Re: I need to be able to import an Excel Spreadsheet from my computer, specific date
Blake, I would like to know how to build a 'Sync' table. Right now I have a Google Drive folder that I have been able to view a spreadsheet. But I haven't figured how to add it to my App.
I'm really trying to push all the buttons and boxes on charts, tables & reports, so I can use many of them in my projects. So it's a long learning process.
Thank you.
------------------------------ Bob T. ------------------------------
It sounds like you're pretty new to Quickbase, so a few things to think about before you go any further:
What do you want Quickbase to be - it sounds like you're simply using it to generate reports on data that you're gathering in spreadsheets.
You said that you'd compiled the data in the spreadsheets from two different data sources - is that necessary? Can you get that data directly from the source by using Pipelines?
If you're using Quickbase just for reporting, you're missing out on the bulk of the functionality that's available to you.
Regarding building a 'Sync' table, you'll start by selecting the standard 'New Table' plus icon in the Table ribbon. When you do that, you'll have an option for "From Scratch" or "Using Connected Data". Select the 2nd option and follow the prompts to build the 'Sync' table.
------------------------------ Blake Harrison bharrison@datablender.io DataBlender - Quickbase Solution Provider Atlanta GA 404.800.1702 / http://datablender.io/ ------------------------------
Actually as you can see the data comes from the Center for Disease Control (Total & vaccinated, but the data is available to go further, possibly drill-down, which is how I learn, I have the data in the CDC file. The data for Covid-19 positive cases comes from Git through the New York Times. I get for the same date, (ex. 23 July 2021). I merge the two files, tried in QB, but had problems, so it's clean in Excel, using a common field in both. The CDC uses FIODS (ie our St. Clair County ~ 26147) and the New York Times Git Repository, which I also have bookmarked use GEIODS (ie USA-26147). So I concatenated adding 'USA-'.
There are also additional fields I brought over, though I think QB woud like less, which I can do. But I want the fields for age groups, hospital admissions, deaths (unfortunately too) to be able to be graphed. I want to look at all the graph options you have, but started with just a bar graph & then used the line-bar graph, which is great for comparing to fields. They merge great in my application.
Yes, it would be nice to update the data from both feeds. Pipelines would be ideal, but isn't there a 'Meter' on these. I would like to avoid extra costs or having the meter going if there is a way to do free.
1.) I see that I can ONLY import one file (ex. Excel) when I first start an app, and directly from my computer. I may want to do this from a website later, directly or API...
2.) I tried the connect data by connecting a Google Drive account and uploaded a file there, an Excel file, though I wonder why there isn't an option to just do that from my computer. I first have to upload the *.xlxs file to my Google Drive & then go through & connect on QB to Google Drive.
So I don't know where to put the .csv file, the one I used is just an example and not used in this project.
This project is an experiment to learn, and I am not against using all the features of QB, I just want to learn how to use the options, one at a time. The reports is very important, as the data I have can correlate a lot of statistics and can be made to compare different dates, trends, but that is more complex.
The other features such as employees, tasks, etc. I'm sure will come into play, but at the present time, this is a learning experience and I want to concentrate on reports now, which is what I did and was good at for many years as a computer developer.
While I certainly don't want to discourage you from learning, Quickbase is a BPM applications platform first and a reporting engine second, so you can definitely do what you're wanting to, but it may end up a little wonky. With that said, I would strongly encourage you to go through the Quickbase University learning videos so that you can understand the basic features, functions, and menu navigation in Quickbase.
Regarding importing your data, I initially thought an application with 3 tables would suffice. One for the CDC data, one for the NYT data, and a third table that you would use to aggregate that information. The problem with this scenario is that it assumes you would have a single record on each of the 3 tables that would represent a single date's information. With medical data, however, you're going to have many different categories of data associated with a single day. To build accurate reports on complex data like this will require an equally complex database structure. You can certainly still build it in a 3 table structure, but you will end up with a very flat data model.
Regarding Pipelines, you are charged when calls are made outside of Quickbase. If that call is to import a single CSV, my understanding is that would be considered 1 step as opposed to directly querying the CDC's database and iterating over 1000's of records, each of which would be considered 1 step.
As to the questions on when/how to import data, you can do that at any time, not just with the app builder. If your table already exists, you can select the table at the top and then use the menu on the right as shown here:
This process will let you import from a local file, from the clipboard, from another table, and other options as seen here:
If you want to regularly pull CSV data from Google Drive to a Sync table, that would be the option you presented the snapshots of. You will need to create a folder in your Google Drive INSIDE the Quickbase-created folder called Quickbase Sync. Then, inside THAT folder, you will add a CSV file. Quickbase assumes that you will have ONE CSV file and that your data will be regularly updated. When creating the Sync table, you will be given options for how to process the data, one of which will be to match the CSV file, but do not delete records. Select this one and you will be able to clear existing data from the CSV before adding in new data, rather than appending to it.
------------------------------ Blake Harrison bharrison@datablender.io DataBlender - Quickbase Solution Provider Atlanta GA 404.800.1702 / http://datablender.io/ ------------------------------
