HOW TO SCHEDULE DATA CLEANING FUNCTIONS

Introduction to Scheduling Functions

Learn how to automate data cleaning in Google Sheets with Flookup's scheduling feature. This uses Google Apps Script triggers, allowing you to schedule functions to run from once every hour to once every thirty days, depending on your needs.

Before scheduling any function, it is important to manually use that function on a sample of your dataset to determine the best parameters for your use case. Visual cues in the sidebar will guide you as to which features are available for each function.

Steps to Schedule Fuzzy Match Functions

1. Open the function sidebar
   Extensions > Flookup Data Wrangler > Transformation functions > Schedule functions > Fuzzy match data in your spreadsheet menu.
2. Select the lookup and merge function to schedule
   Choose either Fuzzy match by percentage or Fuzzy match by sound.
3. Choose the mode to run
   
   • Process Lookup_values to the end: Processes the range until the end, then stops.
   • Process Lookup_values in a loop: Continuously processes the range on a schedule.
4. Set the lookup values
   Highlight the column with lookup values and click Grab selected range. Only the first column will be processed if multiple columns are selected.
5. Set the values to be compared
   Highlight the columns to compare and click Grab selected range to read them into Table_array.
6. Specify the columns to analyse
   
   • Lookup_column: The Table_array column to compare to Lookup_values.
   • Return_column: The Table_array column to return values from.
7. Set the similarity level
   Set the Threshold value as needed (skip if inactive).
8. Choose schedule frequency
   Click HOURLY or DAILY to set how often the function runs.
9. Set the schedule
   
   • Time of day: For hourly schedules, set the time for the function to run.
   • Frequency: For daily, set the number of days between runs (up to 30). For hourly, set the number of hours (up to 24).
10. Lock the output position
    Click any empty cell to lock the result position for each run.
11. Schedule the function
    Click Schedule to create the trigger and close the sidebar.

Steps to Schedule Duplicate Removal Functions

1. Open the sidebar
   Extensions > Flookup Data Wrangler > Transformation functions > Schedule functions > Extract unique values in your spreadsheet menu.
2. Select the duplicate removal function to schedule
   Choose either Extract by percentage or Extract by sound.
3. Choose the mode to run
   
   • Process Range_one to the end: Processes the table until the end, then stops.
   • Process Range_one in a loop: Continuously processes the same range on schedule.
4. Specify lookup values
   Highlight the column with lookup values and click Grab selected range.
5. Specify the column to analyse
   Set the Lookup_column to analyse for duplicates.
6. Set the similarity level
   Set the Threshold value as needed (skip if inactive).
7. Choose schedule frequency
   Click HOURLY or DAILY to set how often the function runs.
8. Set the schedule
   
   • Time of day: For hourly schedules, set the time for the function to run.
   • Frequency: For daily, set the number of days between runs (up to 30). For hourly, set the number of hours (up to 24).
9. Lock the output position
   Click any empty cell to lock the result position for each run.
10. Schedule the function
    Click Schedule to create the trigger.

Notes About Scheduling Functions

• To stop or cancel a schedule, select your function and click Reset.
• Hourly schedules may exhaust your daily quota (90 minutes for consumer accounts, 6 hours for Workspace accounts).
• Do not change the sheet name or modify parameters after scheduling.

Common Issues You Might Encounter

• Triggers fail to run: Triggers have a six-minute execution limit per hour, shared across all triggers. If multiple triggers refresh at once, some may be skipped or delayed.
• Excessive Google triggers: There is an undocumented limit of 300 triggers per user per project. Reduce triggers if you encounter issues.
• Inaccurate function parameters: Scheduled functions may fail if parameters are incorrect.
• Failed authorisation: Triggers run under the authority of any user with editing rights or who has opened the sidebar at least once. If a trigger does not run, check user permissions.
• Processed data appears in the wrong sheet: Schedule only one function per spreadsheet per user to avoid quota errors.

For the Visual Learners

Explore Further

• How to Automate Data Cleaning in Google Sheets with Macros
• Tips for Cleaning Data in Google Sheets