Bulk create Google Drive folders 2.0

The following Google Apps Script code was developed to bulk create Google Drive folders with data from a given spreadsheet (eg to name the folders and add permissions). It is an improved version of the tool built in April 2019 (original blog link here).

Improvements that have been made include:

• A Log sheet to support troubleshooting problems.
• More use of 'try/catch' to handle errors.
• Adding permissions is optional.
• Some of the column numbers can be tweaked in the Config sheet rather than diving into the code.

1) getSpreadsheet.gs
This Function gets data from the Google Sheet that is then used throughout the rest of the script:

// get current spreadsheet
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

// get TimeZone
var timeZone = ss.getSpreadsheetTimeZone();

// get Parent Google Folder ID for storing created Folders in
var destinationFolderId = configSheet.getRange(1, 2).getValue();

2) createFolders.gs
This Function loops through each row and initiates the creation of a Google Drive Folder and the necessary permissions (if applicable). It checks to make sure a folder link does not already exist before proceeding (so nothing is overwritten):

// get last Row number
var lastRow = dataSheet.getLastRow();

// create a name for the new Folder
var folderName = folderNameP1 + ' - ' + folderNameP2;

// display Toast notification
ss.toast(folderName, 'Creating Folder');

// set Folder Link cell using new Folder Url
var newFolderLink = '=HYPERLINK("' + newFolderUrl + '","' + folderName + '")';
dataSheet.getRange(i+1, folderLinkCol).setFormula(newFolderLink);

3) createFolder.gs
This Function creats a new Google Drive Folder and returns its Url/Id:

try {
    // get destination Folder
    var destinationFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(destinationFolderId);
}
catch(e) {
    logEvent('Error getting destination folder: ' + e + e.stack);
    var destinationFolder = false;
}

// create new Folder in destination
var newFolder = destinationFolder.createFolder(folderName);
     
// get new Drive Folder Url/Id and return to Parent Function
var newFolderUrl = newFolder.getUrl();
var newFolderId = newFolder.getId();

4) addPermissions.gs
This Function adds 'Edit' permission to each Folder from the provided email address(es) in the spreadsheet:

// split up email address array to be able to loop through them separately
var emailAddresses = permissionEmail.split(', ');

try {
    // add 'Edit' permission using email address
    newFolder.addEditor(emailAddress);
    var addEditor = true;
}
catch(e) {
    logEvent('Error adding Editor: ' + e + e.stack);
    var addEditor = false;
}

if (addEditor) {
    // write timestamp into 'Permission Added?' cell
    var date = new Date;
    var timeStamp = Utilities.formatDate(date, timeZone, "dd/MM/yy @ HH:mm:ss");
    dataSheet.getRange(currentRow, permAddedCol).setValue(timeStamp);
}

logEvent.gs
This Function is used to output information to the Log sheet and can be called from anywhere else in the script:

// get the user running the script
var theUser = Session.getActiveUser().getEmail();

// create array of data for pasting into log sheet
var logData = [niceDateTime, theUser, action];
 
// append details into next row of log sheet
logSheet.appendRow(logData);

onOpen.gs
This Function creates a menu item to run the tool:

SpreadsheetApp.getUi()
.createMenu('Admin')
.addItem('Create folders', 'getSpreadsheetData')
.addToUi();

Download

Bulk create Google Drive folders 2.0 download (please use 'File' > 'Make a copy' for your own version).