While using Google Sheets, you may encounter situations where certain formulas continue to display old reports even after the master values have been updated.

This can be frustrating, especially when you need the data to be up-to-date for decision-making. In such cases, manually cutting and repasting the formula can be time-consuming and inefficient.

To address this issue, you can automate the process of refreshing formulas at regular intervals using Google Apps Script.

One common scenario where this issue arises is when using the IMPORTRANGE function to import data into your sheet. Such functions often cache the data, leading to outdated results.

To automatically refresh these formulas, you can create a custom function using Google Apps Script.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to automating formula refresh in Google Sheets:

1. Identify the Formula to Refresh: Determine which formula in your sheet needs to be refreshed automatically. For example, let’s say you have a formula in cell A2 of a sheet named ‘Data Validation’ that needs to be refreshed.

2. Write the Google Apps Script Function:

function refreshFormula() {
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName(’Data Validation’);
var formulaCell = sheet.getRange(’A2’); // Assuming the formula is in cell A2

// Get the formula from the specified cell
var formula = formulaCell.getFormula();

// Clear existing formula
formulaCell.clear({contentsOnly: true});

// Reapply the formula
formulaCell.setFormula(formula);
}

This function retrieves the formula from cell A2, clears the existing formula, and then reapplies it, forcing a refresh.

3. Run the Script Automatically: You can set up a trigger to run the `refreshFormula` function at regular intervals. To do this, go to **Extensions > Apps Script** in your Google Sheets menu. Then, paste the function code into the Apps Script editor and save it.

Next, click on the clock icon in the Apps Script editor to set up a trigger. Choose the `refreshFormula` function, set the trigger to run at the desired interval (e.g., every hour), and save the trigger.

4. Test the Automation: After setting up the trigger, make a change to the master data that should trigger a formula refresh. Wait for the trigger to run (based on the interval you set) and check if the formula in cell A2 has been refreshed automatically.

By following these steps, you can automate the refreshing of formulas in Google Sheets, ensuring that your data is always up-to-date without the need for manual intervention.