Creating an Application

You can create a SpreadsheetWeb application from an Excel workbook or a Google Sheets file. Both options are available from the Create New Application page in SpreadsheetWeb Hub.

This guide focuses on creating an Application with UI for use in the SpreadsheetWeb Designer. You can also use the same source files to create an API application without a user interface.

Before you create an application

Confirm that you are working in the correct workspace and that your account has permission to create applications. Prepare the following:

• A unique name for the application.
• An Excel workbook or a Google Sheets file that contains the calculation model.
• Named ranges for the cells and ranges that you plan to use as inputs, outputs, lists, or tables.

Named ranges are strongly recommended for both Excel and Google Sheets sources. SpreadsheetWeb analyzes defined names when it creates the application and makes them available for binding in Designer controls, events, and database operations.

• Single named ranges refer to one cell and are commonly used for individual inputs and outputs.
• List named ranges refer to a single row or column and are commonly used for selection lists.
• Table named ranges refer to a two-dimensional range and are commonly used for grids and table-based data.

Review the supported Excel formulas and Google Sheets formulas before creating the application.

Open the Create New Application page

1. Sign in to SpreadsheetWeb Hub.
2. Confirm the active workspace from the workspace selector.
3. Select Applications from the sidebar.
4. Select Create New Application.

Choose the application source

Enter the application name, then choose one of the source options at the top of the form.

Upload an Excel workbook

1. Select Upload Application File.
2. Enter the application name.
3. Drag the Excel file to the upload area or select the upload area to choose the file.
4. Optionally select Add Tags and assign one or more workspace tags.

The uploaded workbook is copied into SpreadsheetWeb and analyzed during application creation.

Choose a Google Sheets file

1. Select Choose From Google Sheets.
2. Enter the application name.
3. Connect a Google account when prompted. If a Google account is already connected, SpreadsheetWeb displays the connected account and provides a Use Another Account option.
4. Select Choose Google Sheet.
5. Choose a spreadsheet that the connected Google account can access.
6. Optionally add workspace tags.

If SpreadsheetWeb cannot refresh the Google Sheets connection, connect the Google account again and reopen the file picker. Confirm that the connected account still has permission to access the selected spreadsheet.

Choose the application type

Open the Create menu after selecting the source file.

• Application (with UI) creates an application that you can build and publish with SpreadsheetWeb Designer.
• API (without UI) creates an application intended for API-based calculations and integrations without a designed user interface.

Select Application (with UI) to continue with the Designer workflow described in this guide.

What happens after creation

SpreadsheetWeb processes the Excel workbook or Google Sheets file, identifies its defined names, and generates application metadata. When processing is complete, you can begin designing the application.

For an application created from Google Sheets, you can later configure automatic updates to check the connected spreadsheet daily, weekly, or monthly. Scheduled updates run compatibility checks, protect active work in progress, and provide notification and recent-history options.

Use the Designer sections to build the interface and application behavior:

• Layout & Controls for the user interface and bound controls.
• Pages and Navigation for application structure and navigation.
• Database for data storage and database operations.
• Stylesheets for visual styling.
• Events and custom actions for calculations, workflows, and integrations.

Choose how to build the interface

You do not have to begin with a blank page:

• Start with a design: Open Layout & Controls → Overview → Design library to import a complete flow or an individual page. Use Add component for a smaller reusable section. Review responsive previews, page placement, and application-wide appearance options first. Follow Build an Application with the Design Library.
• Start with workbook cells: Use Elements to select cells and ranges in the workbook and generate interface elements.
• Build control by control: Use the Layout & Controls toolbar or Quick Add to create and configure individual controls.

After importing a design, open Workbook connections from Page overview to map inputs and results to your workbook and review labels and navigation. Library sample values are not your calculation model. You can mix these starting points and refine the draft before publishing.

Review and publish the application

Preview the application while it is still in development. Previewing allows you to test changes without making them available to end users.

Publish the application when the design and behavior are ready. Later edits are created in a new transaction and do not affect the live application until you publish those changes.

After creation, you can return to Application Management to open, design, configure, or review the application.