Recently, I faced the annoying task of removing outdated email aliases from approximately 4,000 user accounts. The admin console does NOT provide a way to make this change in bulk…you have to do it one at a time. 😡 I was not about to sit and do this manually, so I did some research and discover that App Script could help me automate this process.
Google App Script is a development platform integrated directly into Google Workspace. It enables you to automate tasks, connect various Google services like Sheets, Docs, Gmail, and your Admin console, and effectively delegate complex operations to the system. No additional software is required, as it operates entirely within the Google ecosystem.
Unfortunately for me, I don’t know how to code, but I do know how to use Gemini!
Gemini is REALLY good at writing app script. I was able to successfully work with Gemini to write a custom script and successfully remove 4,000 user aliases. If you can follow instructions, you can code with Gemini!
Prioritize the goal: Describe the problem you aim to solve in clear, straightforward language. Gemini is adept at comprehending context. Ask for suggestions! “I need to remove 4,000 user aliases. Can App script help me with this?”
Ask for deployment help: Gemini doesn’t judge! If this is your first time using App Script, ask for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create and deploy your project. “This is my first time using App Script. Please give me detailed instructions on how to deploy this project.”
Request code annotation: Ask Gemini to include comments within the code explaining what each section does. This is incredibly helpful for understanding the script’s logic and for future modifications. “Please annotate the script to explain what is happening in each step.”
Start with a test script: Before deploying any script to a large group, ask Gemini to create a test version that only impacts a single user, device, file, etc. This allows you to verify that the script functions as expected without affecting your entire domain. “Please create a test-version of this project. This test script should only impact the user that I designate.”
Ask for reports: Request that Gemini include code to generate a report, typically a Google Sheet, documenting all changes made by the script. This provides a clear record and helps verify that the actions were completed accurately. “Please include a Google Sheet report that documents all successful actions taken and any error messages that were encountered.”
Simple App Script ideas:
Here are some simple ideas you can try for your first app-script project.
Batch user attribute modifications: Efficiently add a specific custom attribute to a group of staff members, such as 50 teachers, with a single script.
Send event reminders: trigger reminders via email or Google Chat based on your school calendar.
Clean up inactive Google groups: Identify and list Google groups that have had no activity (no new posts, no new members) for a specified period, aiding in group management.
I am by no means an App Script expert, but I was very excited by what I was able to accomplish with my Gemini coding assistant! Let me know what you cook up!
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