Solved: Re: Deep Link without logging in

Robbo · 01-13-2025 07:06 PM

I need to create a QR-code that will open to a Vehicle Checklist page on an app that my users use daily. The link needs to direct them to a form that would be pre-loaded with defaults. I have created the form, the deep link and the QR-code and it all works perfectly on my devices. Following is what the code looks like (I've removed the Appid components)

https://www.appsheet.com/start/...AppId...#view=Vehicle%20Checklist&defaults={"VehicleId":"1GWJ"}

However, when other users try the qr-code, or even copy paste the deep link to their browser, it asks them to log in via Google. Yet they can open the same app without being asked for the password. When I use the link, or qr-code on my devices, it works seamlessly and doesn't ask for the password.

Is there any way to get this working smoothly without the users having to log in to the Google account they have already logged into?

Steve

I believe the logins for the native app and for the app in a browser are independent, meaning the browser doesn't know you're already logged into the app itself. If you enter the deep link into the browser, you'll need to login through the browser. I suspect that scanning the QR code opens the browser, not the native app, thereby requiring login through the browser. I don't know how to work around this, except to have the users scan the QR code from within the app itself?

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Steve

@Robbo wrote:

If that's the case, why does the code work for me?

I would guess because you're already logged in through both?

And is there anything I can do to make it work on other phones like it does mine?

Nothing I'm aware of, but you're outside my zone of experience here. I can just speculate.

I was thinking of creating an app that has only one visible form so it would always open to the "Add a record" Form. That way, I just turn all security off and let anyone use the code to add records to the page using a browser.

If you can manage with just a simple form entry, consider Google Forms as an option. Google Forms can populate a Google Sheets spreadsheet that you can share with your AppSheet app.

What I don't understand is how Appsheet would count the logins for charging purposes [...]

I avoid addressing licensing questions because I find it all very confusing and don't want to mislead. Please contact AppSheet Support for help with this.

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Suvrutt_Gurjar

Please try turning off the below highlighted setting in the Security menu in the editor.

However , please also be aware of the impact of turning off the setting. The impact is clearly written in the setting.

Robbo

Thanks Suvrutt. I think that will fix the problem and I don't know that it will cause too many issues because users still need to log in to get past Google, as I have set Security to require user signin. I assume that means, at most, whoever uses the link will be able to open app but will still be prevented from adding or editing records

Suvrutt_Gurjar

You are welcome Rob.

@Robbo wrote:

I assume that means, at most, whoever uses the link will be able to open app but will still be prevented from adding or editing records

I also believe so. However , please perform testing to confirm this understanding. Let someone in your team who is not enrolled as app user access the link and try to add/update records. Please confirm she/he cannot do so. Also please verify what part of the app she/he can access with the link and confirm it does not have sensitive data.

If you see any issues with this link being accessible to non app users, you could elaborate a little more on from where the app users access the QR code and how you have made it user friendly. We could then possibly explore in app approaches to make the form visible to the app users.

Robbo

I made the change you suggested, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I got one of the other users to try the QR Code and he was still asked to sign in, even though he regularly uses other parts of the same app.

Robbo

You asked me to elaborate.

I have created an Appsheet Form that contains, among others, the fields WorkerId, which defaults to UserSettings("ThisWorker") and VehicleId which is intended to default to the value on the hard copy QR_Code generated for that vehicle.

The idea being they scan the code when they get into the vehicle, to launch the app they use for other functions during the day and opens to the Form that allows them to add this new record with defaults set.

Steve

I believe the logins for the native app and for the app in a browser are independent, meaning the browser doesn't know you're already logged into the app itself. If you enter the deep link into the browser, you'll need to login through the browser. I suspect that scanning the QR code opens the browser, not the native app, thereby requiring login through the browser. I don't know how to work around this, except to have the users scan the QR code from within the app itself?

Robbo

Thanks for the explanation.

If that's the case, why does the code work for me? And is there anything I can do to make it work on other phones like it does mine?

As a workaround, I was thinking of creating an app that has only one visible form so it would always open to the "Add a record" Form. That way, I just turn all security off and let anyone use the code to add records to the page using a browser.

What I don't understand is how Appsheet would count the logins for charging purposes if I did that. Our license covers a limited number of logins. If I allow any user to use the browser app without signing in, running off a QR Code scan, will Appsheet recognise that it is the same user as the one using the native app, or am I going to be charged twice for the same user because one time they log in using the browser off the QR Code and another time they log in through the native app? As it is, many of our users have a login account that is different from their regular email account.

Robbo

Thanks Steve.

I had a look at the Google Forms option and it is a viable alternative, but still has its limitations. Either way I need to somehow identify the user, so I either need to get the user to log in to their Google account, or they need to enter their email address manually.

The problem using AppSheet and not requiring users to log in is a licensing issue. I found with another app that some users used an iPhone option that registers a different virtual account every time they logged in, which cost an extra license fee every time. Therefore, in for this application I will probably use Google Forms and get the user to manually enter their email address every time.

Steve