AppSheet App Request: Timer-Based Reward Tracker

[marvaddi]

Hey everyone, I need help creating a simple app to track reward timers across multiple websites. i have started it a bit but left confused because i couldn't figure out how to do a count down. Here's what I need.
little context. I have multiple websites that i visit daily and earn rewards, there are over 100 sites, and for each site when you collect a reward it will it tell you how many hours left for the next reward. sometimes i miss some reward because i cant keep track of when my next reward is so im trying to track everything down.

• Main Tab with Rows:

  • Display a list of websites sorted by their reward countdown timers.

  • Allow adding new websites via a form, i can add websites as i go.

• Form Fields:

  • Website Name

  • Website Link

  • Type (Type 1, Type 2) its too complicated to explain but i just want an enum option to select when filling the form

  • Countdown Timer (set in hours and minutes). this is where my headache is

• Timer Functionality:

  • After setting the timer and all the info in the form and click save, the list should be sorted by the countdown, Example: Website A (2 hours , 30 minutes left) appears above Website B (5 hours left).

• Future Feature:

  • Option to send a text to my Google Voice number when the timer reaches 0 (since AppSheet lacks built-in notifications, if im not mistaken). but i can deal with this on my own hopefully, i just need the count down solved.

If anyone can help, especially with the countdown timer, I’d greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

[WillowMobileSys]

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@marvaddi wrote:

because i couldn't figure out how to do a count down

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You cannot implement a countdown in the literal sense.  AppSheet is driven by user activity.  Changes to the UI only occur based on the user doing something in the app - tap a button, open a view, select a row, enter data, etc.  There is no constant background processing that a timer feature needs to operate properly. 

There is some automatic background updates and in certain circumstances immediate data updates occur.   

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@marvaddi wrote:

since AppSheet lacks built-in notifications, if im not mistaken

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AppSheet DOES have built in notifications - Push notifications to your device that has AppSheet installed.

So, you can record or compute the expiration of that timer.  Then use scheduled automation to notify you when you are getting close to the timer expiration.  However, the feasibility of this notification depends on the granularity of time you need for notification. 

For example, if it is acceptable to be notified within 15 minutes of the timer expiring, then this approach could be a good fit.

However, if you need granularity of receiving a notification within a minute or less of expiration this will be unreliable.  AppSheet is a shared platform of web apps.  The duration from when a notification is sent to when it is received can vary based on various processing delays within AppSheet servers and Internet traffic.

If the time granularity is acceptable, you can have the app show you the timers and time left at that moment.  You have press Sync to re-update the UI views or encounter one of the automatic background updates.

I hope this help!

[marvaddi]

i somehow how managed to make the countdown function and it works not so well but enough for what i want it to do, you are right, the countdown is not dynamic, i have to refresh the app to see the countdown. to which i didnt mind if my second step in this process would function properly. my second step is the notification part, i have it set that if the timer reaches one minute mark exactly, it should send me a notification. to which im having issues with, im not sure if app sheet can keep track of the timer second by second in the background and send me a notification at a specified time, correct me if im wrong but now im thinking its not capable of that, my only option is to set a range as you said, maybe within 15 minutes should do the job. but if there is any other way you thin this is possable id love to hear that.
also side question, does appsheet no longer have a notification sounds? when it sends me a notification i dont hear a tone, im on ios and i have it the sound toggled on in the notification center. thanks again