Support

Help with the Loan Tracker add-on for Google Sheets

Need help? Email tinyorbitapps@gmail.com. Tell us what you were doing, what you expected, and what happened, and include the exact message from the Status box if there was one. Please don't send your spreadsheet or real names and amounts.

Getting started

Create a new, blank Google spreadsheet.
Choose Extensions → Loan Tracker → Setup workbook and allow the permissions it asks for.
Check the Settings sheet for your currency and date format, then run Extensions → Loan Tracker → Apply settings. The tracker starts in US dollars. Changing the currency also switches the payment modes and reference labels, for example Zelle and Venmo for $, or UPI for ₹.
Add the people you lend to or borrow from in the People sheet.
Add your first entry (see below).

Want to look around first? Load sample data fills the tracker with made-up people and entries, and Clear sample data removes them again without touching your own data.

Adding an entry

On the Add Entry sheet (computer or phone)

Fill in the highlighted cells. Date, Person, Type and Amount are required.
Tick the Submit box. The row turns green while saving.
The Status box confirms the entry and shows the person's new balance, or explains what needs fixing.

In the sidebar (computer)

Choose Extensions → Loan Tracker → Add entry. The sidebar stays open, so you can add several entries in a row.

Entry types

Type	Use it when	Effect on balance
Gave	You lent someone money.	They owe you more.
Received	Someone lent you money.	You owe them more.
Settlement	A payment that clears all or part of what is outstanding. The amount is filled in for you, and you can lower it for a part payment.	Brings the balance towards zero. It cannot go past zero.
Record (money in / out)	Money that passed through you that you want to remember, but that is not a loan.	None.

Menu item	What it does
Add entry	Opens the entry sidebar.
Setup workbook	Creates the tracker in a blank spreadsheet. It never overwrites existing tracker sheets.
Apply update	Brings an existing tracker up to date with the latest layout and formulas. Your people and transactions are not changed.
Apply settings	Applies the currency, date format, locale and time zone from the Settings sheet.
Rename person	Renames someone everywhere, including in their past transactions.
Load / Clear sample data	Adds or removes example data.

Common questions

I ticked Submit but nothing happened

The Submit box needs a one-time setup that runs when someone with edit access uses Setup workbook, Apply update or Add entry from a computer. Open the spreadsheet on a computer, choose Extensions → Loan Tracker → Apply update, then try again. If it still does not work, use Add entry in the menu and contact us.

A person is missing from the Person list

Only people whose Status is Active in the People sheet are listed. Check the Status column for that person. In the sidebar, click Reload list after changing People.

"Nothing outstanding … nothing to settle"

A Settlement can only clear an existing balance, as of the entry's date. If you are lending or borrowing more, use Gave or Received instead.

How do I fix or remove an entry?

Edit or delete the row in the Transactions sheet. Balances, the Statement and the Dashboard update automatically. Leave the Entry ID and Entered On columns as they are.

Can I use it on my phone?

Yes, on the Add Entry sheet in the Google Sheets app. Add-on menus and sidebars are not available in the mobile apps, so setup, settings and the sidebar need a computer.

Can I rename the sheets?

No. The add-on finds the sheets by name, so renaming them stops it working. To rename a person, use Rename person in the menu rather than editing the name in People.

Can I share the tracker?

Yes, like any spreadsheet. Everyone you share it with can see all people and transactions in it.

How do I uninstall?

Choose Extensions → Add-ons → Manage add-ons and uninstall Loan Tracker. Your spreadsheet and data stay where they are.