Apps script wont let me use (row, column) notation with sheet.getRange

Question

var range = sheet.getRange(i, 1);

It only lets me use

var range = sheet.getRange('A1');

otherwise it gives me error message

Exception: The parameters (String,number) don't match the method signature for SpreadsheetApp.Spreadsheet.getRange. addStats

Answer 1

The error message tells that the variable sheet does not refer to a sheet (tab) in the spreadsheet but to the whole spreadsheet.

The .getRange('A1') method exists with both sheet and spreadsheet objects. With a spreadsheet object, the method gets a range in the sheet that shows as the first one in the tab bar of the spreadsheet. The .getRange(1, 1) method, however, is only available with sheet objects.

To get a sheet object, use SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet() or similar methods, like this:

 const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();