Process-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

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 Process-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

How do you want to set up your process? screen

Configures the basic information for your process.

Fields

Field Name	Definition
Process Model Name	Description: Specifies a name for your process. Allowed Values: One line of text (a string). Accepted: Letters Numbers Spaces Default Value: None Accepts Variables: No
Description	Description: A description for your process. Allowed Values: More than one line of text. Default Value: None Accepts Variables: No
Process Triggered By	Description: Specifies what causes the process to start. Allowed Values: eForms - The process starts when a user submits a form made with eForm External Forms - The process starts when a user submits a form that is made with a form technology other than eForms, such as Java or ASP.NET. Message/Event - The process starts when an email account receives an e-mail, a specified event occurs. System Integration - A specified event happens in an external system, such as Salesforce or a database. Parent Process - The process is the child, or subprocess, to another process. If you create a process model in a process-based app that already has a process models, this is the only option. The limit of one parent process model in a process-based app was enforced in AgilePoint NX OnPremises v7.0 Software Update 1. In earlier releases, this was a limit according to the license, but the options in this list allowed more than one parent process. SharePoint - A specified event happens in SharePoint. For example, a user creates a list or list item. InfoPath Form Services - A specified event happens in SharePoint On Premises. For example, a user submits a form. Salesforce - A specified event happens in Salesforce. For example, a user creates an entity. Default Value: eForms
Number of Swimlanes	Description: Specifies a number of swimlanes to be added to the Process Builder screen to organize the steps in your process. Allowed Values: A number from 0 to 20. Default Value: 1
Swimlanes Orientation	Description: Specifies the direction for your swimlanes. Allowed Values: Horizontal - Shows swimlanes from left to right. Vertical - Shows swimlanes from top to bottom. Default Value: Horizontal
Choose Theme	Description: Specifies a process theme to show on the My Apps screen in Work Center.

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

Specifies to store and retrieve the data from Microsoft Excel table data source for your process-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: Blank - Lets you create a new process-based app. AgilePoint Data Entities - Configures an entity in AgilePoint NX Data Entities for your data source. Database - Configures a database as your data source. Salesforce - Configures a Salesforce entity as your data source. SharePoint - Configures a SharePoint list 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:

Blank - Lets you create a new process-based app.
AgilePoint Data Entities - Configures an entity in AgilePoint NX Data Entities for your data source.
Database - Configures a database as your data source.
Salesforce - Configures a Salesforce entity as your data source.
SharePoint - Configures a SharePoint list 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 process-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 process-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 process-based app in the Modern Add an App Experience.

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.
Report Viewers	Opens this Screen: Report Viewers Opens this Screen: Specifies the users and groups who are Report Viewers for an app. Limitations: Users and groups can only be assigned to the Report Viewers permission group for an app after the app is published.