Sheet View

What is a Sheet View?

A sheet view is a table of data in Essembi. Think of it like a spreadsheet view (hence "sheet"). The column headers are distinct fields and the rows represent the records entered by the organization in Essembi. Records can be filtered in the view to show only a sub-set of the data.

Interacting with Records in the Sheet

Adding Data

Users can add new records using the Create button on the sheet (captioned with the table name, e.g. Create Item). How create works depends on the sheet's Default Create Action setting in Customize View:

Inline (default): Adds a new row at the bottom of the sheet for direct entry. The new row shows an asterisk (*) on the left to indicate it is new.
Form (Default): Opens the default data entry form for the table.
Form (Multi-Select): Opens the form with multi-select support for creating related records.

The Create button dropdown also includes the alternate create path when both options are available (for example, Create in Form when the default is inline, or Create Inline when the default is form).

Additional Options on the Create Dropdown

The Create button dropdown may also include:

Import Data from Spreadsheet: Opens the import tool for the sheet's primary table so you can load records from a spreadsheet. From this dialog you can also use Generate Excel Template to download a blank Excel file formatted for importing into that table. See the import / fields help for more on preparing import files.
Export Spreadsheet: Exports the current sheet data (honoring the active filters and column layout) to an Excel file for download.
Archive All / Unarchive All: Bulk archive or unarchive records shown in the sheet, depending on whether you are viewing active or archived data.

New Data Alerts

If a new or edited record does not meet required validations (such as a required field being missing), the record shows an exclamation point (!) on the left. Use View Errors from the row More menu to see the validation details.

Editing Data

When the view allows editing, users can edit data directly in the sheet by selecting the cell they want to change. Editing availability is controlled by the view's Data Editing setting and the team's role-based security.

Special Input Behavior for Short Text Fields

Short text fields can be configured on the table/field with an Input Type that changes how values behave in the sheet:

Default / Text: Standard text entry.
Link: Shows a link control so users can open the URL in a new tab.
Email: Shows an email control that opens a mailto link.
Time Zone: Presents a time zone selector.

These behaviors are defined on the field setup, not on the sheet itself, and apply wherever that field is shown in sheets.

Options in the "More" Button on Individual Rows

On the left-hand side of a highlighted sheet row, open More to take actions such as:

Edit {Table} in Form: Opens the selected record in the data entry form.
View Errors: Shows validation errors when the record is invalid.
Share: Copies a shareable link for the record.
Favorite / Unfavorite: Marks or clears the record as a favorite for the favorites menu.
Turn On / Turn Off Update Notifications: Watches the record so changes generate notifications for the user.
Discussion: Opens the discussion thread for the record.
History: Shows who created the record and when, plus later updates.
Archive / Unarchive: Archives the record so it no longer appears by default (it remains available to un-archive or view in historical contexts).

Module-specific drill-down actions may also appear in this menu when available.

Filtering

The filter option enables users to change the data shown in the sheet. See the filtering help section for details.

Filters can also be started quickly from the column header More menu using Filter.

Filters may be saved and set as the default for a sheet view using Customize View (Default Filter), as outlined below.

Sorting

Users can sort by an individual column by selecting the sort controls in the column header.

Users can sort by multiple columns by adding additional columns to the sort order (including middle-click on a sort arrow). The sort direction for each column can be toggled with the up/down controls.

Once a sort is applied, save it as the default layout with Save Sheet Layout, or set default sort values (Sort Index / Sort Descending) in Customize View.

Exporting Data

Use Export Spreadsheet from the Create dropdown (or as a sheet toolbar action when shown separately) to download the current sheet as an Excel file. Essembi saves any in-progress create row first, then prepares the file for download. Exported columns follow the sheet's pin order and column layout.

Drill Downs

Columns can be configured with a Drill Down script in Customize View. When set, the column becomes non-editable and cells show a drill-down affordance. Clicking a cell runs the script for that row.

Drill-down scripts can open other views (sheet, charts, board, gantt, timeline), open forms, open a URL, or return an error message. Example:

const view = app.loadSheetView('Workspace Name', 'View Name', 'Saved Filter Name');
view.showCreateButton = false;

Scripts have access to result, record, and value for the current cell.

Conditional Formatting

Supported columns can use a Conditional Formatting script in Customize View. The script runs per cell and should return a color used as the cell background. Columns with conditional formatting are displayed as non-editable.

Conditional formatting is available for date, date/time, integer, decimal, short text, and calculation fields (and certain group-by aggregations). Scripts use the same result, record, and value context as drill downs.

Customizing a Sheet

Adding and Modifying Columns

Use Add Column (+) on the sheet to add or remove columns. The flyout lists fields that can be shown or hidden. If the field you need does not exist yet, you can create a new field of the desired type from the same flyout when your security allows it.

Changing Sheet Column Settings

After columns are on the sheet, you can quickly adjust:

Column Widths: Drag the right edge of any column to resize it.
Sort: Use the sort controls in the column header. Multi-column sort is also supported.
Change Caption: Rename the column from the column header More menu.
Pin / Unpin: Pin a column to the left so it stays visible while scrolling horizontally.
Filter: Open filters pre-focused on that column's field.
Mass Move: For editable date/time columns, shift all filtered values together.

Saving Changes with Save Sheet Layout

After you change column order, captions, widths, pins, or sorts on the live sheet, select Save Sheet Layout to persist those changes. The button appears when there are unsaved layout changes. Users need permission to edit the view (workspace or view edit rights) to save the layout permanently. See role-based security.

Using Customize View

Open Customize in the workspace header, then select Customize View (users with the required security). This opens the full sheet setup.

Sheet View Settings

Name: Sets the name shown in the workspace tab.
Data Model / Data Source: Establishes the data model or table that powers the view.
Default Filter: Sets the default filter applied when the view is opened or refreshed.
Override Table Name: Overrides the table caption used on Create/Edit buttons and related labels.
Parent View: Nests this view under another top-level view in the workspace tab dropdown (one level of nesting).
Default Create Action: Controls whether Create opens an inline row, the default form, or the multi-select form.
Data Editing: Editable, Read Only, or Security Controlled (edit data only for teams granted View - Edit Data). Details are in role-based security.
Show Visual Totals: When enabled, shows subtotals / visual summary totals at the bottom of the sheet.
Archived: When checked, the view is inactive and hidden from normal navigation. Reactivate it from Customize View or via Settings > Workspaces.
Security: Opens access settings for the view.

Field Settings

On the Fields tab, use Add Field to Sheet or Delete All. Field columns include:

Sort: Drag fields to set column order.
Field: The table field shown in the column.
Caption: Optional override for the column header.
Width: Column width (roughly in characters).
Pinned: Pins the column to the left when scrolling.
Sort Index: Default multi-column sort order (integer).
Sort Descending: Default descending sort for that column.
Drill Down: Script that runs when the cell is clicked (makes the column non-editable).
Conditional Formatting: Script that returns a color for the cell background (supported field types only).

Actions

Sheets can define custom actions (button, dropdown, or inline action) with a name, icon, display style, and script. Use these for call-to-action workflows tied to the sheet.

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