Search spreadsheet by column, return rows

Question

I'm trying to find the best script in terms of runtime to complete a task. I've got a decently large spreadsheet where I need to check values in certain known columns, and depending on a match case it returns that row. Ideally I'd like a new spreadsheet containing the returned rows.

I've got the spreadsheet opened by ID and I've got the sheet & range, but not sure the most efficient way to search through the specific columns and grabbing not just that value but the entire row.

Answer 1

You can use the code below to search in a specific column. Code is self explanatory.

function onOpen() {
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var menuEntries = [ {name: "Search", functionName: "onSearch"} ];
  ss.addMenu("Commands", menuEntries);    
}

function onSearch()
{
    var searchString = "Test11";
    var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("SheetName"); 
    var column =4; //column Index   
    var columnValues = sheet.getRange(2, column, sheet.getLastRow()).getValues(); //1st is header row
    var searchResult = columnValues.findIndex(searchString); //Row Index - 2

    if(searchResult != -1)
    {
        //searchResult + 2 is row index.
        SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().setActiveRange(sheet.getRange(searchResult + 2, 1))
    }
}

Array.prototype.findIndex = function(search){
  if(search == "") return false;
  for (var i=0; i<this.length; i++)
    if (this[i] == search) return i;

  return -1;
} 

Answer 2

You may want to use the Google Apps Script textFinder class.

This example function will search a string and show the row of the first occurrence in an alert dialog:

function searchString(){
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet()
  var search_string = "dog"
  var textFinder = sheet.createTextFinder(search_string)
  var search_row = textFinder.findNext().getRow()
  var ui = SpreadsheetApp.getUi();
  ui.alert("search row: " + search_row)
}