Relationship and References Created in Glideapp Table

The way your question is posed is a little confusing, so I won’t try and answer it directly. Instead I’ll explain how it works, and maybe that will help.

First thing is that it’s important to understand the difference between Basic and Computed columns. Maybe you already do, but it’s vital in this context so I’ll explain it anyway.

  • Basic Columns are those columns that contain actual data, as opposed to data that’s calculated from other columns. Text, Email, Image, Date/time are all examples of Basic columns. Note: If you have columns in a connected Google Sheet that contain formulas, these are also considered Basic columns. Glide has no idea that your spreadsheet contains formulas - it only sees the resultant values.
  • Computed Columns are columns where the values are calculated based on the values in other columns. Math columns, relations, rollups, single values are all examples of computed columns. All of the Glide plugin columns are computed columns.

Now, when you choose the “New Page from data” option, Glide will immediately present you with a second choice to make:

  • Keep same sheet
  • Copy the sheet

Which of those you choose is important, because it will affect what happens moving forwards in terms of data and column sync between the original App and the new Pages project.

  • If you choose to “Keep same sheet”
    – Your Pages project will now be connected to the same database, including Basic columns and Computed columns
    – If your App was connected to a Google Spreadsheet, your Pages project will now be connected to the same Google Spreadsheet.
    – Any native Glide tables that you had in your App will now be shared Glide tables - shared between both projects
    – If you change a value in a Basic column in either project, the change will appear in the other
    – If you add/remove/reconfigure a Basic column in one project, the change will appear in the other
    – BUT… Computed Columns will not be kept in sync between the two projects. Initially they will be the same, but that’s it. If you make a change to a computed column in one, the change takes effect ONLY in that project. You won’t see it in the other.

  • If you choose to “Copy the sheet”
    – Your Pages project will get a full copy of the database, including Basic and Computed columns
    – If your App was connected to a Google Spreadsheet, your Pages project will now be connected to a COPY of that Google Spreadsheet.
    – There will be no linkage at all between the two projects. Any changes that you make in either will have no effect on the other.

6 Likes