Error with Google Sheets and Scripts and phone number with spaces (javascript)

Question

I have a column with phone numbers.

Most of them have a "normal" format -> 999111999111

Then, I have some numbers in the format +65 999 222 999 222, and google sheets is returning "Formula parse error" and showing #ERROR. even if the value can be seen if you click on it.

I can fix it by manually deleting the spaces, but need to automate it.

When in google scripts I use.getvalue(), automatically get the #ERROR. string and can´t manipulate the string using regex.

Any idea how can I fix the error?

Answer 1

Use the built-in Find & Replace feature activate the Use Regular Expressions checkboxes to replace all the starting + (the regular expression to use is ^\\+ ). It's opt to you to replace them by an empty string (just left the replace box empty) or replace it by '+ in order to force that the cell value be parsed as text instead of a formula.

An alternative from the side of Apps Script is to use getFormula instead of getValue .

Answer 2

Find ^ (start of line) and replace with ' (denoting that the following is a string and not to be parsed)

Make sure to check "search using regex" and "inside formulas".

Answer 3

Just use find and replace and change =+ with '+