App Sheet is a no-code development platform that is used for application software in order to allows users to create mobile, tablet and web applications by using data sources such as Google Drive, Drobox, Office 354 and various other cloud-based database and spreadsheet platforms.  AppSheet can be used for many functions such as project management, field inspections, personal reporting and customer relationship management as it allows you to build powerful mobile apps with the data that is collected from your spreadsheets.   AppSheet is an agile software type allowing you to create and deploy a number of multi-platform apps in real time whilst delivering a rich user experience with its amazing features.  You are able to collect data from any device and instantly sync it to the original data source using custom-built dashboards and automatic reports.

 

AppSheet Platforms

AppSheet apps run on iOS and Android devices and allows users to create apps directly from add-on spreadsheet platforms such as Google Sheets.  This platform is available from both a self-service model and a corporate licensing model for larger businesses and organisation’s.  AppSheet compatible data sources include:

 

• Google Sheets
• Google Forms
• Microsoft Excelon Office 365
• Microsoft Excelon Dropbox
• Microsoft Excelon Box (company)
• Smartsheet
• Salesforce
• DreamFactory
• Microsoft SQL Server
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Amazon DynamoDB

 

 

^{What can AppSheet do?}

AppSheet has many capabilities and enables your Team to collect data more efficiently as well as streamline the data collection process by improving data gathering methods, logging GPS coordinates, capturing images, accepting signatures and scanning barcodes.  AppSheet allows its user to update and maintain existing data sets more efficiently and ensures safety and security.

What people use AppSheet for:

• Capturing of Images
• Logging of Locations
• Scanning Barcodes
• Delivering Notifications
• Generating Reports
• Sending Emails
• Building Dashboards
• Accepting Signatures
• Working Offline
• Installing Across all Devices
• Integrating Platforms
• Applying Logic

 

 

Features

Data Capture

AppSheet apps captures data in the form of images, signatures, geolocation and barcodes. Data is then automatically transferred to the cloud-base or alternatively users can opt to manually sync the data at any time that they choose. Data capturing is commonly used for field or equipment inspections, safety inspections, reporting, and inventory management.

Data Collaboration

Data that is synced and shared allows users to collaborate with each other across various mobile or desktop devices and workflow rules can also trigger notifications and work-based assignments when needed. An added benefit is that Offline access is also possible due to the fact that data storage is localized to the device and synced once your internet connectivity has returned.

Data Display

AppSheet has the power to display data in graphical and interactive formats with common data views such as tables, forms, maps, charts, calendars, and dashboards. Each app is able to hold multiple views that consist of data from a number of different sources.

Declarative Programming Model

The AppSheet platform allows users to declare the logic of the app’s activity so that they are able to customize the app’s user experience rather than use traditional code. This level of abstraction trades a granular level of customization that is available through hard code to increase efficiency, scalability and security.

 

Security

AppSheet’ s platform is verified as SOC2 compliant and allows data that is stored on a user’s device to sync with another users app and make changes to send to the AppSheet web service over an encrypted protocol.  The changes are then applied by AppSheet in a backend spreadsheet.  Thereafter the latest version of the spreadsheet is read and sent back to the mobile AppSheet security is based on:

 

• Authentication that allows you to identify the users of your application.
• Application access control which allows you to control who can run your application.
• Data access control which allows you to control what type of data each user is able to see.
• Auditing which allows you to monitor application use.

 

How to install AppSheet

 

Chrome and Firefox on Android

Chrome has features that allow AppSheet to detect whether or not it has been installed onto a user’s device. This can significantly simplify the overall installation process for the user. If AppSheet has already been installed onto your device, then you are able to tap “INSTALL” to open the app and create a shortcut to your app on the user’s home screen. If AppSheet has not already been installed, then tap on the “INSTALL” icon.  This will take you directly to the Play Store where you will be able to install AppSheet.  Once you have opened AppSheet for the first time you will be taken to your app and a shortcut will then be place on your home screen. If you have an older model device, then AppSheet will not be able to automatically create a shortcut for you.  In this case the user has the option to create it by clicking on the red outlined “Having issues with creating shortcuts?” on the bottom right hand screen.  Tap on the green button saying, “OLD INSTALL”. Now you can follow the previous instructions to create a shortcut.

 

Other Browsers on Android

Once the user opens the link, they will be taken to a page and presented with two options. One option is for when AppSheet has already been installed and the other option is for when AppSheet has not been installed.  If AppSheet has not been installed, then the user can install is from the Play Store.  Once this is done the user will be taken to their app once they have opened AppSheet and a shortcut to the app will be placed on the home screen.  Is AppSheet has already been installed then tapping on the second button will launch AppSheet and create a shortcut on the user’s home screen.

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How to use AppSheet

First Prepare your data.

Select the data that you want to use from any data source such as Google Sheets, SmartSheet, Excel and various others. Make sure that the top row is in your header so that AppSheet can understand the data that you are wanting to select.

Connect your data to AppSheet to create an app

Connect your cloud drive to AppSheet and then select the file that you want to use to in order to create your App. If the app is deleted, the data will still remain in your cloud drive.  You are always able to keep control of your data when using AppSheet.

 

Choose how your app uses your data

Your app will automatically generate and use the data in your column header as fields that determine how the app captures and displays data. You are able to  navigate to the data section of the editor and select the Column tab to edit the properties of each column. You can also click the Slices tab and create smaller data sets from your main data source.

Choose how your app presents the data you need

AppSheet has custom views that allow you to turn generic spreadsheet or database rows into impressive and dynamic tables, charts, calendars, galleries and more and allows you to create up to five easily accessible views along the bottom of your app by using your existing data sources and slices.  You can also add additional views to your menu if you need to as well as use the remaining brand and format tabs to customize the visual formatting of your app.

Add actions, workflows and reports

With AppSheet you are able to add actions which will help you to quickly navigate or make changes to your app’s data. You are also able to create workflows that are based on specific conditions to trigger communications, data edits and updates or utilize reports in order to send out automated reporting at regular intervals.

Test your app with other users

You are now able to invite other users to test your app. You can do this by sending them a personalized email invitation that comes directly from the AppSheet editor. Users will get instructions on how to load the app onto their mobile device or browser and when this app has been created and install email will arrive in your inbox.

 

 

Deploy and share your app

After you are done with changes to the app make it live by marking it as deployed so that all the services in the app can be activated. You are now able to share it through the share tab in the editor as well as track usage of the app in the Manage tab.

 

Improve and advance your app

You are able to improve your app and utilize advanced features such as Smart Assistant voice-based searches. You can even add additional data by connecting more files or create additional apps or update the app in real-time.  AppSheet users will always have access to the latest versions of the app and will not need to reinstall

 

Pros

Synchronization of data from spreadsheets.

Extremely user-friendly.

The user can update live from One Drive data sources.

Excellent layouts for using own data.

Informative YouTube instruction videos.

A strong and encouraging community.

Live webinars provided to help users to walk through different actions.

 

Cons

No personal support. Any questions you may have using the platform are solved through their community and instruction videos.

Still come bugs that need to be worked on by developers due to the number of variables that AppSheet has to account for in any app.

 

AppSheet Pricing

 

Premium – $5 per user per month   Powerful data control and user management that is able to your desktop data into robust mobile applications. Features: Forms, Quick Edits & UX Displays Features: Calendar, Maps, Galleries & Table Views Features: Interactive Dashboards & Charts Features: Email, SMS & Push Notification Workflows Features: Custom Branding & Format Rules

Business – Custom pricing per year   AppSheet Business Subscriptions are perfect for companies that are looking to go from a single app, or a one-team use app to a multi-team, multi-app enterprise application. Pro & Premium has every AppSheet feature that is available across all the other options.

Pro – $10 per user per month   The Pro Plan offers: Advanced Features like High-precision Geocoding, Barcode scanning, Smart Assistant and Scheduled Reports.

 

I you are a developer that is looking at bringing an application to the market as quick as possible or if you are just trying to run your business as well as you can AppSheet can very beneficial to the end user.  AppSheet has declared that their mission is to empower people to create apps themselves and then be able to incorporate these apps into their teams.