by default, and it seems the settings are not accounting for daylight savings time. It didn't always require this extra step, just started a few weeks ago. 

On Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:06:02 AM UTC-4, ad...@umcmonroe.org wrote:

[Amanda Smith]

Yikes. You have to correct this for every new merge on every spreadsheet? That is very inconvenient. Thank you for reporting those details, it helps us understand the scope of this issue.

Spreadsheet settings such as Time Zone are controlled by Google Sheets, there is nothing the add-on is doing to modify that information, the error is occurring because the add-on is noticing the spreadsheet settings are incorrect.

So I have been trying to find the main cause of how/why Google Sheets timezone settings are behaving this way.

I might have found a link in another issue going on related to Google Form triggers  ( Form triggers are reported being set off multiple times causing some users to get duplicate emails for mail merge scripts)

See this Google Issue Tracker Post for more information.

In the response by Google, they acknowledge that the data in the timestamp column is being slightly changed by an internal sync process they have. I wonder if this is affecting a change in the timezone settings as well. I am not sure and could very well be incorrect in my guess but I am relaying this information over to our development team to see if they any follow-up thoughts.

I will keep you guys posted if I get any updates, hopefully, Google will resolve this issue soon, until then the workaround of changing the timezone settings is the only solution I know of.

Thanks!

[Jessa Loranger]

Thanks, Amanda! 

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[Mark Damon]

On one hand... glad I am not the only one with this error.  On the other, even after changing Time Zone, problem persists.  Please post message when resolved.  Thank you.

On Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:06:02 AM UTC-4, ad...@umcmonroe.org wrote:

[Jessa Loranger]

Mark, did you also delete the merge information from the columns? 

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[Mark Damon]

Yes.  Have had this error come up on a few different spreadsheets today.  I changed the Time Zone and it worked on one.  Did the same on another… but problem persisted.

 

 

Mark E. Damon
Educational Technology Coordinator
Google Certified Trainer
Medford Township School District
137 Hartford Road
Medford, New Jersey  08055

 

Website:  http://bit.ly/EdTechCoordinator

 

From: nv-autocr...@googlegroups.com [mailto:nv-autocr...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jessa Loranger
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 3:02 PM
To: nv-autocr...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Autocrat Google Group] Re: Receiving the error "Exception: Invalid argument: timeZone. Should be of type: String"

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Medford School District, use caution when opening links, attachments, or providing information.

 

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[Jessa Loranger]

It's very frustrating, I am waiting for the fix too. So far, I have had luck switching to Atlantic Time, which is sort of accurate for where I am (I'm on EDT), but an hour earlier than the default setting on all my recent sheets. 

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[Lori Mente]

Amanda, I believe that the Google formatting may indeed be the issue.  When I am getting responses on my forms, they are showing a time in the future, not my current time zone - even after I have changed the settings in my sheet.  

[Amanda Smith]

Lori,

Interesting. Thank you for adding in those details! 

The more info we gather, the better prepared we are to work around these issues until they are fixed. Appreciate you all providing support!

[Tammy Tapley]

I am having the same issue, but changing the time zone didn't work for me.   I have several jobs running using autocrat.  All older jobs are working properly, but all jobs created in the last 3 weeks will not merge data.   I get error messages for time zone, and emails saying autocrat can't run.   I've been using autocrat for over 5 years without a hitch; this new problem is really causing a mess in our office!  

On Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:06:02 AM UTC-4, ad...@umcmonroe.org wrote:

[Brian McKenzie]

Hey Tammy -- you might need to remove Autocrat altogether, delete the hidden sheet attached to it, then reinstall it and start over.

Sender notified by Mailtrack 05/14/19, 12:28:04 PM

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[Kristin Lagerquist]

I am so confused.  I am getting the same error...time zone...string.  What time zone do I set it to?  I am currently in GMT -06:00 (I live in Chicago, Central STandard time) and my spreadsheet is telling me that it will run autocrat at:  Starting at Tue May 21 2019 19:54:17 GMT-0400 (EDT)

what do i do now??

On Monday, May 6, 2019 at 10:06:02 AM UTC-5, ad...@umcmonroe.org wrote:

[Lori Mente]

Just change it to ANY time zone and save, then change it back to the correct time zone.  You will have to delete any info in the autocrat fields (the Starting at... ) then re-run the job.  It should work after that.

~Lori

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[Lagerquist, Kristin]

thank you so much! i hope google resolves their end of things - what a nightmare...so happy that i asked and got clarification....really appreciate it!!!

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[Kathy E]

Thank you, to everyone, for the suggestions.  I am new to AutoCrat and am testing it for our schools discipline letters and a spreadsheet I have to keep, based on the letters info.  I'm assuming everyone, who would use our discipline files, would need to load AutoCrat?  I'm also assuming everyone will end up with this same timezone error?  If so, I sure hope someone comes up with a permanent solution, soon!

On Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:06:02 AM UTC-4, ad...@umcmonroe.org wrote:

[Lori Mente]

Actually, if it's YOUR spreadsheet (you are the owner), once you set it up and it works everyone can use it and not need to load autocrat since autocrat will trigger once the form is filled out.  (Assuming you have that option set in Autocrat.)  You can still share the actual sheet with others if desired.

~Lori

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[Gesca Corp]

I did it and it's working

[Shawn Yeh]

Thank you, this works for me, too.

[Ade Keswira]