Can you create a "seconds" timer in Google Sheets? - google-sheets

Question

Test Timer Spreadsheet
My understanding is that it isn't possible due to the limitations of Spreadsheet Settings > Calculations. I have successfully implemented Days, Hours, and Minutes into my timer - but it would be cool to have the Seconds as well.
Formulae:
=IFERROR(DAY(AH9-NOW()),0)
=IFERROR(HOUR(AH9-NOW()),0)
=IFERROR(MINUTE(AH9-NOW()),0)
*AH9 refers to the grey date cell in the timer
The Seconds timer isn't essential, more aesthetic - but I was interested to see if it was possible or not.

Answer 1

I have added some script into your workbook which does run a seconds timer.
The script that I have added is subject to the limitations of Apps Script run time but I have added various triggers in which should hopefully fire up the script once it has ended. I have also added a button to start the script as well but you may want to delete this out?
The script on its own will run for 4-5 mins, the triggers should set this so that there is only a small interval when the seconds won't be working.
Please note that to make this script run it needs to add a date into a cell - if you set A1 to colour black, you will see this there. The script will add this in if you delete it out so no real need to worry about leaving it there etc.
If you need to change the cell where this is, just change the global variable in the apps script project.
Hope this helps!!
The script I used was as below. The triggers that I used were a time driven trigger based on a minute timer then set it to every minute. As each function of the script works for 15 seconds, this creates a loop for a minute, which is triggered every minute.
I did play around but unfortunately I couldn't get the maths right to make it run for any longer :)...
var CELL_RANGE = 'A1'
function updateCell() {
for (i=0; i<15; i++){
Utilities.sleep(1000);
var date = new Date();
SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(CELL_RANGE).setValue(date);
SpreadsheetApp.flush();
updateCell1()
}
}
function updateCell1() {
for (i=0; i<15; i++){
Utilities.sleep(1000);
var date = new Date();
SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(CELL_RANGE).setValue(date);
SpreadsheetApp.flush();
updateCell2()
}
}
function updateCell2() {
for (i=0; i<15; i++){
Utilities.sleep(1000);
var date = new Date();
SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(CELL_RANGE).setValue(date);
SpreadsheetApp.flush();
updateCell3()
}
}
function updateCell3() {
for (i=0; i<15; i++){
Utilities.sleep(1000);
var date = new Date();
SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet().getRange(CELL_RANGE).setValue(date);
SpreadsheetApp.flush();
updateCell()
}
}