There are myriad discussions in the community of the column-level Reset on edit property, but no comprehensive summary of its nuanced behavior, which is crucial to understand when using this column feature. Also, there's barely any explanation in AppSheet Help.
So, here's an attempt to crowdsource reliable information in a centralized post for everyone's reference. I'm starting by drafting my own understanding, and can update the post to incorporate other's contributions in any replies. To be clear, my understanding is definitely incomplete and potentially imprecise or outright inaccurate. Corrections and other contributions are welcome.
Summary
A column's Reset on edit property is evaluated when an existing row enters edit mode. If the property is enabled (or its expression evaluates to true), then standard Initial value functionality applies for the column just as if the row were being initially added. In addition, the row's pre-edit values are available for reference in expressions used in the column's properties, including Reset on edit and Initial value.
Applicability: "when an existing row enters edit mode"
"an existing row"
A column's Reset on edit property is evaluated only for an existing row--it is not applicable in any way to a newly added row.
- Note: An Initial value expression can include conditional logic. Sometimes, it's helpful to incorporate conditions into a column's Initial value expression rather than its Reset on edit expression so that that logic is applied both when a row is initially created and whenever it is subsequently edited. If a condition exists only in the Reset on edit property, it's not applied upon initial row creation.
"enters edit mode"
A column's Reset on edit property is evaluated when:
- A row is edited via the following methods that are indicated as applicable.
- The edit process (using an applicable row edit method) commences for a row, which occurs as described.
| Row edit method |
Does Reset on edit apply? |
When does edit process commence? |
| Form view |
Yes |
User opens form |
| Quick edit (detail view) |
? |
? |
| Quick edit (table view) |
? |
? |
| Data change action (in app) |
? |
? |
| Data change action (in automation) |
?
2025-05-25: In the course of developing an app feature I'm working on, I *think* I have confirmed that this cell is "No" (i.e., Reset on edit does not apply).
|
? |
| Data change action (via AppSheet API) |
? |
? |
Behavior: "standard Initial value functionality"
Just as when a row is initially created, its Initial value expression recalculates as applicable until it is directly edited. If the expression references the row's other columns, its result is recalculated each time those other columns' values change during the edit session--unless and until the column itself has a value directly entered by the user or a system action, in which case this entered value overrides the result of the Initial value expression.
Data: "pre-edit values are available for reference"
Since the row already exists, its before values are available for reference using [_THISROW_BEFORE].
- Note: Since a column's Reset on edit property is evaluated when the edit process commences, the row's after values are not applicable--i.e., they don't yet exist.
In other words:
| Column reference |
Value |
[_THISROW_BEFORE].[Column] |
The column's value immediately prior to the edit session. |
[Column] |
The column's value during the edit session. |
[_THISROW_AFTER].[Column] |
N/A |
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