Automatically shorten Urls with Cuttly API

Description

This Apps Script function allows you to automatically shorten URLs in a Google Sheet using the Cuttly API. By setting up an installable trigger, the function will run automatically whenever a long URL is entered in the specified column, making it easier to manage and share shortened URLs.

Instructions

Create a Google Sheet:

Name the sheet (e.g., Sheet1).

Populate the sheet with long URLs in the specified column (e.g., column A).

Get a Cuttly Access Token.

Sign up for a Cuttly account if you don't have one at https://cutt.ly/.

After signing up, confirm the activation link sent to your email. Log in, navigate to the "Edit Account" page, and generate an API key from the "Manage API" section.

Note: If you previously used Bitly, you can sign up for a Bitly account at https://bitly.com/ for an alternative service.

Add the Script:

Open your Google Sheet.

Go to Extensions > Apps Script.

Delete any code in the script editor and replace it with the script provided below.

Update the Script:

Replace "Sheet1" with the name of your sheet if different.

Adjust the urlColumn variable to match the column number of the URLs you want to shorten (1-based index).

Replace "YOUR_CUTTLY_API_KEY" with your Cuttly API key.

Set Up an Installable Trigger:

In the Apps Script editor, click on the clock icon to open the triggers page.

Click on + Add Trigger at the bottom right.

Choose shortenUrls function.

Set the event type to On edit.

Save the trigger.

Now, whenever you enter a long URL in the specified column (e.g., column A), the script will automatically shorten the URL without needing to manually run the function.

Script

function shortenUrls() { var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName("Sheet1"); // Replace "Sheet1" with your sheet name var dataRange = sheet.getDataRange(); var data = dataRange.getValues(); var urlColumn = 1; // Replace 1 with the column number of the URLs you want to shorten (1-based index) for (var i = 1; i < data.length; i++) { // Start from 1 to skip the header row var url = data[i][urlColumn - 1]; // Adjust for zero-based index if (url) { // Ensure there is a URL to shorten var apiKey = "YOUR_CUTTLY_API_KEY"; // Replace with your Cuttly API key var apiUrl = "https://cutt.ly/api/api.php?key=" + apiKey + "&short=" + encodeURIComponent(url); try { var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(apiUrl, { "method": "get" }); var json = JSON.parse(response.getContentText()); if (json.url && json.url.status == 7) { // Check if the request was successful var shortenedUrl = json.url.shortLink; sheet.getRange(i + 1, urlColumn).setValue(shortenedUrl); // Replace the original URL with the shortened URL } else { Logger.log("Error shortening URL at row " + (i + 1) + ": " + JSON.stringify(json)); } } catch (e) { Logger.log("Error shortening URL at row " + (i + 1) + ": " + e.message); } } } }

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