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The following feature has been added to the Preview Program. Feel free to test the feature and report issues or possible improvements in this thread.
App users can now filter items from a collection of records based on column values.
The feature is available both on mobile devices and desktop computers.
Here is a very simple example. Your application has pastries that have a โpriceโ and a โtypeโ (Sweet vs Savory). In a view that shows all pastries, app users can now filter to see only the ones that are Savory and that cost less than $3.99.
How do app creators enable this?
- Go to your Data Schema and make sure the โSearchโ toggle is turned on for each column that app users should be able to consider
- Save your application
App users will see the feature after their next sync.
How do app users work with it?
- After itโs been enabled by the app creator and after app users have synced their app, app users can click on the Search icon
- In the search bar, app users click on the filter icon (icon screenshot here)
- This opens the filtering widget
- App users can then specify filtering values for each column
- App users click โDoneโ to get back to the view with the results
See screenshots below for visual details.
What are the supported views?
Only collection views are supported, namely:
- Card, Deck, Gallery, Table, Map*, Calendar, Chart
The filtering mechanism currently does not support multiple tables at the same time. As a result, filtering on the Dashboard View is currently not available. Similarly, in the Map View it is only possible to filter records of the primary table, but not of the secondary table.
What are the supported data types?
- Text
- Enum
- REF
- LongText
- Name
- ScanText
- ChangeCounter
- Number
- PostalCode
- Address
- LatLong
- ChangeLocation
- DateTime
- ChangeTimestamp
- Percent
- Decimal
- Price
- Url
- File
- Image
- Drawing
- Signature
- Thumbnail
- Video
- Date
- Time
- Phone
- Color
- Progress
- Yes/No
Is the filter persistent?
If an app user sets up a filter on a view,
- After looking at individual records of that filtered list, going back shows the filtered list
- When the app user goes to another view of the same data set, the filter persists
Does it work offline?
Filtering works offline as it applies to the data that was downloaded to the device.
How does that relate to Security filters?
This is independent of security filters. Security filters allow only certain data to be downloaded to the device. This new feature filters data thatโs already been downloaded to the device.
This is such an incredible addition!!! One thing I noticed on Browser was that if you have a filter on, overlay action icons get cut off.
Filter Off
Filter On
Well done guys!
The following two recent features have been critical ones for me as well as most companies (small and large)โฆat least according to me:
-
Changing Column Widths:
Tables = More dataโฆ&โฆ Charts = Summarised data
These views will always be the โfoundationโ from where all views originate from. The 'back bone" of data anyalise for any companyโฆlarge and small. -
Filters:
Being able to review data is important (i.e. Tables and Charts)โฆbeing able to review the data you need โฆquicklyโฆ when you need to action somethingsโฆ is even more important!
Automation / AI are becoming popular for a reason.
Companies are realising having good products and access to good info & data is just not enough anymore.
They realise that success is defined in investing in data โusabilityโ and not just data โaccessabilityโ .
โฆBeing able to search and find data quickly โwhere everyโ and โwhen everyโ in the right hands makes the difference.
Access to lots of data and having a good product range is just not enough anymore.
โฆand who knows the power of โSearchโ more than โGoogleโ 
โฆand who knows the power of โAccesabilityโ more than Appsheet
So great to see that Appsheet is investing in its UI and viewโฆlike charts and tables.
Looking forward to what appsheet is planning next.
โHolding thumbsโ that new view types are on the horizon!
Our company (I think most companies) would love to see views in appsheets that have the similar benefits to views that have been their โbread and butterโ for years.
-
Pivot tables in excel / Matrix views in Power Bi:
Would be great to be able to do some data analyses within appsheet that already does a good job in collecting the info vs what these platforms are lacking in. We would love to not need to rely on too many platforms.
I have been trying to see how far I can push appsheet abillity to do aggregrated groupsโฆbut limitted at the moment
I was thinking that a simpler place to start would be to expand appsheet group aggregate structure a bit โฆ as groups already have a โpivot likeโ structure.
This is what I was thinking could be an option. Hopefully the picture is self explanatory.
I would then also have aggregates for the contatct group before order group
You get the idea.
I would make this an extra view call Table Matrix vs changing the existing Table view.
This way there less a risk of messing with the existing table view on apps that can not afford to work while exerimenting with new views.
I would then maybe even consider changing the editor a bitโฆ
Maybe create two view type sections within in the editorโฆlike below picture.
Top for existing views that are more likely to be bug free and the bottom for preview views.
This might be an easier option if view development is planing on being a key part of appsheet time. Also less hidden then the preview option toggle that I would think that only appsheet community realise are there.
I very sure that all of this is easier said then doneโฆbut it least it might help get the โcreative juicesโ flowing.
Really good work guys! Keep up the good work!
Remember โUI is kingโ โฆMicrosoft knew the value of this IBM didntโฆinteresting to see how things turned out in the end.
Googleโฆ as well as appsheet knew very early on that every user big or small needs to be a peotential customerโฆthe way tech is advancing and becoming easily accessableโฆnot just enterpriseโฆthat might have scaleโฆbut a slow to adopt new platforms in a ever competiting market.
Microsoft has good enterprise solutions as mentioned aboveโฆbut they slowโฆto realise they should not be limiting to focus on enterprise alone.
Google / Appsheetโฆcan bridge the Enterprise and Consumer Gap.
Maybe a good idea to consider moving the search box to the right side of the view where the search icon and filter widget is.
It also means that it does not overide the view display name.
As it is now you have to select the Search button on right, then go back to left to enter in the search criteria (which is now in front of the view display name) of which selecting the filter button again would take you back to the right.
I think it might make sence considering moving the search box to the right?
Then
