How do I deselect an active cell when clicking on an image to run a script?

Question

I have a spreadsheet-bound script that is invoked by clicking an image in the spreadsheet. I\'ve found that the script can be blocked if a cell that it needs to modify is active

Answer 1

Another "solution" to this is not to use a button, but use a check mark as if it we a button, and use the onEdit function.

function onEdit(e)
{
 
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

  checkbox1 = ss.getRange("saveCheckbox_001");
  if (checkbox1.isChecked())
  {
    submit1(); //do all the fun stuff associated with this checkbox
    checkbox1.uncheck();
  }

  //more checkbox handling and calling other functions can go here if you need more than one "button"

}

Answer 2

I had the same problems, both the initial one and with the solution proposed by Mogsdad.

I resolved it the following way:

Before running any of the script, the first three lines get a different sheet opened and the spreadsheet gets flushed:

var spreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
  spreadsheet.setActiveSheet(spreadsheet.getSheetByName('DIFFERENT SHEET NAME'), true);
  SpreadsheetApp.flush();

The rest of the script follows.

Then at the end of the script, I reopen the initial sheet with a simple:

spreadsheet.setActiveSheet(spreadsheet.getSheetByName('ORIGINAL SHEET NAME'), true);

Answer 3

You can use Sheet.setActive() to move the attached user's cursor to a different location in the spreadsheet. You need to remember that there is a relationship between the User Interface and scripts invoked from it, which is what allows the script to determine and change the currently active cell. This does not extend to the multiple user case, though - if User1 is editing the guarded cell when User2 clicks to run the script, the script will have no idea about it.

function newf() {
  var safePlace = "A1"; // Some safe cell
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var sheet = ss.getSheets()[0];
  var activeCell = ss.getActiveCell();
  if (activeCell.getSheet() == sheet && activeCell.getA1Notation() == "R4") 
    sheet.setActiveSelection(safePlace);
  var range = sheet.getRange("R4");
  var activeCell = ss.getActiveCell();
  if (activeCell.getA1Notation() == range.getA1Notation() && activeCell.getSheet().getName() == range.getSheet().getName()) {
    // Move user from target cell
    sheet.setActiveSelection(safePlace);
  range.clear();
}