Documentation

Getting Started

  1. Install the add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace
  2. Open any Google Sheet and click "Extensions" > "Auto Text Styler" > "Manage Rules"
  3. Create your first rule by specifying a keyword and desired formatting

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User Guide

Use this guide to quickly set up and manage text styling rules in Google Sheets.

Creating Rules

  1. Open the Auto Text Styler sidebar from the Extensions menu or the sidebar menu.
    Creating a Rule Step 1
  2. Click the “+ Add Rule” button to create a new rule.
    Creating a Rule Step 2
  3. Enter a keyword (e.g., “Urgent”) in the text input field.
  4. Select a color from the color picker to highlight the keyword.
  5. Toggle the Bold option if you want the keyword to appear bold.
    Creating a Rule Step 3
  6. Click the “Save Rules” button to apply your changes.
    Creating a Rule Step 4

Managing Rules

  1. To delete a rule, click the “Delete” button next to the rule.
  2. To edit a rule, modify the keyword, color, or bold setting, then click “Save Rules”.

Text Separator

  1. Navigate to the Settings section in the sidebar.
    Text Separator Step 1
  2. Enter a custom separator symbol (e.g., |, ~, or :) in the input field.
  3. Click the “Save” button to apply the new separator.
  4. Text separated by this symbol will be styled as individual segments.
Example: Using the separator | in the cell text “Task|Priority” will allow both segments to be styled separately.

Batch Updates

  1. Click the “Update All Formatting” button in the sidebar to apply current rules to all existing text in the spreadsheet.
    Batch Update
  2. This is useful after adding new rules to ensure historical data is formatted correctly.

Auto-Update Settings

  1. To enable automatic styling on edits:
    1. Click “Enable Auto-Update” in the sidebar.
    2. This installs an onEdit trigger that applies styles in real-time.
      Enable Auto Update
  2. To disable automatic updates:
    1. Click “Disable Auto Update” in the sidebar.
    2. This stops real-time styling, reducing potential performance impact.
      Disable Auto Update
Recommendation: Enable auto-update once after installation to maintain real-time formatting.

Best Practices

  • Test Rules: Experiment with different keywords and separators to refine your styles.
  • Backup Rules: Always Save rules using the “Save Rules” button after adding new rules or updating existing rules.

Example Workflow

  1. Define a separator (e.g., |) to segment tasks.
  2. Create rules for “Urgent” (red) and “Completed” (green).
  3. Use the Update All Formatting button to style existing data.
  4. Enable Auto-Update to maintain formatting as new data is added.

Known Issues