How to create a database app in Excel

Build great database applications in Excel to collect, manage, and share data with your team.
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Search, filter and group
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Define field types and data formats
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Detail dialog automatically added
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Share and edit on any device
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Keep live connection to Excel workbook
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Track all changes
Excel collaboration with Airrange
BENEFITS

Turn your Excel into an app

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Add great usability

Ease data access and editing for your team with full accountability

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Enable editing on mobile

Request input with full data accuracy on any device

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Share bit by bit

Only share relevant records without creating new versions of your Excel file

In 1, 2, 3... from Excel workbook to database application

Move from Excel table to database app with great usability, full change tracking, accountability, and data history. Here you go.

co-author Excel on mobile
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Use your Excel table in Airrange and go

Excel tables already provide some basic database features, like filtering and sorting. Airrange adds great functionality for sharing, activity tracking, usability, and mobile editing or co-authoring. For example detail dialogs.

Learn how to create an Excel table.
co-author Excel on mobile
Manage data entry requests
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Select the view type

This step shows how to select the Grid view type in the Airrange editor. When opening an Excel table in Airrange, you'll get a view selection. Select the Grid icon and click on it.
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Customize your Excel database fields

In Airrange, you'll find a lot of options to customize your database app.
  • Define editable and read-only fields
  • Pick your data editors for dates/times, links, images, phone, and web links
  • Tag category fields and display them in color code
  • Filter your dataset for granular sharing
co-author Excel on mobile
Manage data entry requests
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Name and save your Grid view

Click on 'Create a new view' and name it. From now on, you'll find it in the view section. You can now share it instantly or share it from the view section of your Airrange workbook.
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Share and track your database application

Now, it's time to share your Excel database app. Select your sharing modes (read only / editable) and the person or group you would like to share with.

Airrange enables sharing directly by email, by sharing link or you can integrate your app into Microsoft Teams.
Manage data entry requests

FAQ
All you need to know about Excel databases

With Airrange, anyone can work on the main document - guided by detailed explanations and only with access to the data areas that are relevant to get the job done. And on top you’ll get full accountability and a memory layer for tracked changes and versions.

Is Microsoft Excel a database?

Excel is not a database. However, Excel spreadsheets are often used to hold database records or to export database records. For simple record keeping, Excel can be quite helpful and more flexible then a database.

Are there any database features in Microsoft Excel?

Excel tables add basic database features to an Excel spreadsheet and avoid errors when filtering, sorting and editing data formats. Airrange adds collaboration features, like in a database app e.g. co-authoring, granular access or sharing, accountability and change tracking.

What is the difference of Microsoft Excel and a database?

Usually, databases are relational. That means database tables can be linked to one another. This is difficult to do in Excel and workarounds can be error-prone. Another difference is the unique identity of each database record, which Excel does not supply. However, using Excel tables helps a lot to avoid typical errors and data scrumbles for example when sorting.

How do I create a database in in Excel?

You can use Excel tables and define which categories to use for your data records. With Airrange, you can then add database features and usability like details dialog, selected editing, and granular sharing. This helps you to work better with Excel databases and add great usability for your team.