Certificate Sharing Tool

An automated tool for generating and sharing certificates using Google Apps Script and Google Sheets.

Overview

This tool automates the process of creating personalized certificates and sharing them via email. It uses Google Sheets to manage recipient data and Google Apps Script to generate certificates from a template and send them automatically.

How It Works

The system consists of:

• Google Sheet: Contains recipient information and tracks certificate status
• Google Apps Script: Handles certificate generation and email distribution
• Certificate Template: Base template for generating personalized certificates

Setup Instructions

1. Folder Structure

Your Google Drive should be organized as shown below:

Clone this Drive folder to your Google Drive

• Manage access to the folder with other required folders.

2. Google Sheet Setup

Create a Google Sheet with recipient information:

Required columns (case insensiteve):

• Recipents college -> college
• Recipient names -> name
• Email addresses -> email
• Any other personalization data needed for certificates

3. Certificate Template

Prepare your certificate template in Google Slides or Docs:

4. Apps Script Configuration

Configure the Apps Script with your specific variables:

Update these variables in the script:

var eventName = "Master the Basics of Flutter";
var SocietyName = "ISTE SC GECBH";
var slideTemplateUrl = "YOUR_SLIDE_TEMPLATE_URL";
var tempFolderUrl = "YOUR_TEMP_FOLDER_URL";
var sheetUrl = "YOUR_SHEET_URL";

• Email acesss and sharing settings must be checked

Usage

1. Prepare your data: Fill the Google Sheet with recipient information (Name, College, Email)
2. Configure the script: Update the configuration variables in Apps Script
3. Run the script: Select function and execute.
4. Monitor progress: Check the data sheet for completion and any errors

Limitations & Important Notes

Google Workspace Limits

• Email limit: 100 emails per day for standard Gmail accounts. Use different email with access
• Script timeout: Apps Script has execution time limits that may cause timeouts for large batches. Just rerun
• API quotas: Various Google API limits may apply.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Most errors will be visible in:

• Excel status sheet
• Apps Script execution logs

Common solutions:

• Re-run with different account: Sometimes using a different Google account with proper access permissions resolves issues
• Retry with same account: Simple retry often works for temporary timeouts
• Check permissions: Ensure the script has access to all required Google Drive folders and sheets

Typical causes of issues:

• Email daily limit reached (100 emails)
• Script execution timeout due to large batch size
• Permission/access issues with Google Drive folders
• Unaccounted edge cases in recipient data

Disclaimer

This tool was only written for the purpose of solving my own personal requirements.

I decided to make this public on GitHub because:

• It was useful for me, so maybe it'll be useful for others in the future.
• Future me might be thankful if I ever need to do this again.
• This README was generated with AI assistance. If you encounter any issues, please submit them as issue.

With that said, please bear in mind that this tool won't be actively maintained and your mileage may vary. I'm sure it's far from perfect so if you choose to use it please proceed with caution and be careful to verify the results! I hope it's helpful.

Disclaimer

This tool was only written for the purpose of solving my own personal requirements.

I decided to make this public on GitHub because:

• It was useful for me, so maybe it'll be useful for others in the future.
• Future me might be thankful if I ever need to do this again.

With that said, please bear in mind that this tool won't be actively maintained and your mileage may vary. I'm sure it's far from perfect so if you choose to use it please proceed with caution and be careful to verify the results! I hope it's helpful.

Good luck with your certificate generation.