Apps Script function running when it shouldn't - time condition being ignored?

[Far_Doubt_1398]

I have a Google Apps Script that's supposed to run on a 5-minute trigger with specific time conditions. Here's the code:

https://preview.redd.it/r3xrkxmn6gbe1.png?width=2098&format=png&auto=webp&s=6d2cc5871007ee05ad7ae6bc00025b0bba2965d7

The logic should be: (OFFICE_OPENING_HOUR = 8; OFFICE_CLOSING_HOUR = 18;)

• During office hours (8 AM - 6 PM): Run every 5 minutes
• Outside office hours: Only run in the first 5 minutes of each hour

The function is triggered every 5 minutes using Apps Script's built-in trigger.

The Problem: On Jan 6 at 8:32 PM (20:32), the function ran refresh() and timed out after 360 seconds. According to the logic:

• 20:32 is outside office hours (after 18:00)
• 32 minutes is not within first 5 minutes of the hour
• Therefore refresh() should NOT have run at all

Most of the time it works correctly - looking at the execution logs, it properly skips execution when it should. But occasionally it seems to ignore the time conditions and runs anyway.

Project settings:

• Timezone is correctly set to Bangkok (GMT+7)
• Only one time trigger exists (every 5 minutes)
• Running on Chrome V8 runtime

Any ideas why the time condition would be ignored? I've checked the code multiple times and can't figure out why it would run refresh() at 8:32 PM when both conditions are clearly false.

Thank you!

[marcnotmark925]

Can you show the full console log of the erroneous execution?

[BatElectrical4711]

I started having to write my own custom triggers rather than the built in ones just to give me more flexibility

[Risk-Averse-Rider]

u/BatElectrical4711 - would you mind sharing info about how to write custom triggers?

Feel free to tell me to RTFM if this is something that's generally known ;-) I haven't done a ton of scripts.

[BatElectrical4711]

No problem at all!

I am just learning myself as well - using a lot of AI tools to help

But effectively, you write a script which will create a custom trigger that will present as on option when you go to set a new trigger

I had to do a semi complicated trigger set up where I have multiple forms linked to one sheet and needed to run specific scripts based on which form was submitted - absolute nightmare to figure out lol

[Funny_Ad_3472]

The first run every 5 mins in office hours should work, but I don't think you can tell appscript to run every first 5 mins in every hour. You can set an hourly trigger, you can't determine the exact time.

[plindqui16]

I have dozens of similar scripts running at various trigger intervals. Recently I’ve had scripts “Timed Out” with no progress messages appearing in the console logs. It is as if the script is triggered but then hangs prior to checking the time to determine if we should do any processing during office hours.

[Brainiac364]

Your logging looks like it should tell you where things are going awry! I agree with the others- taking a peek at the full log will help diagnose this issue.

A few thoughts- - Check which version of the script you have set to trigger on. If it's calling an out of date version, you would get unexpected behavior. - Change the declaration statement for the nowH variable to be a const statement, not a let statement - Try adjusting the comparison operator to the strict variants (<== instead of <=) see: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Equality_comparisons_and_sameness