Action Buttons offer additional interaction possibilities within the app and increase the functionality for the end-user. In addition, you can use Action Buttons to guide the user through the app (Action Button to jump from page to page), or provide him with a specific function at the touch of a button (Action Button to create a PDF file).
In this article, we will show you how to add an action button and introduce all available options.
- How to add an Action Button and define the action
- Action Button to update the app
- Action button to share the app
- Action button to add the app to or remove it from favorites
- Action Button to export the data source of the app as a .xlsx file
- Action Button to create a PDF
- Action Button to start the recalculation of the data source
- Action Button to save a calculation
- Action Button to load a saved calculation
- Action Button to jump to another app
- Action Button to open a URL / web page
- Action button to start a call
- Action Button to write an email and attach PDF
- Action button to jump to a page or element within the app
How to add an Action Button and define the action
You can add an action button directly in the preview view. Click on the "Add Element" icon (+) and select the "Action Button" placeholder. This is automatically added to the active page in the preview. In the next step, you can open the editor for this action button, select the desired action, and define optional parameters (such as the web page to be called on click).
Here's how it works:
Action Button to update the app
Select the action "Update" for the action button in order to trigger an app update when you click on this button. The App-Update contains the update of the data source and the layout (XML file, which defines the design of the app). When updating the data source, for example, the latest data from the SQL database will be loaded, or the Excel file on which the app is based will be updated.
Action button to share the app (native)
To promote the sharing of your app, select the action "Share" for the action button.
Please note that end-users of a private app do not have the ability to redistribute the app. Only the app creator can define the user group for private apps. We recommend using this button only for apps that are public.
This function is only available in the native app on iOS, Android and Windows 10. No functionality in Web Client.
Action button to add the app to or remove it from favorites (native)
These actions are quite self-explanatory. The "Add to Favorites" action adds the app to the favorites on the user's device. With "Remove from Favorites" the app is removed from the Favorites view.
This function is only available in the native app on iOS, Android and Windows 10. No functionality in Web Client.
Action Button to export the data source of the app as a .xlsx file (native) (admin only)
With the action button "Export", the data on which the app is based is displayed as an Excel file. This file can be further processed by the app creator.
This function is only available to the App creator, because only they are allowed to view the raw data source on which the app is based.
This function is only available in the native app on iOS, Android and Windows 10. No functionality in Web Client.
Action Button to create a PDF
Open as App supports the print areas of your workbook and can generate a PDF file with one click. The action button "Print" triggers the creation of the PDF file.
To activate the print function in the app, proceed as follows:
- Open the App in the Web Portal.
- Navigate to "Edit".
- Click on "Print functionality".
- Select the worksheet with the print range.
- Save the changes and update your App.
Further information on the print function and creation of PDF files in the app can be found in the article "Activate print functionality".
Action Button to start the recalculation of the data source
To trigger a recalculation of all values, use the action button "Recalculate". This is helpful if you use formulas like "NOW" or "TODAY" in your data source.
You can deactivate the automatic recalculation by app definition. To do this, add the app definition manualrecalc=true;.
Action Button to save a calculation
You can save calculations directly in the app and make them available again so that not all input values always have to be entered. This saves you a lot of time with repetitive constellations, as the app does not have to be re-filled. Not only numbers but also texts or values from selection lists can be stored in the dataset.
The "Save" action button initiates the saving process in calculations.
Detailed information on saving and loading calculations can be found in the article "Saving calculations in the app".
Action Button to load a saved calculation
To call up a list of the saved calculations, you can place the "Load" action button in your app. This opens the right function menu in the app, where users can see the saved calculations.
Detailed information on saving and loading calculations can be found in the article "Saving calculations in the app".
Action Button to jump to another app
To switch from one app to another you can use the action button "Start app". If you click on the button, the user will be redirected to the linked app. The link will be to a certain App-ID.
How to link apps to each other and find the app ID is explained in the article "Action Button to switch to another app".
Action Button to open a URL / web page
With the action button "Open URL", the given URL will be opened in the browser within the app. The URL can be fixed for the button or can be retrieved from a cell in the data source.
Action button to start a call
With the action button "Call", the phone app - with prefilled phone number - is opened on the user's device. The phone number can be fixed for the button or can be retrieved from a cell in the data source.
Action Button to write an email and attach PDF
With the action button "Send mail", the e-mail client - with a prefilled recipient e-mail address, CC address, BCC address, subject and body of the e-mail - is opened on the user's device.
In addition, activate the "Attach PDF" button to attach the PDF along with the e-mail. The e-mail address of the recipient, CC address, BCC address, subject, body of the e-mail, PDF cell can be fixed for the button or can be retrieved from a cell in the data source.
Action button to jump to a page or element within the app
To switch between different pages within an app (without having to use the page tabs below), the action button "Jump to" can be used.
Here you can define whether the user is redirected to a specific page or element within the app.
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