Ability to upload table definitions, and column settings, as json files or yaml file

[Daniel_Turner]

The amount of time it takes to change table settings, column valid if formulas, show if, etc… is so frustrating. It would be easier to define the setting in a json format and upload.

[LeventK]

In a way it’s possible actually. Provided you define key settings within a note in a JSON format with using the allowable AppSheet parameters before creating an app with that sheet or importing that sheet to AppSheet, AppSheet automatically read and set them in the column structure. There’s no documentation for this unfortunately and not sure if it’s advised or not. However, it’s possible up to a certain extent.

[Daniel_Turner]

Wait, are you saying add a note to a googlesheet, with the json in it? But this can only be done upon table creation, you can not use this method to update settings?

[GreenFlux]

I can’t find the main post I was thinking of, but here are a few others that mention this hidden feature.

Appsheet pulls Notes from Google Sheets header Questions

It is a feature, but a very obscure one.We needed a way to transmit information from the Google Sheets plug-in to AppSheet when doing type inference when creating the AppSheet app. Using the comments to do that is a bit kludgy but it was the best mechanism we could devise.

Google Forms Integrations: Best Practices Tips & Tricks 💡

It’s great topic you got here and this discussion is as complement to the reference document, Since, I believed, only few topics were asking about Google Forms in this community and not all is available in the reference document. And in addition also, if someone already gone ahead updating AppSheet in the editor and want to do something else other than re-launching the Add-Ons, than a manual changes need to be made to the connected sheet header note, like below: [image] Changing the…

[LeventK]

@Daniel_Turner
Something like this for example:

Attributes_4{ Type = Enum
TypeAuxData = {
  "EnumValues": [],
  "AllowOtherValues": true,
  "AutoCompleteOtherValues": true,
  "BaseType": "Text",
  "BaseTypeQualifier": "{\r\n  \"MaxLength\": null,\r\n  \"MinLength\": null,\r\n  \"LongTextFormatting\": \"Plain Text\",\r\n  \"IsMulticolumnKey\": false,\r\n  \"Valid_If\": null,\r\n  \"Error_Message_If_Invalid\": null,\r\n  \"Show_If\": null,\r\n  \"Required_If\": null,\r\n  \"Editable_If\": null,\r\n  \"Reset_If\": null,\r\n  \"Suggested_Values\": null\r\n}",
  "EnumInputMode": "Stack",
  "Valid_If": "=SELECT(Tags[DELIVERY],ISNOTBLANK([ID]))",
  "Error_Message_If_Invalid": null,
  "Show_If": null,
  "Required_If": null,
  "Editable_If": null,
  "Reset_If": null,
  "Suggested_Values": null
}

A couple of years ago, there was an Aussie community guy, Jarrod, who had a bit aggressive mood and therefore banned from the community and he was very much obbessed with this. He had nearly begged me to construct a script/webhook for it. After his ban from the community, he had worked with some Indy coders but later on I believe his account was totally banned in AppSheet.

[GreenFlux]

LeventK:

A couple of years ago, there was an Aussie community guy, Jarrod, who had a bit aggressive mood and therefore banned from the community and he was very much obbessed with this. He had nearly begged me to construct a script/webhook for it. After his ban from the community, he had worked with some Indy coders but later on I believe his account was totally banned in AppSheet.

THAT’S why I can’t find the posts! I knew there were other posts about this.

[LeventK]

@GreenFlux
Those posts were when this community was in Google Groups page. Not sure if the dev staff had imported all the google posts to discourse. Before that group was closing, I had created a publicly available Firebase webapp. Let me find the URL for ya. May be they are there - not sure though.

[GreenFlux]

I was in the Google + group for the last year or so. Are all those posts still accessible? It would be cool if they were archived somewhere.

[LeventK]

@GreenFlux
I have found the gSheet back-end of the app he had added me that time (though the app seems doesn’t exist anymore) but I took a copy of the sheet and here it is…Check the JSONs in the column headers

docs.google.com

Copy of leventjson

json100 TEMPLATE_ID,SECTION1,DO1,DQ1,DQT1,DO2,DQ2,DQT2,DO3,DQ3,DQT3,DO4,DQ4,DQT4,DO5,DQ5,DQT5,DO6,DQ6,DQT6 TEMP001,1,Has a site inspection audit been undertaken?,Yes/No,2,Employee that undertook Audit?,Yes/No,3,Is the safety policy on site and...

[LeventK]

@GreenFlux
Here ya go:

accounts.google.com

Sign in - Google Accounts

[Jonathan_S]

lol seriously.

[LeventK]

@GreenFlux
Here is my firebase webapp for the oldie goldie G+ community. You need to sign in with your Google account but I believe I may need to add your email to the auth pane as well. If somehow you can’t, just DM me with your email address, I will add for sure.

test-project-aeed8.firebaseapp.com

G+ Community

[LeventK]

Jonathan_S:

lol seriously.

For what @Jonathan_S?

[LeventK]

Daniel_Turner:

Wait, are you saying add a note to a googlesheet, with the json in it?

Yes, exactly

Daniel_Turner:

But this can only be done upon table creation, you can not use this method to update settings?

Provided you open the AppSheet Editor and directly regenerate the column structure, I believe your changes to those JSON notes will be applied. But updating column structure with this method could be quite messy and tricky. I have never tried myself.

[Jonathan_S]

Story about guy getting banned. must’ve been pretty disruptive

[Grant_Stead]

Dang… Dredging up the past… Hehehe, love it…