Funny and Experimental Scripts for Excel and Google Sheets

Add some humor and fun to your Excel or Google Sheets workflows with these simple yet hilarious scripts. Each script is a step-by-step guide to creating and implementing a funny or experimental scripts in your spreadsheets. Whether you’re using Google Apps Script or Python, these ideas are guaranteed to make your workday a little more entertaining!

1. The Compliment Generator

What it does: Adds a random compliment in the adjacent cell whenever you type in data.

Step-by-Step Guide for Google Apps Script:

Open Google Sheets:

• Go to Google Sheets and open your spreadsheet.

Open Script Editor:

• Click on Extensions > Apps Script to open the Google Apps Script editor.

Paste the Code

function onEdit(e) {
    const sheet = e.source.getActiveSheet();
    const compliments = [
        "You're awesome!",
        "Great job!",
        "Keep shining!",
        "Spreadsheet genius!",
        "Excel-lent work!"
    ];
    const range = e.range;
    if (range.getColumn() === 1) {
        range.offset(0, 1).setValue(compliments[Math.floor(Math.random() * compliments.length)]);
    }
}

Save and Deploy:

• Save the script with a name like “Compliment Generator.”
• Click File > Save, then refresh your spreadsheet.

Test It:

• Type anything in Column A, and a compliment will appear in Column B

2. The Motivational Productivity Timer

What it does: Tracks how long you’ve been working in a spreadsheet and provides random motivational quotes every 15 minutes.

Step-by-Step Guide for Python:

Install Required Libraries:

• Open your terminal and ensure Python is installed.

Write the Script:

import time
import random

def motivational_timer():
    quotes = [
        "You're doing great!",
        "Keep up the good work!",
        "Don't forget to stretch!",
        "Remember: coffee is your friend.",
        "Productivity level: 100%"
    ]
    start_time = time.time()
    while True:
        elapsed = time.time() - start_time
        if elapsed > 15 * 60:  # 15 minutes
            print(random.choice(quotes))
            start_time = time.time()  # Reset timer

motivational_timer()

Run the Script:

• Save the script as timer.py and run it using python timer.py.

Watch It Work:

• Every 15 minutes, a motivational quote will appear in your terminal.

3. Emoji Status Updater

What it does: Automatically adds emojis based on a cell’s content.

Step-by-Step Guide for Google Apps Script:

Open Script Editor:

• Click on Extensions > Apps Script in your Google Sheet.

Paste the Code:

function onEdit(e) {
    const statusEmojis = {
        "Done": "✅",
        "In Progress": "🔄",
        "Not Started": "❌"
    };
    const range = e.range;
    const value = range.getValue();
    if (statusEmojis[value]) {
        range.offset(0, 1).setValue(statusEmojis[value]);
    }
}

Save and Deploy:

• Save the script and refresh the spreadsheet.

Test It:

• Type “Done,” “In Progress,” or “Not Started” in Column A, and see the corresponding emoji in Column B.

4. The Random Excuse Generator

What it does: Generates a random (and funny) excuse when you double-click an empty cell.

Step-by-Step Guide for Google Apps Script:

Open Script Editor:

• Click on Extensions > Apps Script in your Google Sheet.

Paste the Code:

function onEdit(e) {
    const sheet = e.source.getActiveSheet();
    const excuses = [
        "The dog ate my spreadsheet!",
        "Ran out of coffee, ran out of ideas.",
        "Spreadsheet got lost in the cloud.",
        "Aliens abducted my formulas.",
        "Excel crashed... again."
    ];
    const range = e.range;
    if (!range.getValue()) {
        range.setValue(excuses[Math.floor(Math.random() * excuses.length)]);
    }
}

Save and Deploy:

• Save and test by double-clicking an empty cell.

5. The Sarcasm Checker

What it does: Checks your spreadsheet for overly optimistic phrases and flags them with “Sure, Jan.”

Step-by-Step Guide for Python:

Install Pandas Library:

• Run pip install pandas in your terminal.

Write the Script:

import pandas as pd

def sarcasm_checker(sheet_path):
    phrases_to_flag = ["hit all our targets", "on track", "flawless execution"]
    df = pd.read_excel(sheet_path)
    for col in df.columns:
        df[col] = df[col].apply(lambda x: f"{x} - Sure, Jan." if isinstance(x, str) and any(p in x for p in phrases_to_flag) else x)
    df.to_excel("updated_" + sheet_path, index=False)
    print("Sarcasm applied! Check 'updated_" + sheet_path + "'.")

Run the Script:

• Save it as sarcasm_checker.py and run it with your Excel file.

Review the Results:

• Check the updated Excel file for funny comments.

Conclusion

With these quirky and fun scripts, you can transform your regular spreadsheet tasks into something more entertaining and lighthearted! Whether you’re using Google Apps Script or Python, each of these ideas brings a bit of humor into your work environment. So, next time you’re working on a spreadsheet, try one of these scripts to give yourself a break and enjoy a little laugh.

Feel free to experiment with the scripts and tweak them according to your needs. Who said spreadsheets had to be all business?

Stay productive, stay creative, and most importantly—have fun with AI!