Quick start: Create your first app by using an AppSheet database

 In this Quick Start, you'll learn how to create an AppSheet app by using an AppSheet database.

An AppSheet database provides an easy and efficient way to build data models for any AppSheet app without needing to use an external data source solution such as cloud-based spreadsheets or databases. See What is an AppSheet database?

After completing this quick start tutorial, you'll have a better understanding of how to do the following:

• Create and customize a new AppSheet database by using existing data in a Google Sheet.
• Create an AppSheet app by using an AppSheet database.
• Customize the app by adding a table and a configuring a view to display the data.
• Regenerate the app when changes are made to the connected data source.

To create your first app from an AppSheet database, perform the following steps:

1. Create an AppSheet database by importing a Sheet.
2. Add a reference between tables.
3. Change the label column of the referenced table.
4. Create an app by using the AppSheet database.
5. Add a table to the app.
6. Add a view to display the new table data.
7. Preview your app.
8. Update the database and regenerate your app.

Create an AppSheet database by importing a Sheet

To create an AppSheet database by importing a Sheet, perform the following steps.

1. Make a copy of this public Google Sheet and rename it as My Project Tracker.
   Notice that it has two tables, Tasks and Owners. For more information about copying a Google Sheet, see Create, view, or download a file.
2. Sign in to AppSheet.
3. Select Create > Database > Import from Sheets.
   
   
4. Navigate to and select the Sheet that you copied in step 1.
   
   After selecting the Sheet, a new AppSheet database is created by importing data from the Sheet and opened in the database editor. Its name defaults to the name of the Sheet from which it was copied (My Project Tracker). 
   If you have pop-ups blocked in your browser settings, the new AppSheet database might not be opened in the database editor after it is created. In this case, you'll need to click Databases in the top navigation and then click My Project Tracker to open it in the database editor.
   
   
   
   As shown in the following figure, both of the tables, Tasks and Owners, were imported and appear as tabs in the AppSheet database editor. Select a table's tab to view and manage its column and row data, and create an app.
   
   

If this is the first time you are accessing the AppSheet database editor, you might see one of the following dialogs:

• Welcome to AppSheet databases dialog. Click Get started to close the dialog.
• Dialog to step through a tour. Click Start tour to navigate through the tour or Skip to skip it.

Add a reference between tables

Next, you'll add a reference to the Owners table from the Tasks table. This reference allows you to display owner information from the Owners table in a field in the Tasks table.

To add a reference between tables, perform the following steps:

1. In the Tasks table in the AppSheet database, double-click the Owner column to edit its settings.
2. In the Text field, select Link to table > Reference.
   
   
3. Select Owners in the Table to reference list.
   
   
4. Click Save.
   A warning appears about changing the column type. In this example, the data in this column is compatible with the new column type so it's fine to proceed.
5. Click Yes.
   Note the reference icon  now appears in the Owner column header.
   
   The AppSheet database processes the reference and attempts to match the corresponding rows in the Owners table with the names in the Tasks table. Since the data in the Owners table matches, the AppSheet database populates the Owner column with the correct references to the Owners rows.
6. To test the reference, double-click a cell  in the Owner column and change it to another owner, such as Sarah. The contents of the drop-down is populated with owner information from the Owners table.
   
   

Change the label column of the referenced table

You can select a label column for any table in an AppSheet database. The label column allows you to specify which column you wish to appear in the referenced table. As shown in the following figure, instead of displaying the Name column from the Owners table in the Tasks table, you could display the Email column by setting the Email column as the label. 

To change the label column of the referenced table:

1. Click the Owners tab to display the table.
   
   
2. in the Email column header, select More  > Use column as label.
   
   

To confirm the current label column is Email:

• Note the label icon  appears in the Email column header.
  
  
• In the Tasks table note that the Owner column now displays the owner's email instead of their name.
  
  

Create an app by using the AppSheet database

After you've completed the AppSheet database customizations, create an AppSheet app by using the database by performing the following steps:

1. Click Apps in the top right corner of the database editor.
   
   
   
   The Apps using Tasks pane displays.
2. Click New AppSheet app.
   
   
   
   A new app is created using the selected table and opened in the AppSheet app editor. By default, the app is named using the table name: Tasks App 
   
   The following figure shows the app editor and its layout.
   
   
    

   As shown in the previous figure, the app editor includes three main areas that enable you to:

   • Navigate the app editor to select the section you want to customize.
   • Based on the section selected in the navigation bar, access the learning center (shown) and customize your app to change the styles, control how your data is presented or navigated, configure security requirements, and more.
   • Preview your live app to interact with and make changes. 
   You can also quickly track down warnings or errors in your app.
3. Click  in the tools panel.
   
   
   
   The Errors & Warnings dialog displays.
   
   
   
   This warning is displayed because the Tasks table has a reference to the Owners table, which hasn't been added to the app. 
4. Click Go to problem in the Errors & Warnings dialog.
   AppSheet navigates to the Data page, as shown in the following figure.
   
   
   
   Notice that the warning message is repeated, in context, and the Owner column is highlighted in the table. You'll add the Owners table in the next step, to resolve this issue.

Add a table to the app

To address the warning message in the UI, you'll add the Owners table to the app.

1. In the top header of the Data navigation pane, click +.
   
   
   
   The Add data dialog displays. 
2. In the Add data dialog, click AppSheet Database.
   
   
3. In the Select database dialog, select My Project Tracker. 
   
   
   
   Note that the Connected flag indicates that this data source is already in use by the app. 
4. In the My Project Tracker dialog, make sure that the Owners table is selected in the list with Update, Add, Delete permissions (it should be selected by default) and click Add to app to add the Owners table to your app.
   
   
5. Click the Owners table in the Data navigation pane.
   
   
6. Notice that there is a warning message that indicates that the Email column might contain personally identifiable information. This informational warning message is temporary and can be ignored.
   Table 'Owners' may contain sensitive data in column(s): Email
   In this case, AppSheet automatically turns on its PII setting for the Email column, which will prevent the information from being retained in the system logs. (To view the PII setting, you might need to scroll the configuration content in the center pane to the right.)
   
   

Add a view to display the new table data

Now that the Owners table has been added, you can create a view to display its data. You can choose from several different views types to display your data. In this case, you'll use a deck view to show information for each row in a "deck-of-cards" format.

1. Select Apps  > Views in the navigation bar.
   
   
   
   The Views page is displayed.
2. In the Data navigation pane, click + next to Primary Navigation.
   
   
   
   The Add a new view dialog is displayed.
3. Click Create a new view.
   
   
   
   A New View is created as shown in the following figure.
   
   
4. Edit the New View, as follows:
   • Change the View name field to Owners.
   • In the For this data drop-down, select Owners.
   • For View type, click deck.
   The updates are shown in the following figure.

    

   You might notice that the app preview, in the right pane, is updating as you make changes. You'll preview your changes in the next step. 
5. In the top level toolbar, click Save to save the changes to your app.
   
   
    
   Remember to save your app anytime you make changes!

You'll preview the app in the next step.

Preview the app

The app preview that is located in the right pane of the AppSheet app editor allows you to view and interact with your live app.

The following figure shows the various actions you can take in the app preview.

As highlighted in the figure, using app preview you can do the following:

• Turn on the Edit toggle to use the visual editing tools while previewing the live app. Turn off the Edit toggle to preview the live app without showing the visual editing tools.
• Preview the live app in mobile, tablet, or desktop format.
• Set the email to use when previewing the live app. See also Test apps.
• Access the view or table currently displayed. 

To interact with your live app, you might click the row for Tom to view the list of tasks and corresponding status and due date. 

Then, click Tasks in the primary navigation bar (shown for mobile devices in the following figure) to display tasks organized by their status.

You can continue to explore the app preview on your own.

Update the database and regenerate your app

In the following steps, you'll learn how to regenerate the AppSheet app when changes are made to the connected data source.

1. Return to the browser tab that shows the AppSheet database editor. 

2. In the Due Date column header, click More  > Edit column.
   Alternatively, you can double-click the Due Date header.
   
   

3. In the Type drop-down, select Date and Time > Date.
   
   
4. Click Save.
   The following confirmation is displayed:
   
   
5. Click Yes to proceed.
   After a few moments, the column values are updated to Date column types.
6. Return to the browser tab that shows the AppSheet app editor.
7. Select Data  in the navigation bar, and then select the Tasks table.
   
   
   
   Notice the following warning message is displayed:
   App Schema for table 'Tasks' is out of sync with the schema in AppSheet database. Please regenerate the table structure.
8. In the Tables toolbar in the center pane, click .
   
   
   
   A confirmation dialog displays.
9. Click Regenerate in the confirmation dialog to confirm the action.
10. Notice that the Due Date column type has changed to Date in the Tasks table.
    
    

Congratulations! You have created your first AppSheet app by using an AppSheet database, and learned how to customize your app and regenerate it when changes are made to the connected data source. 

What's next? You can access more quick starts to learn about other AppSheet features.