Mastering AppleScript If Statements

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is an if statement?
3. Syntax of an if statement
4. Comparing variables in an if statement
   1. Comparing for equality
   2. Comparing for inequality
   3. Greater than and less than comparisons
5. Combining conditions with logical operators
   1. The AND operator
   2. The OR operator
6. Multiple conditions with else if statements
7. The else statement
8. Recap of the if statement
9. Conclusion

What is an if statement and how to use it in Apps Script

An if statement is a crucial component in any scripting language. It allows You to compare two or more things and run a specific block of code Based on the outcome of the comparison. In this Apps Script tutorial, we will focus on the if statement and its usage.

Syntax of an if statement

The syntax of an if statement in Apps Script is as follows:

if (condition) {
    // Code to be executed if the condition is true
} else {
    // Code to be executed if the condition is false
}

The condition can be any expression that evaluates to either true or false. If the condition is true, the code within the if block will be executed. If the condition is false, the code within the else block will be executed.

Comparing variables in an if statement

Comparing for equality

To compare if two variables are equal, you can use the equality operator == or the strict equality operator ===. For example:

var var1 = 1;
var var2 = 2;

if (var1 == var2) {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is not equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is not equal to var2");
}

Comparing for inequality

To check if two variables are not equal, you can use the inequality operator != or the strict inequality operator !==. For example:

if (var1 != var2) {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is not equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is not equal to var2");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2");
}

Greater than and less than comparisons

You can also compare variables using the greater than (>), greater than or equal to (>=), less than (<), and less than or equal to (<=) operators. For example:

var var3 = 3;
var var4 = 4;

if (var3 > var4) {
    // Code to be executed if var3 is greater than var4
    Logger.log("var3 is greater than var4");
} else if (var3 < var4) {
    // Code to be executed if var3 is less than var4
    Logger.log("var3 is less than var4");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if var3 is equal to var4
    Logger.log("var3 is equal to var4");
}

Combining conditions with logical operators

You can combine multiple conditions using logical operators like the AND operator (&&) and the OR operator (||). These operators allow you to Create complex conditions for your if statements.

The AND operator

The AND operator returns true only if both conditions on its left and right are true. For example:

var var1 = 1;
var var2 = 2;
var var3 = 3;
var var4 = 4;

if (var1 == var2 && var3 != var4) {
    // Code to be executed if both conditions are true
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2 AND var3 is not equal to var4");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if any of the conditions are false
    Logger.log("One or both of the conditions are false");
}

The OR operator

The OR operator returns true if either one or both conditions on its left and right are true. For example:

if (var1 == var2 || var3 != var4) {
    // Code to be executed if either one or both conditions are true
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2 OR var3 is not equal to var4");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if both conditions are false
    Logger.log("Both conditions are false");
}

Multiple conditions with else if statements

In some cases, you may need to check multiple conditions using else if statements. This allows you to evaluate different conditions one by one until a true condition is found. For example:

if (var1 == var2) {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2");
} else if (var3 == var4) {
    // Code to be executed if var3 is equal to var4
    Logger.log("var3 is equal to var4");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if none of the conditions are true
    Logger.log("Neither condition is true");
}

The else statement

The else statement is used to run a block of code if none of the conditions in the if statement or the else if statements are true. It is optional and can be omitted if not needed. For example:

if (var1 == var2) {
    // Code to be executed if var1 is equal to var2
    Logger.log("var1 is equal to var2");
} else if (var3 == var4) {
    // Code to be executed if var3 is equal to var4
    Logger.log("var3 is equal to var4");
} else {
    // Code to be executed if none of the conditions are true
    Logger.log("Neither condition is true");
}

Recap of the if statement

To summarize, an if statement allows you to compare variables and execute specific blocks of code based on the outcome of the comparison. You can check for equality, inequality, and perform greater than and less than comparisons. Logical operators like AND and OR can be used to combine multiple conditions. Multiple conditions can also be checked using else if statements. The else statement is used to handle cases where none of the conditions are true.

In this tutorial, we have covered the basics of using if statements in Apps Script. With this knowledge, you can now add conditional logic to your scripts and perform different actions based on the conditions met.

Conclusion

Understanding how to use if statements in Apps Script is essential for building powerful scripts that can make decisions based on specific conditions. By using if statements, you can control the flow of your code and execute different blocks based on the outcomes of comparisons. It is a fundamental concept in programming and will greatly enhance your ability to create robust scripts.

Remember to practice and experiment with different conditions and logical operators to fully grasp the concept of if statements. Happy coding!