How to find and edit a row using user input instead of creating a new row

[Uribe]

In a card view (with Edit on click) based on a slice of the Attendance table, users must scroll through the list to find their name, click on their card, enter their code (which is validated using app formulas), and then save the form. Additionally, several hidden columns are automatically populated using app formulas.

I would like to improve this flow by creating a view with a button that, when clicked, opens a form or input popup where the user can enter their code. Based on this input, the app should locate the corresponding row in the Attendance table, open it for editing, and allow the user to save the changes.

However, using a standard form view on the Attendance table creates a new row, which is not the intended behavior.

What would be the best way to achieve this?

P.S. I prefer not to use the search button (next to the sync button) in the card/table view, as I don’t want users to see the existing records in the table.

[Shourya_Tomar]

Hello @Uribe, you can do this using the INPUT() function.

I found this YouTube tutorial video that I believe explains what you need. Also refer to the below support article for further reading -

Set input values dynamically in data-change actions - AppSheet Help

I hope it helps!

[Suvrutt_Gurjar]

Can you please elaborate, which row you want the user to find?

For example, the user has several rows and any one row based on a specific value such as date or key or name that uniquely identifies the row among several rows or latest row of that user?

Also what the card view is used for? Does it show several rows of the same user or one row per each user and clicking on that card takes to the multiple rows of the user?

[Uribe]

@Suvrutt_Gurjar

For example, the user has several rows and any one row based on a specific value such as date or key or name that uniquely identifies the row among several rows or latest row of that user? Yes. In the card view, multiple rows are displayed—one for each employee. Each user identifies their own row by their name. The view is based on a slice of the Assistance table, that includes only records for the current date.

Also what the card view is used for? Does it show several rows of the same user or one row per each user and clicking on that card takes to the multiple rows of the user? One row per each user per current date. When clicking, it edits the row and shows only a few columns, where the user writes it’s code, other columns have app formulas like now(). The user only has to fill the code column.

I have 4 sliced views for the Attendance table, filtered by current date and code columns (code1, code2, code3, code4):

Views:

Check in, Break in, Break out, Check out.

The slices use filter expressions like

ISBLANK(CODE1) this rows appear on check in view

ISNOTBLANK(CODE1) AND ISBLANK(CODE2) this rows appear on break in view, and so on

And also there are times columns that are filled each time the user edits the row.

[Suvrutt_Gurjar]

Thank you. However I am sorry that based on your latest description, I have not understood your exact requirement. I mean where you are stuck. May be a few screenshots with test data may help?

Also you have mentioned "Assitance table as below

@Suvrutt_Gurjar

The view is based on a slice of the Assistance table, that includes only records for the current date.

presume it is a typo and you mean Attendance table?

[Uribe]

Ok, let me try to explain.

I have a table where users need to scroll down and manually find and select their row, edit it (via a form view), enter a code, and then save the form. This code is compared to the key column of that row—if they match, the user can save the edit.

I want to eliminate the need for users to scroll and manually search for their row.

Is there a way to achieve this through another view, form, or action where the user only needs to enter their code? The app would then use this code to look it up in the table (against the key column), find the corresponding row, and automatically populate the code field for that row?

[Suvrutt_Gurjar]

I am sorry that your requirement is still not clear.

However based on the description so far, how about creating a slice called say "My_Todays_Attendance"on the table with a filter expression something like

AND ( [Email]= USEREMAIL(), [Attendance_Date]=TODAY())

You can then base a view called say “My Today’s Attendance” on this slice?

[WillowMobileSys]

Is the Search bar at the top of the view not sufficient? It is a very powerful feature, especially now that it has filtering capabilities.

If you do not see the magnifying glass icon, you need to turn OFF the HIDING of the Search capability.

See images below of how the search and filter features work.

Tap Search icon to activate search feature

NOTE: Columns have a configuration to make them searchable or not. To search within a column in needs to be made Searchable

How to make columns Searchable

You can type in a keyword to search for certain rows. or tap the filter icon circled

To apply a Filter to Val 1 for certain numeric range, tap the Val 1 arrow to open its input Form

Result of applying filter to Val 1 column

[Uribe]

Thank you for the explanation!!