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SheetApps User Guide

Turn an Excel workbook (or Google Sheet) into a multi-user web app — forms, validation, lookups, import/export and more.

Errors & warningsReference

When you upload a workbook, SheetApps checks it and reports two kinds of message. Errors block creation until you fix them; warnings are advisory — the app is still built, but something you may have intended didn't come through. This list grows as new checks are added.

Errors — creation is blocked until these are fixed:

MessageWhat it means — and how to fix it
No form sheetThe workbook has no Form_ sheet (and nothing was auto-detected as data). Name a sheet Form_<Name>, e.g. Form_Invoice.
Blank or fieldless formA Form_ sheet is empty, or has content but no readable fields. Add label/value rows, or a HEADER / LINE ITEMS layout.
Value with no field nameA form has a value with no field name in the cell to its left (its label was left blank) — SheetApps won't name a field after your data. Add the field name, or remove the value.
Repeated HEADER or LINE ITEMSA form has more than one HEADER (LINE TOTALS doesn't count) or more than one LINE ITEMS section. Keep one of each, or split into separate Form_ sheets.
Duplicate role sheetThe workbook has more than one Rules_/Validation_, Formula_/Logic_, Translation_, or Info_ sheet. Each role must be a single sheet — merge them.
More than one keyA form marks more than one field as a key. Keep one key; if two columns together identify a record, mark the second as a subkey.
More than one sub-keyA form marks more than one field as a subkey. A form can have only one.
Sub-key without a keyA form has a subkey but no key. Add a key rule on the primary field.
Duplicate key (auto field)A section has two key fields once the auto-numbered field is counted — an auto/autogen field is implicitly the key. Keep one: put the key and auto on the same field, or drop the extra rule.
Couldn't build the appAn unexpected problem building the app from the workbook — the message gives the detail. Usually a malformed rule or structure.

Warnings — the app is still created, but check these:

MessageWhat it means — and how to fix it
Empty master-data listA List_ sheet produced no values, so its dropdown will be empty.
Rules not appliedA Rules_ sheet had rows but none could be read, so no validation was added.
Formulas not appliedA Formula_ (or Logic_) sheet had rows but none could be read, so no computed fields were added.
Unknown data typeA value in the Data type column wasn't recognized — SheetApps used the inferred type instead.
Unrecognized rule typeA Rule Type isn't one of the supported types — that rule was skipped.
Unreadable rule valueA rule's Value couldn't be read for its type (e.g. an invalid pattern) — that rule was skipped.
Malformed formulaA formula has unbalanced parentheses or an invalid character — that formula was skipped.
Relation not resolvedA relation field's target couldn't be matched (missing form/field, or the target isn't a key/sub-key) — the field was left as plain text.
Ignored Info hintAn Info_ country/currency/locale value was malformed (e.g. a name instead of a code) — it was ignored.
Looks like locale formattingA text field's sample value looks like a date or number stored as text, which can be ambiguous across regions. Store real dates/numbers, or use ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD).
Stray sheet ignoredA sheet whose name matches no known prefix was ignored.
Dashboard issueA Report_/Analytics_ sheet couldn't be fully read — that widget or dashboard was skipped.
Repeated field nameA form section repeats a field name — when a record is saved the later field overwrites the earlier one. Rename one, or remove the duplicate. (Currency and unit-of-measure pickers are allowed to repeat.)
Both lists are shown in the upload step before you create the app. Fix every error and re-upload; warnings are safe to proceed with once you've checked them.