Is there anyone who can use File Name Value in Show type column?

[Kawano164]

1. Assumption

※If there is misunderstanding in the assumption, let me know. thanks.

When we want to display image file of Google Drive in the appsheet, we could have use both URL Value and File Name Value.
https://support.google.com/appsheet/answer/10107317?sjid=6926058095985857187-AP

But Google Drive Download URL service has been closed in May 1st.
https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Announcements/Action-required-Drive-download-URLs-for-embedd...

So if we want to display image file of Google Drive we can only use File Name Value like Image folder/Image.jpg inside the officially suggested way.
※Although I see community articles using some specially edited URL, it doesn't seem the official way.
https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/AppSheet-Q-A/Image-display-in-App-sheet-from-Google-Drive-us...
https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/AppSheet-Q-A/Not-displaying-Image-from-google-sheet-Image-UR...

2. Question

Can we use File Name Value in show type column as below?

I tried by myself while reading the help page but failed.

In the help page of File Name Value, it writes only about image type column.
https://support.google.com/appsheet/answer/10107317?sjid=6926058095985857187-AP#filename

And In the help page of Show type column it writes only about URL value.
https://support.google.com/appsheet/answer/10105830?hl=en

So I'm doubting Appsheet dosen't support File Name Value in the show type column although appsheet support claims it should be possible.

If anyone has successfully used file name values in show type columns, let me know, and I'll gladly try again.

And if nobody success, I want to request supporting File Name Value in the show type column too.

Any reply is welcome. Thanks!

[Kirk_Masden]

If I understand you correctly there are two issues: 1) how to circumvent the new restrictions on the Google Drive Download URL service (continue to use images stored on Google Drive but access them differently). and 2) what can be done in the Show type column.

To separate the issues regarding the Show type column from the Google Drive issue, I would suggest putting a test image on OpenDrive.  I've written a little about using OpenDrive for accessing images here:

Display images in LongText columns via HTML (rich text)
https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Tips-Tricks/Display-images-in-LongText-columns-via-HTML-rich...

If you can get an image to display via OpenDrive but not via Google Drive, then you know that the problem is with Google Drive, not the Show type column.  I suspect that the problem is with Google Drive.  You might need to move your images to a service like OpenDrive if you don't have your own server.

[Kawano164]

Thank you very much!

Although I haven't tried the preview program, I'll try what you suggest later.

Do you mean The file name value system sometimes doesn't work because of Google Drive problem?

[Kirk_Masden]

That's what I meant but I think I was mistaken.  Now I understand how we can put files in the same Google drive folder houses our data and access it via the file column.

[AleksiAlkio]

With the path and file name, have you tried it with a public image? It should work.

[Kawano164]

@AleksiAlkio Thanks! So it works... I should make some mistake.

I've tried with a public image already, but the image won't show up.

I'll search for other point I'm making mistake..Thanks.

[Kawano164]

@AleksiAlkio @Kirk_Masden 

Thank you for your advice. I've made another test, and become again getting doubt that the show type column doesn't support File Name Value. If you have any advice, It would be very appreciated.

I have made three test columns.

1. Normal Image type column; File Name Value ELImage.jpeg is writtenIn the spread sheet cell. The image show😀

2. Virtual Show type column set as below, using File Name Value. The image doesn't show🤢

3. Virtual Show type column set as below, Using URL Value. The image show😀

This result apparently shows Show type column doesn't support File Name Value...?

P.S.
Finding that Image width is different between Show type and Image type column is a little bit useful😎

[AleksiAlkio]

#2 - I tested quickly the Show/Image type column with a normal column and public image in Drive, and the image shows just fine in the app.

[Kirk_Masden]

Is this the relevant documentation for your use of Drive, @AleksiAlkio ?

If you are specifying an image or document file name in your spreadsheet, the file should be in the same folder location as your spreadsheet. For example, if you use Google Drive and your spreadsheet is in the /appsheet/data/MyApp folder, then if you have the image MyImage.jpg in the same folder, you can just use the value, MyImage.jpg, in the appropriate cell.

https://support.google.com/appsheet/answer/10107317?hl=en#filename

I just tested it out an finally understood how to get an mp3 to play in a File column (it plays in the browser; a complicated URL is made for it but the URL address we put in the app is simple).  I had read about using File columns in the past but failed to understand properly.  Now I can finally see how they work.

One note:  If you put an mp3 on an external server and then access it from your app via a hyperlink, it will begin playing immediately.  With the test I just did using the file column, however, I have to click a second time to get it to play.  😞

[Kawano164]

@AleksiAlkio 

Thank you for testing! I'm glad to hear that it's possible!!

I know other users who can't make image show in Show type column, so very curious what makes it possible; I'm doubting some sharing settings of Google drive is the reason.

It would be very appreciate If you kindly show me a little bit more detail setting; screen shot, etc.
・Where you enter file name value? In the spreadsheet? or Type Details Content of Show type column?

・Have you set image public as below?

https://uit.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/images/2021/11/22/Step%203.png

[AleksiAlkio]

Setup is the same.. well, the file name is written with "Image.jpg" but that should not matter. The image in Google Drive is in the same folder where the gSheet is.. and that's important.

[Kawano164]

Thank you! Unmmm, mysterious..

The points are
・Put images in the same folder where gSheet is
・Set image sharing setting "Anyone with Link"

I do both but don't work..

@Kirk_Masden Could you tell me? Have you already succeed to show image file in show type column? or only mp3 file in file type column?

[Kirk_Masden]

I tried to implement this and had a lot of difficulty and only partial success.  

First, if you look at the following template I published, you'll see that the image of the "Google" logo (that's what I used to test) is visible (Items --> any item detail view):

https://www.appsheet.com/templates?appGuidString=345d1548-5f81-4632-8aba-d90b9d0c2d3e

 However, in my editor, it looked broken, like this:

Another problem is that even though I published it as a template so that you could look inside, the files don't get copied when you copy the template.  😞

Overall, I found the "image" feature of Show columns to be very buggy and not worth the trouble.  Would you agree with that @AleksiAlkio ?

 

[AleksiAlkio]

That's weird. What I have used it, I have not seen this kind of behavior. Maybe it would be good to file a support ticket so devs could debug why it's not working always.

[Kirk_Masden]

Thanks!  I think I should do that.  By the way, when I open the app is a browser (not the editing interface but with an address like  like https://www.appsheet.com/start/ . . . ) then I'm able to view the "Google" image I put in but I'm still getting the error icon in my editing interface. I think I'll file a support ticket later.

[Kirk_Masden]

Ticket submitted.  I believe this is the number: 

[5-5608000036254]

[AleksiAlkio]

Thanks

[Kawano164]

Thanks a lot! Show type image column is very useful so if this problem is solved, very glad!

[Kawano164]

@AleksiAlkio 
Excuse me for many time question..

How about Show type Virtual column?

[AleksiAlkio]

That should not have any affect.

[Kirk_Masden]

I was able to get it to work in a virtual column.  But, I found the display of images in a Show column to be difficult and frustrating:

https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/AppSheet-Q-A/Is-there-anyone-who-can-use-File-Name-Value-in-...

[Kirk_Masden]

I'm not sure, but I think I may have figured out how to use Show columns to display images.  It seems that you have to put the image in a normal Image column first.  Then, regardless of whether or not you actually use the Image column, I think you can show the pic in the show column as I have done in the sample / template app I put here:

https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Tips-Tricks/Pull-Image-column-pics-into-LongText-columns/m-p... 

[Kawano164]

Very Sorry for the late response. I've totally missed the notification😥

Thank you very much for your further digging the problem. Your Rich Text Formatting way sounds nice, and it will surely be useful in some use case.

But if we can display image just by using show column, it will be more simple as @AleksiAlkio does.. I think that there isn't clear solution from the support?

[Kirk_Masden]

Thanks!  I agree that the direction from support or the documentation isn't clear.  @AleksiAlkio , I wonder if you would be so kind as to look at my little template app and let us know if your method is different.

[AleksiAlkio]

Do you mean the template you shared above?

[Kirk_Masden]

Yes.  In short, in the app users add images via a normal image column.  Then, the same image is displayed via a Show column.  Is that the normal method or is there another method I don't know about?