Explaination on how to use the formula field in columns

[Ratatosk]

I don’t understand how it works.

What are some usage scenarios?

[GreenFlux]

The formula takes over the user-input in Form Views. It will auto-update the column every time the row is edited, and does not allow the user to edit the column directly.

The same expression used in an Initial_Value setting would just auto-fill the value, but would not prevent editing.

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Example:

[Total] = [Qnty] * [Price]

As a formula, the Total would be forced to the calculated value every time the row is edited.
As an Initial_Value, the user could edit the Total after the initial calculation was filled in.

help.appsheet.com

App Formulas and Initial Values

How you can set app formulas and initial values to dynamically assign values.

[Ratatosk]

Haha, I still don’t entirely get it.

If the column is called Monkey and has the row entries Bonobo, Chimpanzee and Gorilla;. Can I write for example [_this]&" eats bananas" in the formula field, and the row entry Bonobo will be shown in the app as “Bonobo eats bananas”?

[GreenFlux]

Check out the formulas used in this sample app:
https://www.appsheet.com/Template/AppDef?appName=Timesheet-71626-2#Data.Columns.Timesheet_Schema

The [Name] column in the Timesheet table is a Ref to the Employees table.

[Hourly Wage] uses a formula to pull in the wage from that Employee. So when a [Name] is selected, the correct [Hourly Wage] is auto-updated in that column, and the user has no option to edit the value.

But the same expression, [Name].[Hourly Wage], could be used in the Initial_Value instead of the formula-- which would allow editing after the value was populated.

[Ratatosk]

Ahhh! Now I somewhat get it. Thank you!