Copy app without copying data, AND without linking to source app?

[GreenFlux]

Is it possible to copy an app without copying the data, in a way that DOESN’T link back to the original sheet?

Make a copy of the data for the new app
This copies the entire sheet(s) and all records

Unchecked
This creates a copy of the app that’s linked to the first app’s sheet(s).

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But what if you want to copy the app without the data, and have it create an empty sheet with only the column names?

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I have an app with ~4GB of images in one folder, which makes creating a backup copy VERY slow, and it usually times out or fails to copy with some kind of server error. I just want to backup the functionality of the app, not all the data. Is this possible?

[Aleksi]

I’m afraid that’s not possible at this moment. Sometimes it would be a good feature though.

[GreenFlux]

Thanks @Aleksi. I found similar feature request to copy app and generate mock data.

Feature Request

Either of these would be really helpful for making a backup copy when you don’t want to copy the source app’s records. The app I’m trying to copy fairly simple, yet nearly impossible to copy because it times out while copying all the images. There should be an easy way to backup the app’s definition without duplicating the data.

[Mohammed_Sarakb]

Maybe you could try these steps:

1. Copy the app without the data (this should make the new app linked to the original sheet(s)

2. Create new empty sheet(s) with similar table names and columns.

3. Link the new app’s tables to the new sheet(s) by changing the data source of each table:

How to change data source without changing the app Questions

I have an app with the data source set as Google Sheets but due to personal reasons I want to change the data source to Microsoft 365 Excel. I want everything in the app to remain the same(schema, slices, form structure, etc.), only where the data is pulled from or pushed into should change. Hope I get some help. Thanks.