Form-Based App with Microsoft Excel Table as the Data Source

Background and Setup

Prerequisites

Rules for Using Microsoft Excel Files with AgilePoint NX.
AgilePoint NX OnDemand (public cloud), or AgilePoint NX PrivateCloud or AgilePoint NX OnPremises v8.0 or higher.

Good to Know

After you create a form-based app, you cannot change the app to use a different data source. For example, you can not change a form-based app to use a different entity or SharePoint list than the one specified when the app was created. This limitation also applies to cloned apps. That is, you cannot clone a form-based app, and then change the data source in the cloned app.
Once configured, the primary data source in a data source bound app cannot be deleted. Deleting the primary data source can lead to unexpected behavior or errors in your app because it is the main source of data for the app.

How to Start

Click App Builder.
On the App Builder Home screen, click Add App.
On the What type of app would you like to build? screen, click Form-Based App.

What type of app would you like to build? screen

Configures the type of app to create.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
App Type	Description: Specifies the type of app to create. Allowed Values: Processed-Based App - Creates a process-based app. Form-Based App - Creates a form-based app. Default Value: Process-Based App

How will people identify your app? screen

Configures the basic information for your app.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
App Name	Description: Specifies a name for your app. Allowed Values: One line of text (a string). Accepted: Letters Numbers Spaces Default Value: None
Language	Description: Specifies the language for your app. Allowed Values: A language from the list. Default Value: None Accepts Variables: No
Category	Description: Specifies a category for your app. Allowed Values: A category from the list. The category list comes from Tenant Settings > Categories tab. Default Value: None
Description	Description: An optional description for your app. Allowed Values: More than one line of text. Default Value: None
Enable Collaborative Development	Description: Specifies whether app designers can use collaborative development to work on the app. Allowed Values: Selected - App designers can use collaborative development to work on the app. Deselected - Collaborative development is not enabled for the app. Only one user at a time can check out the files for the app. Default Value: Deselected Example: Refer to: (Example) Open an App in a Collaborative Development Mode Limitations: This field is available in these releases: AgilePoint NX OnDemand (public cloud) AgilePoint NX PrivateCloud or AgilePoint NX OnPremises v9.0 or higher

Do you want create widget Form (not typical) screen

Specifies the type of the form to create.

Do you want create widget From screen — Figure: Do you want create widget Form (not typical) screen

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Widget Form	Description: Specifies whether to create a widget form that can show information on a custom page in Page Builder. Allowed Values: Not Required - Creates a standard form-based app, which can not be used in a widget. Yes, Create Widget Form - Creates a widget form to show information based on lookups. Widget forms can only be used in Page Builder. Default Value: Not Required

Where do you want to store the data for your app? screen

Specifies to store and retrieve the data from the data source for your form-based app.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Select Data Source	Description: Specifies the primary data source your app uses to store and retrieve data. Allowed Values: AgilePoint Data Entities - Configures an entity in AgilePoint NX Data Entities for your data source. Database - Configures a database as your data source. SharePoint - Configures a SharePoint list as your data source. Salesforce - Configures a Salesforce entity as your data source. Excel Table - Configures a Microsoft Excel table as your data source. Default Value: AgilePoint Data Entities

Field Name

Definition

Select Data Source

Description:

Specifies the primary data source your app uses to store and retrieve data.

Allowed Values:

AgilePoint Data Entities - Configures an entity in AgilePoint NX Data Entities for your data source.
Database - Configures a database as your data source.
SharePoint - Configures a SharePoint list as your data source.
Salesforce - Configures a Salesforce entity as your data source.
Excel Table - Configures a Microsoft Excel table as your data source.

Default Value:

AgilePoint Data Entities

Repository screen

Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file that contains the data in table format.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Box	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for Box Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file in Box.
Google Drive	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for Google Drive Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file in Google Drive.
OneDrive	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for OneDrive Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file in OneDrive.
OneDrive For Business	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for OneDrive for Business Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file in OneDrive for Business.
SharePoint	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for SharePoint Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file in SharePoint.
File System	Opens this Screen: Document Repository for File System Function of this Screen: Specifies the location of your Microsoft Excel file on the AgilePoint Server machine.

How do you want to set up your entity? > Configuration tab

Configures how to collect data from a Microsoft Excel table for a form-based app.

Good to Know

The word entity on this screen refers to a container within your data model. For Data Entities or Salesforce, this container is called an entity. For a database, entity refers to a database table. For SharePoint Integration, entity refers to a SharePoint list. For Microsoft Excel, entity refers to an Excel table.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Data Source Name	Description: Specifies a name for your data source. Allowed Values: One line of text (a string). Not Accepted: Spaces Default Value: None Accepts Variables: No Example: Refer to: The videos on this page (External) Form Based Apps – SharePoint Data Source
Repository Type	Description: Shows the type of repository you selected in the Repository screen for your Microsoft Excel file. Allowed Values: Read only.
File Name	Description: Shows the name of the Microsoft Excel file you selected in your repository. Allowed Values: Read only.
Primary Entity Name	Description: Specifies the name of the Microsoft Excel table to use for your eForm. Note: The word entity on this screen refers to a container within your data model. For Data Entities or Salesforce, this container is called an entity. For a database, entity refers to a database table. For SharePoint Integration, entity refers to a SharePoint list. For Microsoft Excel, entity refers to an Excel table. Allowed Values: A Microsoft Excel table name from the list. Default Value: None. When you select the access token in the Repository Configuration screen for your repository, the Microsoft Excel tables associated with the Excel file in the repository show in the Primary Entity Name list. Accepts Variables: No

How do you want to set up your entity? > Fields tab

Specifies the Microsoft Excel columns to use in a form-based app.

Excel Table Configuration Fields tab — Figure: How do you want to set up your entity? > Fields tab

Prerequisites

Complete the How do you want to set up your entity? > Configuration tab.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Check box	Description: Specifies the Microsoft Excel columns to use in your eForm. Allowed Values: Selected - Your eForm uses the Excel column. Deselected - The Excel column does not show in your eForm. Default Value: Selected
Display Name	Description: Shows the Microsoft Excel column associated with an Excel table. Allowed Values: Read only.
Data Type	Description: Shows the data type for a Microsoft Excel column. Allowed Values: A data type from the list. Default Value: The data type of the associated Excel column.
Required	Description: Specifies whether a value is required in the Microsoft Excel column. Allowed Values: Read only. Yes - The Excel column must have a value. No - The Excel column value is not required. Default Value: The value configured for the field.
Unique	Description: Shows whether a duplicate value is permitted in the Microsoft Excel column. Allowed Values: Read only. Yes - This column is unique. Duplicate values are not permitted. No - Duplicate values are permitted.

Anything else right now? screen

Configures the optional features for your form-based app.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Access Tokens	Opens this Screen: The configuration screen for your access token. The specific screen that shows depends on your access token type. For more information, refer to Access Tokens. Function of this Screen: Configures an access token.
Document Repositories	Opens this Screen: The configuration screen for your document repository. The specific screen that shows depends on your document repository type. For more information, refer to Document Repositories. Function of this Screen: Configures your document repository.
Style Sheets	Description: Uploads CSS files to change the look and feel of your eForms.
Groups and Roles	Description: Creates groups and roles for the access rights for an app.
Images	Description: Uploads image files to customize your app.
JavaScript	Description: Uploads JavaScript files to use in eForms.

Who can access your app? screen

Configures the permission groups for an app.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
App Owners	Opens this Screen: App Owners Function: Specifies the users and groups who are App Owners.
App Designers	Opens this Screen: App Designers (permission group) Function: Specifies the users and groups who are App Designers.
App Initiators	Opens this Screen: App Initiators Description: Specifies the users and groups who are App Initiators for an app. Limitations: Users and groups can only be assigned to the App Initiators permission group after an app is published.