Copy to Clipboard- Custom Action Tool

Rifad · 11-28-2024 03:38 AM

Copy to Clipboard Action and ShortenURL for AppSheet

I've developed a solution for the highly requested "Copy to Clipboard" functionality in AppSheet, addressing the feature request many users have been asking for.

✨ One Click. That's it.
→ Tap the link
→ It copies the text to your clipboard
→ Browser auto-closes
→ Just paste it wherever you need

⚡ No apps. No installs. Just smooth magic.

The Solution I've created a web service that allows you to copy text to clipboard through a simple URL, which works seamlessly with AppSheet's "Open URL" action.

How to Use

Create a Custom Action in your AppSheet app
Set the action type to "Open URL"
Use this formula in the URL field:

CONCATENATE("https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/copy/", ENCODEURL([Your_Text_Column]))

Enable "Launch External" in the action settings

When users click the action:

A new tab briefly opens
The text is copied to their clipboard
The tab automatically closes
Once tab is closed click cmd + v or ctrl + v to paste from clipboard

Alternatively to test you can click this and try pasting from clipboard: https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/copy/Extra!%20Extra!%20Clipboard%20functionality%20discovered...

Technical Overview

The solution uses:

A Node.js web service

This implementation provides a workaround until AppSheet implements native clipboard functionality. Feel free to try it out and share your feedback!

This is a community solution addressing the feature request in the linked post, providing immediate functionality while we wait for official implementation.

Note: Tracks usage analytics.

Edit:

Note: This is not yet completed but can test it out.

NEW FEATURE: URL Shortener

Integration I've added a URL shortening capability to the service, making it even more versatile for AppSheet users.

How to Use URL Shortener

1. Create a Custom Action in AppSheet

2. Set the action type to "Open URL"

3. Use this formula in the URL field:

CONCATENATE("https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/", ENCODEURL([Your_URL_Column]))

When users click the action: - A new tab briefly opens - A shortened URL is created and copied to their clipboard - The tab automatically closes - Use cmd + v or ctrl + v to paste the shortened

URL Example: Long URL:

https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/https://www.google.com

Note: This is not yet completed but can test it out.

Jonathan1

Pretty cool!

Thank you for this workaround!

Gustavo_Eduardo

Genius Rifad! Thank you!

Fabian_Weller

Thank you so much @Rifad this is very cool and handy!!!

Rifad

Thank you everyone! 😊

Fabian_Weller

Hi @Rifad is this working also for LongText columns? When I try it with a LongText column and a simple text like:

Test
Test

Then it opens the new Tab, but it get's stuck in this Tab. It does not close and it does not copy to the clipboard.
The URL is: https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/copy/Test%0ATest

It seems as if it does not like the "%0A". This is the Newline.

Rifad

I have fixed this

NEW FEATURE: URL Shortener

Integration I've added a URL shortening capability to the service, making it even more versatile for AppSheet users.

How to Use URL Shortener

1. Create a Custom Action in AppSheet

2. Set the action type to "Open URL"

3. Use this formula in the URL field:

CONCATENATE("https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/", ENCODEURL([Your_URL_Column]))

When users click the action: - A new tab briefly opens - A shortened URL is created and copied to their clipboard - The tab automatically closes - Use cmd + v or ctrl + v to paste the shortened

URL Example: Long URL:

https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/https://www.google.com

@Fabian_Weller

Rifad

Please note this shorten URL is not completely developed. You may just use it for testing. Once fully done will update here.

Rifad

It should work with ENCODEURL() I have not tested. I will check this

Fabian_Weller

@Rifad wrote:

It should work with ENCODEURL()

I could not get it done even with ENCODEURL(). LongText seems not to work.

For what do you use the URL shortener function?

Rifad

@Fabian_Weller wrote:

For what do you use the URL shortener function?

Typically used to share a record, such as with linktorow() or a file URL. Currently, it doesn't create a permanent database since nothing is connected or stored, making it unsuitable for permanent use. However, it works fine for temporary use cases.

Rifad

Hi everyone, please share your feedback on the copy-to-clipboard feature—I'd like to know if it's useful and working well.

I'm developing a new feature for the AppSheet notification system. Let me know if this will be beneficial. This is a Chrome extension that's not yet approved; I’ll provide access to everyone once it’s approved by the Chrome Web Store and after some testing.

APPTandem

It's working extra fine for me. Just to be picky, it takes like 2 seconds to open and close, but nothing to say if it give us the copy possibility! Thanks a lot!

Rifad

It's running on a free server that sleeps after 15 minutes of inactivity and restarts when you copy again. I've implemented a workaround to fix this issue, so it should now be instant moving forward. @APPTandem

APPTandem

Sorry, it's not a complain because it is an excellent workaround, but it still taking about 3-5 secs

Fabian_Weller

@Rifad Thank you it is working fine. Thank you also for fixing the LongText issue.
To me it still needs some 3-5 sec. to copy just a simple Text like "ABC".

Rifad

Hi @APPTandem @Fabian_Weller I have pushed a new change now. It should be instant now.

Rifad

Update: Added a fallback UI for unsupported devices that automatically copies and closes.

APPTandem

You rock man! I wish I knew where to start to do things like this. It works perfectly now. Thanks a lot!

Fabian_Weller

Thank you @Rifad now it's very fast click and copy 😀

Rifad

@Rifad wrote:

NEW FEATURE: URL Shortener

Integration I've added a URL shortening capability to the service, making it even more versatile for AppSheet users.

How to Use URL Shortener

1. Create a Custom Action in AppSheet

2. Set the action type to "Open URL"

3. Use this formula in the URL field:
CONCATENATE("https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/", ENCODEURL([Your_URL_Column]))
When users click the action: - A new tab briefly opens - A shortened URL is created and copied to their clipboard - The tab automatically closes - Use cmd + v or ctrl + v to paste the shortened

URL Example: Long URL:

https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/https://www.google.com

Note: This is not yet completed but can test it out.

This feature is fully developed. You can now use shortened URLs for any AppSheet-related setups.

You can add a share button to link to records, creating short URLs for easy sharing of filtered views.

Here is an example of linktofilteredview:

CONCATENATE("https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/", ENCODEURL(CONCATENATE(
  "https://www.appsheet.com/start/f86f54ad-as-4366-94a4-aasd",
  "#view=QUOTES&userfilters=",
  ENCODEURL('[["attribute","Quote Label","' & [_THISROW].[Quote Label] & '"]]'),
  "&table=quote"
)))

You can use it to shorten URLs, which specifically helped me with LINKTOROW(), LINKTOFORM(), etc. It copies the shortened URL to your clipboard for easy sharing.

For example, here’s the output: http://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/-rBJ3iv.

The original URL I used to create that was: https://copy-to-clipboard.onrender.com/shorten/https://www.google.com.

Let me know your reviews please! 🙂

Fabian_Weller

Thank you so much @Rifad
This means we have to create a share action for every table right?
It would be cool if the AppSheet system share button would work this way. The Doc says this:

By default, users can share a link to your app with other users by selecting Share in the app menu. Details about how to install the app are populated in an email that you can customize and send to one or more users.

Note: If the current view is a Detail view, the view details are shared instead of installation information.

It would be cool if this Share Button would send the link to the current view.

Rifad

Any URL can be shortened. This can be any custom URL to link to Form, Row, View, or even any document. You can also use it for custom URLs to share. It simply copies the URL and shortens it.

FaCe

Hi @Rifad for short column text works really very well, i love it.

Unfortunately for long text still not works (at least for me): any chance to fix it ?

I've tried with a self-made google script that works but open a new window and not automagically close it.

Your solution is way better, if only long text column would be supported ...

Rifad

Hi @FaCe How long is your text ? There are character limitations and I am not fully sure about these but this could be potential reason.

FaCe

Hi @Rifad i'm in Chrome and for sure i'm below 32.779 characters.

The issue could be caused by special characters ?
In a (short) text i've:

Points (.) : 7
Commas (,) : 5
Slashes (/) : 2
Hyphens (-) : 2 (
Euro symbol (€) : 3

Rifad

I believe ENCODEURL() will be handling this. Let me test and get back to you.