AppSheet Bootcamp

The aims of this exercise is to build a simple mobile app for Equipment Inspections using no-code platform Google’s AppSheet, for lookup and log equipment maintenance status.

Project Structure

1. Data Preparation

• Create a Google Sheet with the necessary columns (e.g., Equipment ID, Inspection Date, Status, Reason, etc).

2. App Creation

• Connect your Google Sheet to AppSheet.
• Set up the app's user interface, including forms for data entry and views for inspection records.
• Customize the app’s design to make it user-friendly.

3. Adding Features

• Define data validation rules for accurate data entry.
• Implement search and filter functionalities to easily find equipment.
• Set up automated workflows to send email notifications for failed equipments during inspections.
• Create reports summarizing inspection results over a specified period.

Step-by-Step Guide for AppSheet Bootcamp

1. Prepare Google Sheet.
2. Create AppSheet.
3. Interfacing Data Google Sheet.
4. User Interface.
5. Enhanced User Experience.
6. Automate Email Notification.
7. Email Notification with PDF Report Attachment.

1. Prepare Google Sheet (5 Steps)

1. Create a new folder named Equipment Inspections in your Google Drive.

2. Create a new Google Sheet in the folder.

3. Rename the Google Sheet title to Equipment Inspections

4. Rename the Sheet1 to Equipments and add the following columns:

• Equipment ID (Unique Identifier for each equipment)
• Name (Name of the equipment)
• Description (Brief description of the equipment)
• Image (Link to an image of the equipment)

5. Create the Inspections Sheet and add the following columns:

• Inspection ID (Unique Identifier for each inspection)
• Equipment ID (Reference to the Equipment ID from the Equipments sheet)
• Status (Inspection status, e.g., Passed, Failed)
• Reason (Reason for failure, if any)
• Date (Date of inspection)
• User Email (Email of the inspector)

2. Create AppSheet (10 Steps)

1. Go to AppSheet and click the Sign in link.

2. Choose Google as your login platform to AppSheet.

3. Sign in with your Google account.

4. Click the Continue button to continue.

You have successfully signed in to the AppSheet platform.

5. Click on the Create button and choose the Start with existing data option.

6. Provide the name for the app, Equipment Inspection.
7. Select the category Inspections & Surveys.

8. Select the data source Google Sheets

9. Select the Google Sheets that has been created on the previous exercise.

10. The app is ready, click the Customize with AppSheet to continue.

Great, let's build the app!

3. Interfacing Data Google Sheet (13 Steps)

1. Click the Data icon on the left menu and click the Add new Data icon to add Inspections data sheet from the Google Sheet.

2. Choose Google Sheets data source.

3. Navigate and select the Google Sheet.

4. Make sure the Inspections sheet is selected and click the Add 1 table button.

Good, the Inspections data is now available on the AppSheet.

5. Go the Equipments data, change the Description type from LongText to Text.
6. Click the Add virtual column, set up a reference column for Equipment ID to link it with the Equipments table.

7. Give name to the virtual column, Related Inspections and click on the App Formula field to add the reference function.

8. Copy this function REF_ROWS("Inspections", "Item ID") and paste it into the App Formula field.

9. Make sure the Column data type is List, Element type is Ref and Reference table name is Inspections.

10. Go to Inspections data and change the Equipment ID data type to Ref.

11. Click the edit icon on the Equipment ID, change the Source table to Equipments and click the Done button.

12. On the Equipment ID tick on the LABEL?

13. On the Reason change the TYPE to LongText.

13. Click the SAVE button to save the configuration.

4. User Interface

1. Navigate to Views menu, you can choose from the left panel.

2. On the View type section, choose card.

5. Enhanced User Experience

6. Automate Email Notification

7. Email Notification with PDF Report Attachment