# Replacing Text In Google Doc

**URL:** <https://community.make.com/t/replacing-text-in-google-doc/108242>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** text-replace\
**Created:** [April 30, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.make.com/t/replacing-text-in-google-doc/108242 "2026-04-30T21:38:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KBjorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@KBjorge](https://community.make.com/u/KBjorge)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.make.com/t/replacing-text-in-google-doc/108242/1 "2026-04-30T21:38:31Z")

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### 🎯 What is your goal?

I want to replace placeholder text in Google Doc with input from Fillout Form. The Google Doc has titles like {{Name}}, {{CustomerID}}, etc.

### 🤔 What is the problem & what have you tried?

In the Google Docs replace text module, if I type those in to “old"text” they turn into black chips. What am I missing?

### 📋 Error messages or input/output bundles

BundleValidationError  
Validation failed for 4 parameter (s).  
Missing value of required parameter 'oldText.  
Missing value of required parameter 'oldText.  
Missing value of required parameter 'oldText.  
Missing value of required parameter 'oldText.

### 📸 Screenshots (scenario flow, module settings, errors)

 ![Screenshot 2026-04-30 at 2.37.56 PM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/make/original/3X/7/a/7ac7162681e700181bfc1039d8774659ef365d3c.jpeg)

 ![Screenshot 2026-04-30 at 2.32.15 PM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/make/original/3X/6/2/62a9d2b0a3a7b648b24536e686e78630b4e1fcf0.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mszymkowiak](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.make.com/mszymkowiak/32/41436_2.png) [@mszymkowiak](https://community.make.com/u/mszymkowiak)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://community.make.com/t/replacing-text-in-google-doc/108242/3 "2026-05-01T00:55:19Z")

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Hello,

Welcome to the community @KBjorge.

You’re not missing anything – Make automatically converts `{{}}` into tokens.

So when you type `{{oldText}}`, Make immediately turns it into a token/chip because it assumes you’re referencing a function. Since that variable doesn’t exist, it’s empty – and the request to Google Docs ends up trying to replace an empty tag.

## Two ways to solve it:

**Option 1 – Use the `replace` function:**

```auto
{{replace(replace("[[text1]]"; "[["; "{{"); "]]"; "}}")}}

```

This replaces `[[` with `{{` and `]]` with `}}` at execution time, so Make never sees the curly braces while you’re building and doesn’t convert them to a token on UI level.

 ![Zrzut ekranu 2026-05-1 o 02.37.08](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/make/original/3X/d/d/ddd3a50ec668b3c4b081d70ae68fe4ed5621c6d0.png)

**Option 2 – Ignore the token and type the Google Docs tag directly:**

 ![Zrzut ekranu 2026-05-1 o 02.53.17](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/make/original/3X/7/e/7e6d5094019eafe2526055203e5e48685fb8ef38.png)

How does it work?  
The token references a non-existing variable, so it will always be empty during processing – Make sends it as `{{text1}}` even if you see `{{`_`SOMETHING`_`yourTag}}`.  
You can also insert `{{emptystring}}` between `{{` and `text1}}` to split the tag so Make doesn’t convert it automatically.

 ![Zrzut ekranu 2026-05-1 o 02.48.03](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/make/original/3X/2/7/27e05eb35194d76ba49cc58720fec8a0f83e18ff.png)

A couple of things to watch out for: with option 1, make sure you use placeholder characters that won’t appear anywhere in your actual Google Docs tags. With option 2, make sure the variable name you’re using doesn’t actually exist in your scenario.

# Despite appearances, this situation comes up very, very rarely.

Have a nice day,  
Michal

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Make\_Bot](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.make.com/make_bot/32/14661_2.png) [@Make\_Bot](https://community.make.com/u/Make_Bot)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 9:18am UTC](https://community.make.com/t/replacing-text-in-google-doc/108242/4 "2026-05-19T09:18:11Z")

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