There are approximately 800 million Excel users worldwide and this number only increases year after year.
But just a select few are leveraging the immense capabilities of professional spreadsheets to create targeted apps for the end-user. Turning spreadsheets into apps is growing to be a big business. Every year, companies are recognizing that you can reduce the friction of app creation by simply inputting relevant data into a spreadsheet. You can then quickly develop a professional product for you or your clients in just a few steps.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about Excel to web app conversion and preparing a spreadsheet for a drag and drop app builder.
Content
- How Airrange Can Transform Your Excel Sheet Into a Client-Facing App
- In-House Microsoft Compatibility
- Immense Flexibility
- Setting up Your Spreadsheet
- Deciding on Syntax and Formatting
- Getting Your Columns and Rows Correct
- Creating a Key Column
- Going With a Web App Builder for Your Excel to Web App Conversion
How Airrange Can Transform Your Excel Sheet Into a Client-Facing App
Our Airrange services allow you to turn your Excel table or Excel formulas into one or more types of apps with ease. You can take Excel elements and quickly convert them into Pivot apps, Kanban apps, checklist apps, calendar apps, calculator apps and more in seconds.
Airrange conversion allows individuals who have difficulty with spreadsheets to see the major data points without other noise. They can quickly glance at the app and come away with the most important figures.
If you want to create a team-based app, you might convert to a Kanban interface so that team members can visualize and share new information in real-time, accelerating productivity.
You might also build a calculation app that updates calculations in real-time based on predefined formulas. For example, you might build a pricing calculator that provides up-to-the-minute information as soon as new data is entered into the system.
It does this without any coding because you are simply dragging and dropping your information into the tool and connecting your cells, ranges, tables, formulas, and charts.
In-House Microsoft Compatibility
The great thing about Airrange is that your Excel sheet will remain in the Microsoft 365 platform. This means that you won't have to upload it to any other external hosting platform and face the friction that accompanies this transfer. There is a link to the spreadsheet that remains easy to read and write from.
You also benefit from the highest data protection standards by keeping your information in the Microsoft system. Password-protected sharing protocols mean you can trust which users will have access to the end interface. All changes and activities affecting the spreadsheet or app can be tracked through Airrange.
Immense Flexibility
The app is naturally designed to work on any device with excellent usability. This significantly reduces the testing time. It is already done and then hand-delivered to you upfront!
There is 100% compatibility with all Excel logic and formulas, so the possibilities are truly endless. On the backend, you can add in preset buttons, sliders, or dropdowns depending on your preferences and goals.
You can also choose a variety of sharing options. You may choose to share only with one person, only with subscribers, or make your app public. The flexibility that Airrange offers is second to none.
Setting up Your Spreadsheet
There are just a few steps you need to take to get your Excel file in order so that you can facilitate Excel to web conversion. Once you have the information you want to be organized, you can use an online app builder like Airrange to build out your web app instantly.
Here's what you need to do to get your spreadsheet into a format capable of conversion.
Deciding on Syntax and Formatting
For individuals who do not have experience creating apps, naming is a common area for mistakes. It is easy to name columns and rows unconventionally. The problem is that you may forget what each of the names stands for or you may not be able to use the name with certain functions due to overlap.
The best practice here is to avoid creating longer names, using special characters, or using numbers in your naming system. The simpler you can name your columns and rows, the easier time you will have at later stages of programming the app.
If you're using multiple sheets of data to create your app, make sure that the naming and formatting are consistent between each sheet and tab. Again, this points back to the principle of simplicity.
Getting Your Columns and Rows Correct
Your columns should be used to differentiate between categories. On the other hand, rows will best contain information from individual entries. This may sound abstract, but it is very important. If you put your categories into the row section, you will have a hard time employing standard functions within Excel or Google sheets.
Similarly, you will face challenges examining larger sets of data at once if you use columns for the data entry points or model givens.
Creating a Key Column
Good spreadsheets for web app transition contain a key column in the first column. This helps to provide unique identifiers for each row of information.
For sellers or manufacturers, this is a good place to put the SKU values of products, for example. Other identification numbers or categories go into the key column for easy access and viewing.
Going With a Web App Builder for Your Excel to Web App Conversion
At the end of the day, a growing number of businesses are turning to drag-and-drop app developers. In seconds, they can convert Excel to web application solutions their business can rely on. With just a little formatting preparation, these tools can take a clean spreadsheet and create an excel to web finished product in minutes.
We have built Airrange to be an industry-best drag and drop web app conversion tool. We can work directly with you to help you achieve your business goals through app development. If you are interested in one of our plans or would like to try app building with Airrange, please contact us today or visit our website.
