Template / sample copying bug report

[Kirk_Masden]

I'm writing to report an issue with the copying of template apps (samples).  I've already reported this to support but I'd like to give others a heads up and I'll be happy if this post leads to a quick fix.

I first noticed the problem with a rather large app I made myself.  I thought that there might be something wrong with my app.  The same issue comes up, however, when I try to copy an official AppSheet template app.  Here's the app I copied:

https://www.appsheet.com/templates/Update-inventory-and-monitor-levels?appGuidString=722f8a69-cdbe-4...

I clicked on "Copy and Customize" and got this:

Then, this is what was in the app editor:

Note that three apps have errors: two are official AppSheet templates and the other is my own.  These templates cannot be opened in a phone using the AppSheet app at this point. In regard to the "Simple Inventory" template, all I had to do was open it in the editor and then it worked.  I was able to open it in the AppSheet app on my phone too after opening it in the editor.  If, however, I try to open an app like this directly in my phone without opening it in the editor first, if won't work.

This is a new problem.  Something in the AppSheet platform is funky.

By the way, in regard to this app:

https://www.appsheet.com/templates/Track-marketing-campaign-stages-and-budgets?appGuidString=253cd13...

Copying it produces an error (or errors) that cannot be fixed so easily.

Hoping for a quick fix.

By the way, as my primary objective is to share educational apps for free, the template function is extremely important to me.  For that reason, I written some "tips" about how to share an app as a template (and how to circumvent the app portfolio which is extremely slow) and how to use templates:

How to share your app as a template / sample app via your portfolio and/or a URL

https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Tips-Tricks/How-to-share-your-app-as-a-template-sample-app-v...

How to start using an app on your phone

https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Tips-Tricks/How-to-start-using-an-app-on-your-phone/m-p/4614...

By the way, why does the app portfolio take so long to load?  Conversely, "My Apps" loads quite quickly.  The difference is very big.

[WillowMobileSys]

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@Kirk_Masden wrote:

This is a new problem.  Something in the AppSheet platform is funky.

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Getting this problem on smaller apps is new and maybe the errors reported are different but I have been having this issue for years now when attempting to copy larger apps.  Sometimes I won't get anything in the My Apps list.  Other times it might take a very long while for it to show up.

In all cases, once the app is "copied" it has that warning indicator.  To resolve it, all I need to do is open the app in the Editor and then save it.  The warning indicator goes away and USUALLY the app functions normally.  I have found that some things don't always get copied ... such as PDF templates.

I have opened this problem to AppSheet a couple times ... a long time ago ... in a galaxy far ....

[WillowMobileSys]

FYI,  I just got the same behavior using the Create button on the My Apps page - a new app using existing data.

[Kirk_Masden]

I got a nice message from "support" saying that the issue has been escalated.   😀

[Kirk_Masden · Accepted solution]

The good people at support fixed the issue.  I should really give them the "solution" to this issue but since I'm the one who's posting I'll mark the post at the solution. 🙂