How can I replace the text in a Google Doc header with a script?

Question

I am trying to create a letterhead template for coworkers. I have tried the following, but it does not work:

function myFunction() {
  // Display dialog boxes
  var ui = DocumentApp.getUi();
  var nameResponse = ui.prompt('Enter your name');
  var positionResponse = ui.prompt('Enter your position');
  var phoneResponse = ui.prompt('Enter your phone number');
  var docNameResponse = ui.prompt('Enter a name for your Google Doc');

  //Make a copy of the template file
  var documentId = DriveApp.getFileById('ID-goes-here').makeCopy().getId();

  //Rename the copied file
  DriveApp.getFileById(documentId).setName(docNameResponse.getResponseText());  

  //Get the document header as a variable
  var header = DocumentApp.openById(documentId).getHeader();

  //Insert the entries into the document
  header.replaceText('##name##', nameResponse.getResponseText());
  header.replaceText('##position##', positionResponse.getResponseText());
  header.replaceText('##phone##', phoneResponse.getResponseText()); 
 }

If I change the header variable to .getBody, I am able to replace the placeholder text (providing I copy it to the body section), but it does not work with getHeader.

I took a look and I am able to get and edit the body without issue using .getBody. however .getHeader does not seem to be working. I think I understand the link you provide and understand that header body and footer are different sections, but I just do not understand how the script I am using can use var header = DocumentApp.openById(documentId).getBody(); but not var header = DocumentApp.openById(documentId).getHeader(); — Ognar
– Ognar, Commented May 6, 2020 at 20:20
Is your header set to 'Different first page' (i.e. the first page has a different header than the rest)? In that case .getHeader() will retrieve the main header (the one on the following pages--which may be an empty header), not the first-page header. — Aaron Dunigan AtLee
– Aaron Dunigan AtLee, Commented May 6, 2020 at 20:33
@albertovielma yes I was able to get everything working after following that post. — Ognar
– Ognar, Commented May 8, 2020 at 23:15

Nick · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-17 13:47:45Z

0

For anybody getting this problem in the future.

getHeader() only works for me if I go to the header in google docs double click it. Then it will open the header section and then click on "Different first page". Only then it worked for me.

Don't ask why

answered Dec 17, 2021 at 13:47

Nick

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