Quick answers to common questions.
Q: What is TransacFlow?
A: Automatically logs bank transaction emails from Gmail to Google Sheets.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: $0. Completely free forever.
Q: Is my data safe?
A: Yes. Everything runs in YOUR Google account. No external servers.
Q: What banks work out-of-the-box?
A: HDFC, Axis, ICICI, SBI, IndusInd, OneCard, Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe.
Q: How long to set up?
A: 5 minutes. Open Extensions → Apps Script, paste 2 files, update Sheet ID, run setup.
Q: Do I need coding skills?
A: No. Just copy-paste code and change one line (Sheet ID).
Q: What's a container-bound script?
A: It's an Apps Script project linked directly to your Google Sheet. Enables custom menus and better integration.
Q: What permissions needed?
A: Read Gmail + Read/Write Google Sheets. Standard permissions for your own account.
Q: Can I undo permissions?
A: Yes. Google Account → Security → Third-party apps → Remove access.
Q: Where's the custom menu?
A: After setup, refresh your sheet. You'll see 📊 TransacFlow in the menu bar.
Q: How often does it run?
A: Every 10 minutes automatically.
Q: Does it process old emails?
A: Yes. Last 90 days by default (configurable in Config.gs).
Q: What about duplicates?
A: Automatically prevented. Each email logs once only.
Q: Can I run it manually?
A: Yes. Run processTransactionEmails() anytime.
Q: Will it mark emails as read?
A: Yes by default. Set MARK_EMAILS_AS_READ = false to keep them unread.
Q: My bank isn't listed. What do I do?
A: Add it in 5 minutes. See CUSTOMIZATION.md.
Q: Can I change currency?
A: Yes. Edit CURRENCY_SYMBOL and CURRENCY_CODE in Config.gs.
Q: How do I nickname my cards?
A: TransacFlow creates "Account Nicknames" sheet. Edit "Custom Nickname" column - all transactions update automatically!
Q: Can I change the columns?
A: Yes. Edit SHEET_HEADERS in Config.gs (not recommended for v1.0).
Q: Can I filter emails better?
A: Yes. Adjust EMAIL_SEARCH_DAYS or switch to MANUAL search mode.
Q: "No emails found"
A:
- Increase
EMAIL_SEARCH_DAYSin Config.gs - Run
debug_EmailSearch()to see what exists - Check if you have transaction emails in Gmail
Q: "Could not parse transaction"
A:
- Run
debug_ShowRawEmail()to see email content - Your bank might need a custom pattern
- See CUSTOMIZATION.md
Q: "SHEET_ID not configured"
A: Update line 25 in Config.gs with your Sheet ID.
Q: Transactions missing date/merchant/amount
A:
- Set
LOG_LEVEL = 'DEBUG'in Config.gs - Run
test_SingleEmail()to see what's extracted - Adjust bank pattern if needed
Q: Automation stopped working
A:
- Check Triggers panel in Apps Script (⏰ icon)
- Re-run
setupAutomation()if trigger missing - Check Executions panel for errors
Q: How many emails can it process?
A: 50 per run (every 10 min) = ~7,200/day.
Q: Google quota limits?
A:
- Gmail: 20,000 emails/day
- Execution: 6 minutes per run
- More than enough for personal use
Q: Will it slow down my Gmail?
A: No. Minimal API calls, efficient searching.
Q: Who can see my data?
A: Only you. Everything stays in your Google account.
Q: Does data leave Google?
A: No. Never. All processing happens in Google Apps Script.
Q: Is the code open source?
A: Yes. MIT License. Inspect every line on GitHub.
Q: Can I trust it?
A: Script runs in YOUR account with YOUR permissions. You control everything.
Q: Can I add custom logic?
A: Yes. Code.gs is organized with comments. Modify as needed.
Q: Can I export data elsewhere?
A: Yes. Your sheet can sync to Excel, database, etc. via Sheets API.
Q: Can I run it for multiple accounts?
A: Create separate script projects for each Google account.
Q: Can I process PDFs or attachments?
A: Not yet. v1.0 focuses on email text only.
Q: How can I help?
A:
- Star the repo ⭐
- Add your bank pattern
- Report bugs
- Share feedback
Q: How do I submit my bank pattern?
A: Fork repo → Add to BankPatterns.gs → Submit PR. See CONTRIBUTING.md.
- 📖 Read: SETUP.md | CUSTOMIZATION.md
- 🐛 Report bug: GitHub Issues
- 💬 Ask: GitHub Discussions