Automated App Generation
Creating and designing applications can be complicated at first. That’s why we built the Automated App Generation tool that can help our users get their applications built and deployed much faster!
To use the new Automated App Generation feature to convert an Excel workbook into an application on SpreadsheetWeb Hub with all its inputs and calculations, first, log in to your SpreadsheetWeb Hub account and go to your applications page. Click on create application and upload the Excel file. Then choose Try it! option.
Worksheet Selection
After downloading the Excel file the system will look through your workbook and identify all of the worksheets contained. The system will also detect whether your application is a calculator or a data collection application to create an application according to the right purpose.
Calculator apps are used to perform calculations and generate results based on user inputs. They are typically used for tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
On the other hand, Data Collection apps are used to collect data from users and store it in a spreadsheet. They are typically used for tasks such as surveys, feedback forms, and order forms.
Automated App Generation starts with the selection of worksheets that contain the cells or ranges you want to use in your application. Check the sheet names you want to be generated automatically. You can add any controls from any worksheets manually in Designer after the automated generation process.
Make sure to select only worksheets to be included in the application’s User Interface (UI). The user interface typically entails input and output cells as well as charts and images. If you have other sheets containing only lookup tables, formulas, and calculations, don’t select them on this page. Those formulas will still be executed before output cells are updated in the User Interface.
If you need the assistance of our team after creating your application, mark the checkbox. One of our specialists will review your application and try to optimize it for you. This service is complimentary.
Once selections are made click the ‘Edit User Interface’ button to see the first user interface sample generated by SpreadsheetWeb Hub. If you want to build your application by yourself you can click on ‘Publish’.
Designing
The next page displays user interface samples generated automatically.
You can see the layout of your application in the Preview section. You will see tabs to navigate between pages if you select multiple worksheets.
Note: You can use controls from different worksheets on the same page manually in Designer.
The Controls section lists all available cells and ranges. You can add or remove controls in the generated user interface by checking and unchecking items.
Note: Some cells and ranges may intersect. The automated App Generation tool removes (unchecks) the intersecting controls automatically to avoid any possible conflict.
On the top of the screen, you will see how many user interface suggestions our system created for you.
To navigate between auto-generated user interfaces you can use Next Suggestion and Previous Suggestion buttons.
Use the Publish button once you are satisfied with the user interface.
“Data Import” question only appears in data collection applications. If you choose ‘Yes’, the data contained in the Excel workbook will be imported to the application’s database and can be viewed from the Data Page.
If you are creating a calculator application, the system will suggest you create a database for your application automatically. You can choose to create a database or skip this option and add it later. Database integration and changes can be done from the Database Module.
Next, the system will suggest to apply a stylesheet to your application. You can choose from existing templates in the system or choose to create your application without a stylesheet. After the application is created, you can change the applied stylesheet or create your own either from scratch or build on an existing code template from the Stylesheet Module.
Finalizing
Once you are set with the automated user interface, you have three options to continue with:
Once you are set with the automated user interface, you have three options to continue with:
Download File: Because SpreadsheetWeb Hub needs named ranges to communicate with your workbook, Automated App Generation feature adds named ranges in your workbook. Download your workbook to be consistent with your application.
Note that adding named ranges won’t affect any functionality or visual aspect of your file. For more information: 5 Ways to Create an Excel Named Range
Go to Designer: Opens Designer, so you can continue creating your application if the automated application generation missed parts of your user interface or if you’d like to add additional features to your application like database integration.
Publish Now: Automated App Generation feature creates your application in preview mode to allow you to go to Designer and apply final touches. In preview mode, your application cannot be accessed through a direct link. If you are happy with the generated user interface and ready to share your app, do not wait, and publish it now.
After publishing the application, you will be led to your newly published application to see its published version.
Note that, there may be minor differences between the Preview application you saw in the Automated App Generation Page and the Published application since the purpose of the automated app generation tool is to determine the layout and control types
For style improvements, you can go to our style module, if further changes are needed in the application’s UI, you can make those changes or additions to your application by going to the UI module.