FAQ: Add a number of rows

[Steve]

Add an arbitrary number of rows to a table based on a column value of type Number.

Try the sample app!

For this example, the table from which the row-addition process will be initiated is called Control Table. The table to which new rows will be added is called Target Table. Use your own names as you see fit. Note that they could even be the same table. Control Table must allow updates; Target Table must allow adds.

Control Table must have at least two columns for this process: Finish Count (type Number; the number of rows needed; may be virtual); and Add Count (type Number; the number of the next row to add; may not be virtual). Column names may be changed as desired.

Finish Count should have Required? set to ON. Add Count should be blank or zero.

Action 1: Add Rows for Remaining Count

This is the action that you should invoke to add the rows: it does everything.

• For a record of this table: Control Table
• Do this: Grouped: execute a sequence of actions
• Actions: (added below, after creating actions 2, 3, and 4)
• Only if this condition is true: OR(ISBLANK([Add Count]), ([Add Count] < [Finish Count]))

Action 2: Increment Count

This manages the Add Count column value, which contains the number of the next row to add. It’ll start at 1 and increment to Finish Count.

• For a record of this table: Control Table
• Do this: Data: set the values of some columns in this row
• Set these columns:
  • Add Count: ([Add Count] + 1)
• Only if this condition is true: TRUE (or blank)

Action 3: Add Row For This Count

This action adds one row to the Target Table table for the current value of the Control Table row’s Add Count column.

• For a record of this table: Control Table
• Do this: Data: add a new row to another table using values from this row
• Table to add to: Target Table
• Set these columns:
  • (columns as desired)
• Only if this condition is true: TRUE (or blank)

Action 4

This action implements a loop by recursively performing action (1) for each successive number in the indicated range, from 1 to Finish Count.

• For a record of this table: Control Table
• Do this: Data: execute an action on a set of rows
• Referenced Table: Control Table
• Referenced Rows: LIST([_THISROW])
• Referenced Action: (action 1)
• Only if this condition is true: TRUE (or blank)

Action 1

Return to action (1) and add actions (2), (3), and (4) to its Actions list.

• Actions:
  • (action 2)
  • (action 3)
  • (action 4)

[M_T_Amjad]

Very interesting, I’ll try I was looking for something like this, it would be great if there is a way to update if number already exist.

[RD_INFO]

Thanks for this tip. I was looking for something like this, to add rows, for a monthly budget (I have to create/add the next 12 months, one month per row…). This does the job.

As a newby, some problems are not intuitive. Could be nice if appsheet add an action to mimic ‘for each/do while/repeat until/’ to do this more easily.

[Nicolas_Feldman]

This seems like a much simpler approach than this:

Add any number of rows from any row within a table Tips & Tricks 💡

Definitely a frequently-asked question: how do I add some number of rows to a table automatically? It’s possible, but it’s not easy. This article details an approach that can be accomplished entirely within AppSheet (no API use), within the app itself (no workflow use), and accommodates an arbitrary number of rows (no built-in count maximum). While I’ve tried to make the guide accessible for less-experienced app creators, make no mistake: this is an advanced technique. I hope you find this us…

Is it the same result or am I missing something?

[Nicolas_Feldman]

IN my case [Finish Count] is a VC that counts the elements on a list type column,
What if I want each of the new rows to have one of the different elements of that list? Is that possible?

i.e.
[Example] (List type column): A, B, C, D, E
[Finish count]=5
New rows:

[perissf]

@Nicolas_Feldman
Try this:

How Would You: Create a view to score a large number of people on a large number of skills Questions

Here are the actions to define in order to add records to People Skills stable when a new record to People is added. No need to use counters nor control columns nor control tables. Similarly, you’ll probably need to create actions for handling the creation of new skills. Action 1: Add a row to P_S from People For a record of this table: People Do this: Data: add a new row to another table using values from this row Table to add to: People Skills Set these columns: Person: [_THISROW].[ID] …

[Armando_mtz]

Is there any sample app using this set of actions? I would like to see an app using them in order to understand better how it works.

Thanks in advance

[Steve]

Like the one linked as the second line of the post?

Steve:

Add an arbitrary number of rows to a table based on a column value of type Number .

Try the sample app!

[Rifad]

I have been using this for a while and its working perfect. As i have bulk rows to add each time instead of attaching this with an ACTION i have done it using WORKFLOW.

Does this effect looping action once its completely migrated to BOTS ?

I have scenarios where three looping actions are executed at the same time into 3 different tables on adding a row in parent table. I have created 3 different workflows for that. Will this migration to BOTS effect what we have right now ?

[Koichi_Tsuji]

Sadly, the answer should be “who knows”…

I just hopeing the existing Workflow could be transformed automatically onto BOT without any problems with us.

[Rifad]

If it’s like that. I might have to stop all my applications and find a new way to achieve the same.

[Koichi_Tsuji]

As far as you are able to achieve your goal with Action only, like looping actions, there should be no necessity to involve Automation.

[Rifad]

I am not able to achieve it using actions because i have 3 tables to updated in parallel. If i attach the action on save it actually worked for one table or one set of looping action. I have multiple sets of looping actions.

[Koichi_Tsuji]

I m not sure what your exact requiremet will be, but should be achieve with action only. But set ups is surely complex though.

[Rifad]

It’s very simple. Here is an example.

[Rifad]

I think this is a good news Editor improvements to Automation

[Fabinonet]

Thanks Steve
Everything works fine if I activate the action with saving the view.
I ask the community for HELP
For another application I have to activate the action whit an automation (or other suggestion) 
as I modify the data whit a dynamic email and detail view and Quick edit columns 
(this view does not allow me to save on Event Actions --- Actions to take when events occur.Form Saved).
I've tried them all but I can't activate the action correctly

[Fabinonet]

RESOLVED

RISOLTO

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I HAD A VALID IF PROBLEM WHICH GIVED ME AN ERROR

THANK'S

[Gustavo_Eduardo]

Thank You @Steve 

[nac_me]

hi @Steve ,

I've tried this method to create multiple rows for the same table (control table = target table), but it seems that it wont trigger after every row addition, i've tried to trigger using automation, but it's shown error in the monitor. Kindly help