If I make an update to the app data, but people already have the app open on their phone, do they have to completely close out and reopen the app to see that new data? Or will it sync onto the user interface without having to do a close and reopen?
No.
Yes, usually within a matter of seconds.
So, I have my app open now, and it’s still not showing the updates that I made from probably at least 10 minutes ago. Do I need to turn on extra mode instead of normal mode? And I’m trying to figure out, if my project is syncing every few minutes because I have extra mode on, is that an “update” that is being counted in my billing usage? And each time it syncs, would that be counted as a single “update?”
Extra Sync mode is for syncing between Glide and your Data Source (ie. Google Sheets). This has no direct impact on data sync to user devices.
Yes and yes. You normally wouldn’t need extra sync mode enabled unless there are lots of changes being made in a connected Google Sheet that you want to be synced as quickly as possible.
Just to be clear - you are talking about data changes, yes? ie. not user interface changes.
Can you provide a little more detail about the nature of the changes?
Are any calculations involved?
If yes, where are the calculations being performed?
I’m not completely sure if the changes I’m talking about are considered data changes or user interface changes. For example, if I change the appearance of an inline list, from say list to tiles, is that a user interface change? And would that change not sync even if the extra mode was on? Once I get my user interface the way I want it, I wouldn’t expect to be making many, if any, changes like that.
The other type of change (this is for a conference event) that I might be making is to maybe change the room that a session is assigned to. So, maybe it was previously in Room A, and now it’s been moved to Room B, so I’m just changing that data point within the spreadsheet. I’m assuming those would sync with extra mode on?
I’m trying to keep things as simple as possible, so I don’t think I have any calculations. I imported the bulk of my data from a pre-existing airtable base, so there are calculations in AirTable, but I don’t think I will be using any of those pieces of data in the app that I want the public to see.
Yes, that’s a UI change, and it could take a while before all users see it. In this case, a forced restart of the App would trigger an immediate UI refresh.
It depends where you make the change. If you make the change directly in the spreadsheet, then yes it may take a while to sync to all user devices. And yes, Extra Sync mode would speed that up.
But, you’re much better making such changes directly in the App. If you do that, then all users should see the change almost immediately. (And you won’t need Extra Sync mode)
Sorry, what do you mean about making the change in the spreadsheet vs making the change in the app? The bulk of my data was initially brought over from AirTable, but I’m now making most of my edits within the Glide spreadsheet because I’m adding pieces of data to make the sections link correctly within Glide. See screenshot. You can see that the Programs spreadsheet has the AirTable symbol on it, but the columns Overview, Start, and End are columns that I added within Glide to get the correct relation connection. If I’m editing those type of columns within Glide, is that considered “within the app?”
Ah, my apologies. We had our terminology wires crossed. When you mentioned spreadsheet, I assumed Google Spreadsheet. Normally, we refer to the “spreadsheet” that you see in the Glide Data Editor as a table rather than a spreadsheet.
Anyway, just looking at your screen shot, I can see that a number of columns in that table are User Specific. User Specific columns can be identified by the distinctive blue icon next to the column name.
Is that deliberate? I’m wondering if this might explain why your users aren’t seeing your changes in the App. If you are making changes to User Specific Columns, then those changes will only be visible to the user that made the change.
Omg, no! I didn’t realize that it worked like that! It’s actually just me messing around with the app right now, so I didn’t realize that these type of changes wouldn’t be coming through to other users! Shoot, and it looks like once I make a column user specific, I can’t change it back? I’m so glad I’m figuring this out now before I did too much more work!
But, if I’m understanding you correctly, if I change those columns so they are not user specific and I am making my changes within the Glide table, I don’t actually need the extra sync mode to be turned on?
Wait, I’m trying to add columns and make them not user specific, but anytime I try to add a column, that box is already selected and grayed out, so I can’t uncheck it!
Yes, correct 
hmm, that looks like something specific to AirTable. I’m not an AirTable user, so I can’t explain why it would only allow you to add User Specific columns. What happens if you create the columns in AirTable and allow them to sync to Glide?
Yes, I finally figured out that was the issue, but now I’m confusing myself even more.
However, now I’m confusing myself even more. I thought you were saying that data and changes in user specific columns would not affect how the data appears to other users when they are viewing the app. So, if I have data in a user specific column that is affecting a relational connection within Glide, when the app is viewed by people besides me, then those people wouldn’t be seeing that relational connection. So, in this screenshot example, first of all, I’m viewing the data as anyone. If I’m viewing the data as “anyone,” shouldn’t I not be able to even view the columns with user specific data for myself? And then, the category column is user specific to me, but when I view the app as anyone, I am able to see the relational data as I had originally intended, so I can see this person on the app.
Before I realized that there was a difference between user specific and non user specific columns I had already done this formatting yesterday. So it’s pulling data from user specific columns to show that data on the app when I’m viewing it as anyone.
I also have a bunch of sessions labeled with dates and times (in user specific columns for myself) and then when I view the app as anyone, I can see that data pulling through.
I’m just getting really confused about how the different types of columns affect relational connections in Glide and how they affect the user experience of the app itself. I should probably just duplicate the AirTable info and make it into a Glide table to avoid confusing myself.
I’m just super confused now about how different data affects the user experience
They will, but based on whatever the relation returns based on their own user specific values.
You mention a relation a few times, but I don’t see any signs of a relation column in any of your screen shots. Can you explain (or show) how that relation is configured, and where it is used?
I’m guessing that it might be the source of the Inline List shown below. Can you show me how that list is configured (what you see when you click on the “General” tab)
Again, it really depends on how your relation is configured and how you are using it. I think I need to see and understand that before I can comment any further.
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