4

I have a column of cells in a Google Spreadsheet with values such as:

512
2123
2342
3532

What I would like to do is convert all these into a hyperlink and keep the value as the link text:

http://www.example.com/id/{value}

...where {value} is the value of the cell. I know the format of a hyperlink in a Google spreadsheet but I don't want to do this manually every time I put in a number. I want a simple process that when I add a new row the contents of this column is turned into a link with the value I input.

I tried this:

=HYPERLINK(CONCATENATE("http://www.example.com/id/",A1);A1)

But I get:

error: Circular dependency detected

2

3 Answers 3

6

I wasn't able to reproduce your results. As a matter of fact, it worked perfectly.

enter image description here

What you tried to do is most probably the following:

In A1 you typed in =HYPERLINK(CONCATENATE("http://www.example.com/id/",A1);A1) and this yields an error of coarse.

Update

If you really want to get the result in A1, then you need to use a script.

Code

// global
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

function onOpen() {
  var menu = [{name: "create URL", functionName: "createURL"}];
  ss.addMenu("URL", menu);
}

function onEdit(e) {
  var activeRange = e.source.getActiveRange();

  if(activeRange.getColumn() == 1) { 
    if(e.value != "") { 
      activeRange.setValue('=HYPERLINK("http://www.example.com/id/'+e.value+'","'+e.value+'")');
    }
  }
}

function createURL() {
  var aCell = ss.getActiveCell(), value = aCell.getValue();
  aCell.setValue('=HYPERLINK("http://www.example.com/id/'+value+'","'+value+'")');  
}

Explained:

The e.value will retrieve the cells value (only applicable a cell). The setValue() will add the concatenated string into the getActiveRange(). All is only executed when e.value contains something and the active range is in column A.

I've created an extra menu option as well, to be able access the script this way.

Example:

I've created an example file for you: onEdit URL builder
Add this script via Tools>Script editor, into the script editor. Press the "bug" button and you can use the script.

8
  • Your right I did type it in A1. I want the link to appear in the same cell. So in my A column every time I type a number it will turn that into a link with the number appended to the url. Does that make sense? Oct 12, 2013 at 17:39
  • @KirillFuchs will it always be the same URL? Oct 12, 2013 at 18:04
  • 1
    @KirillFuchs I've added a script solution, that will yield the URL when entering a value in A1. Oct 12, 2013 at 19:05
  • 1
    Thank you, I was messing around with a script and mine was turning out to be some weird mess. This is a-lot simpler. PS: updated your script to output the HYPERLINK function :). Thank you again. Oct 12, 2013 at 19:31
  • 1
    @KirillFuchs See revised answer and example file. Good luck !! Oct 12, 2013 at 19:59
2

I modified Jacob's answer to be a little more flexible. Just copy & paste this script. A menu will get created with a macro "Convert Selected Cells To URLs". Says it all. Now select which cells, in the same column, you want converted to urls and click macro.

Script

// global
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

function onOpen() {

  var menu = [{name: "Convert Selected Cells To URLs", functionName: "createURL"}];
  ss.addMenu("My Macros", menu);

}

function createURL() {

  var range = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getActiveRange();
  if(range.getNumColumns() == 1) { 

    var numRows = range.getNumRows();

    for (var i = 1; i <= numRows; i++) {
      var value = range.getCell(i,1).getValue();
      range.getCell(i,1).setValue('=HYPERLINK("'+value+'","'+value+'")');
    }

  }

}
0

I found a way around it and no script needed. You just need to use another sheet.

See the updated sheet mentioned above for the working example.

=HYPERLINK(CONCATENATE("http://www.example.com/check-out.html?value1=",roundup('sheet2'!A1),"&value2=",$B30,"&value3",$C30),roundup('sheet2'!A1))

Hope this helps.

2
  • Isn't this what the OP tried in the question? Jan 15, 2015 at 8:53
  • Yeah but than if the other sheet is deleted, so are the links.
    – Donny V.
    Dec 18, 2018 at 19:24

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.