This Google Sheets add-on was created to provide users with a simple way to merge selected spreadsheet row(s) with user defined Google Docs or email templates. Simple merge markers and row selection make this the easiest merge utility in the G Suite Marketplace. Header rows are not required and row content can be merged to templates with simple column data markers such as @colC@ or @colF@. If the sheet does have a header row in the first row, then templates can merge headers using simple column header markers such as %colC% or %colF%. The current @date@ and @time@ can also be used in templates. Email templates can be plain text or users can past in custom HTML for true customization.
PCAdd-ons is offering a one time MergeFactory coupon code for a free 30 day premium trial. The code is freecc-30-days and can be entered into the "Special Codes" text box. This text box is found in the "Additional Document Settings" area in the "About" sidebar. A instructional video for the trial code is available if needed. Please consider leaving a thoughtful review and rating in the Chrome Add-on or G Suite Marketplace.
The MergeFactory requests the following scopes when installed. Below is an explanation of why the add-on needs each permission.
Display and run third-party web content in prompts and sidebars inside Google applications: Google provides add-ons access to the sidebar and pop-up prompts as an interface with the user.
Allow the application to run when you are not present: Google allows add-ons to schedule time or event based triggers to perform some actions. The MergeFactory does not utilized this scope and only runs through user actions.
Connect to an external source: The MergeFactory connects to our merchant provider (Stripe) in order to process payments for our premium service. This is initiated through the "Go premium" sidebar. The MergeFactory does not connect to any other external source.
View and manage Google Drive files and folders that you have opened or created with this app: The MergeFactory will copy a document template, create a new document, and then save it to your Google Drive when a document merge, label merge, or email combo merge is processed. The MergeFactory will copy a Google Document and send it as a PDF attachment when an email merge is processed and an "Email Attachment" is included in the email template details. The MergeFactory does not delete any Drive files.
See, edit, create and delete you spreadsheets in Google Drive: The MergeFactory can edit the spreadsheet it is being used on. The add-on does not create, edit, or delete any other spreadsheets in Drive.
View and manage you Google Docs documents: The MergeFactory will copy a document template, create a new document, and then save it to your Google Drive when a document merge, label merge, or combo merge is processed. The MergeFactory will copy a Google Document and send it as a PDF attachment when an email merge is processed and an "Email Attachment" is included in the email template details. The MergeFactory does not delete any Document files.
Send email as you: The MergeFactory will send email from your primary email account when processing an email merge. When processing a premium subscription or using a coupon code, the add-on will send an email from the user's mail account to PCAdd-ons with the basics of the subscription. All emails sent by the add-on are available to view from your email sent folder.
Google is changing policies to ensure more trust in third party add-ons access to user information. The following permission were recently eliminated in order to comply with these changes. Full email access was downgraded to the send_mail permission on 2/27/2019 due to Gmail policy changes. Full access to Google Drive was downgraded to the Drive.files permission on 10/22/2019 due to Drive policy changes. The following permissions are no longer required by the add-on, but are the reason some functionality has changed.
View your email messages and settings: The MergeFactory will search your current email drafts, find the draft with a subject of "MergeFactory", and then copy the html body of this specific message when the user clicks the "Import Draft" button in the "Email Merge Sidebar". No other email messages are viewed or read by the add-on.
See, edit, create, and delete all your Google Drive files: The MergeFactory will copy, create new documents, and then save them from your template files when a document or label merge is processed. The MergeFactory will copy Google Drive files and send them as attachments when an email merge is processed with "Attach Google Drive File ID's" included in the email details. The MergeFactory does not delete any Drive files.
December 2019: Google Document templates with images that are residing inside of tables created in the document are only working in the first page of a merged document. Subsequent rows or fill in pages will not display the image, but will just show the outline of where the image should be. Images in the header and footer are not affected by this since they are created with the first page and simply repeated throughout the merged document. I am working on the issue to see if it can be resolved with the Document API's that Google provides.
The add-on only utilizes Google services and does not share any of your data outside of the Google environment or with me as the developer. The script has access to your email in order to send emails on your behalf and also access to your Google Drive in order to copy and create new documents. The only information I receive is your email address and postal code if you subscribe to our premium version, use a coupon code, or provide feedback information. I run a small business and have developed Google Scripts to help streamline some of my order processing and have decided to publish this add-on and hope that others find it useful in enhancing the Google ecosystem.
Use your mouse to selectively merge the highlighted row or rows into your templates anywhere you add our simple merge markers into your created document or email templates.
Create your own templates so you have full control of your documents formatting and appearance. Standard label formats can also be created with our label merge.
Create your own email templates with basic plain text or import an email you created in Gmail for more styling. You can even paste in your own HTML content for the ultimate in control.