Managing data in Excel is straightforward, but when you need mobile access, real-time updates, or automation, it falls short. Transforming Excel data into an app solves these issues, allowing you to create a dynamic tool that works on web, iOS, and Android without rebuilding for each platform. Tools like Adalo make this process simple, letting you:
- Import and structure Excel data into collections.
- Build responsive screens with drag-and-drop components.
- Add features like user authentication, live updates, and notifications.
- Publish your app to web and app stores with minimal effort.
Adalo stands out by enabling you to build one app and deploy it across platforms seamlessly. Whether you're tracking inventory, managing customers, or streamlining field services, converting Excel into an app can boost efficiency and eliminate version control issues.
Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Excel Data into an App
Prepare Your Excel Data for Import
Before importing data into Adalo, it's essential to clean and organize your spreadsheet to meet the platform's database requirements. A well-prepared file minimizes the risk of import errors and ensures smooth integration.
Format Your Excel Data
Start by creating a backup of your original file - just in case. Then, make sure your spreadsheet is "flat", meaning each column should represent a single type of information, with no blank rows. Include a header row where each column name is unique and free of spaces.
For date columns, use the MM/DD/YYYY format. You can adjust this in Excel by selecting "Format Cells" and choosing the US locale. If your dates are stored as text, convert them using the DATEVALUE function or the "Text to Columns" tool.
Currency columns should be formatted as plain numbers. Choose Excel's "Number" format and remove any currency symbols or thousand separators (e.g., 1299.99 instead of $1,299.99).
To clean up your data further:
- Use the TRIM() function to eliminate extra spaces.
- Employ the "Remove Duplicates" tool to get rid of redundant entries.
- Run a spell check to catch any typos in text fields.
Once your data is clean, export it as a CSV file for import into Adalo.
Structure Data for Relationships
After formatting, it's time to organize your data into related tables. Instead of cramming all information into one large spreadsheet, split it into smaller, related tables. For example, if you're building a customer management app, you might create:
- A Customers table with columns like Customer ID, Name, Email, and Phone.
- An Orders table with Order ID, Customer ID, Product, Amount, and Date.
Each table should include a unique identifier. For instance, every customer needs a Customer ID, and each order should have both an Order ID and the Customer ID it relates to. During the import, the value in the Customer ID column of your Orders table must exactly match the "First Property" (label field) in your Customers collection. For example, if the label field for customers is an email address, your Orders table should include that exact email in the relationship column.
This relational structure reduces redundancy and works seamlessly with Adalo's database system. When importing your CSV files, Adalo allows you to map the Customer ID in the Orders table to the Customers collection, creating a built-in relationship similar to Excel's VLOOKUP function.
| Cleaning Task | Excel Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Remove Extra Spaces | TRIM | Cleans up unnecessary spaces |
| Standardize Case | PROPER, UPPER, LOWER | Ensures consistent capitalization |
| Eliminate Duplicates | "Remove Duplicates" Tool | Deletes duplicate rows |
| Fix Numbers as Text | VALUE or Error Checking | Converts text-formatted numbers |
| Split Data into Columns | Text to Columns Wizard | Separates combined data into fields |
| Validate Dates | DATEVALUE | Converts text-formatted dates |
Import Excel Data into Adalo's Database
Once your Excel file is ready, the next step is to import its data into Adalo's database. This process transforms your Excel sheets into collections, uploads the data, and connects related records to power your app effectively.
Create Collections to Match Your Data
In Adalo, each Excel sheet becomes a collection, with rows converting into records and columns into properties. Start by logging into your Adalo account, creating a new project, and heading to the Database tab. Click + Add Collection, then name it to reflect the purpose of your Excel sheet - like "Inventory" for product details or "Customers" for client information.
Next, define properties that match your column headers. For instance, if your inventory sheet includes columns like "Product Name", "Quantity", and "Price", you'll need to create properties with corresponding data types: Text for names, Number for quantities and prices, and Date for timestamps. Every collection must have at least one property, and the first property serves as the "Label" - the unique identifier Adalo uses to display records. Choose something distinct, such as a product ID or a customer email.
Import and Map Data Properties
To upload your data, go to the Database tab, select the relevant collection, and click Records. Hit the Upload button and choose your CSV file. Adalo will automatically match CSV columns to the properties you've set up. Verify that the formats align with U.S. standards - use periods for decimals and MM/DD/YYYY for dates. For boolean fields, enter "true" for true values or leave the field blank for false.
If Adalo mismatches any columns, you can manually adjust them or choose None to skip unnecessary columns. Keep in mind that the free plan allows up to 50 records per CSV import, while paid plans accommodate larger datasets. For files with more than 10,000 records, consider splitting the data into smaller batches. Once the mappings are complete, click Import and review sample records to ensure everything is accurate. Afterward, you can set up relationships between collections.
Set Up Relationships Between Collections
To link collections, use a shared identifier from your Excel sheets, like a Customer ID. For example, if you want to connect "Orders" to "Customers", edit the "Orders" collection, add a new property, and select Relationship as the type. Then, choose the "Customers" collection as the target and set the cardinality to One-to-Many (e.g., one customer can have multiple orders).
Make sure the field in your Orders CSV matches the Label field in the Customers collection exactly. If the Label is a customer email, your Orders sheet must include that exact email in the relationship column. When importing the Orders CSV, Adalo will automatically use these matching values to link records. This relational setup avoids data duplication and makes it easy to display features like a customer's complete order history with just one tap.
| Property Type | CSV Format Requirement |
|---|---|
| Text | Any formatting works |
| Number | Whole, decimal, or negative; no symbols (e.g., 1299.99) |
| True/False | "true" or blank for false |
| Date | MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD |
| Relationship | Must match the Label field of the related collection exactly |
Build Screens and Connect Data
Once your Excel data is imported and relationships are set up, it's time to bring your app to life. Adalo's visual builder makes it easy to turn spreadsheet rows into interactive lists, forms, and detail screens. By dragging and linking components to your data collections, you can create interfaces that work seamlessly on both web and mobile platforms. Here's how you can design your screens step-by-step using the visual builder.
Design App Screens with the Visual Builder
To get started, open the visual builder by clicking Screens in the left-hand menu of your Adalo dashboard. Then, select Add Screen to begin creating. The builder uses a simple drag-and-drop interface where you can add components - like lists, forms, buttons, text fields, and images - from the toolbar on the left. Arrange these components on a responsive canvas that adjusts to different screen sizes.
For example, to display a list of items, drag the List component onto the canvas. You can choose layouts like "Card List" for a more visual presentation or "Simple List" for text-based data. Customize the list by adding headers or search bars to match your app's design.
Connect Components to Data Collections
After designing your screens, the next step is linking components to your imported data. Select a component, then go to the Data tab in the properties panel. For a list component, you'll see an option labeled What is this a list of? - choose the appropriate collection, such as "Inventory" or "Customers." Then, map the fields you want to display. For instance, if your Excel inventory sheet has columns like "Product Name", "Quantity", and "Price", you can use Magic Text to bind these fields to the list's text and detail elements, displaying live data directly in your app.
For forms, drag a Form component onto the screen. In the properties panel, set the Submit Action to either Create Record or Update Record, depending on whether the form is for adding new entries or editing existing ones. Map each input field to a specific property in your data collection. You can even validate inputs by marking essential fields as Required, ensuring all necessary data is captured before submission.
Set Filters and User-Specific Visibility
Filters help ensure users only see the data relevant to them. In a list component's Data tab, click Add another filter and create conditions like "Where Order Customer ID = Logged In User ID" to show personalized views. For example, you could display only a customer's orders on their order history screen. You can also combine conditions using AND/OR logic, such as filtering by both order status and total amount.
To control what users can see based on their roles, configure visibility rules in the component's properties. For instance, set a condition like "If Logged In User Role = Admin, Visible = True" to display sensitive data or editing options only to administrators. In an inventory app, you might filter a list to show "Quantity < 10" for low-stock alerts visible only to managers, while other users can view the full inventory.
Lastly, ensure your filters and displays follow U.S. formatting standards. Use dates in the MM/DD/YYYY format, numbers with commas as thousand separators (e.g., 1,000), and display currency with dollar signs (e.g., $19.99). This consistency will align with the formatting you applied during the import process, creating a polished and user-friendly experience.
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Customize and Add App Features
Once your screens are linked, it's time to enhance your app by adding features like user authentication, U.S.-specific formatting, and live data synchronization. These upgrades transform your imported Excel data into a functional tool for tasks like inventory management, customer tracking, or other business processes.
Add User Authentication and Notifications
With your screens and data connections in place, you can enable user authentication in the Users collection. This allows users to sign up or log in using email/password, social accounts like Google or Facebook, or Single Sign-On (SSO) for enterprise-grade security. Role-based controls can also be applied to customize the user experience - for instance, granting admins access to editing options or providing managers with inventory alerts.
Push notifications are another great way to keep users informed. Add a Send Notification action to trigger alerts for key events like low inventory or order updates. Additionally, use workflow automations to send email reminders to sales teams for follow-ups or notify them when a deal progresses.
After setting up authentication and notifications, fine-tune your app's display settings to align with U.S. standards.
Apply U.S.-Specific Localization
To ensure your app meets U.S. user expectations, format number fields as USD (e.g., $19.99) and use the MM/DD/YYYY date format. For measurements, label input fields with imperial units like "lbs", "miles", or "inches", making data entry straightforward and accurate.
If your data uses metric units, you can convert them using formulas. For example, multiply kilograms by 2.20462 to display weights in pounds. This way, your original data remains intact while presenting it in a format familiar to U.S. users.
Once localization is complete, focus on keeping your app's data up-to-date.
Enable Live Data Updates
Static data imports are fine for one-time transfers, but live updates are essential for apps that rely on constantly changing information. Adalo's External Collections feature allows you to connect your app to live databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Snowflake through APIs generated by DreamFactory. This method is especially helpful for handling large datasets, as it avoids the performance issues that can occur with massive CSV imports.
For simpler setups, you can maintain a live connection to your original spreadsheet using third-party tools. Bidirectional syncing ensures that teams can keep using their spreadsheets while benefiting from mobile accessibility and data validation. In fact, organizations using no-code platforms report an average of 70% savings on development costs, while apps built from spreadsheets can reduce data entry errors by 40–60% through automated workflows and mobile validation.
Publish and Maintain Your App
Once you've customized your app, the next step is to deploy, test, and keep it running smoothly.
With Adalo, you can deploy your app to web, iOS, and Android from a single build. This makes it easy to reach your audience, whether they're browsing your inventory tracker on a desktop or checking customer details on their smartphone.
Preview and Test Your App
Before hitting publish, take advantage of the Preview feature to see how your app performs in real time across web, iOS, and Android. You can even scan a QR code to test it directly on your phone. This ensures that your Excel data appears correctly in U.S. formats (e.g., dates as MM/DD/YYYY and currency as $1,234.56). During this step, double-check that filters, user authentication, and data connections are functioning properly. Adalo's real-time preview feature identifies up to 90% of potential issues before your app reaches users.
Publish to Web and App Stores
Using the Publish tab in Adalo, you can release your app on the web through either a shareable link or a custom domain. For mobile apps, Adalo lets you generate native builds for iOS and Android. To publish on iOS, you'll need an Apple Developer account ($99/year), and for Android, there's a one-time $25 fee. Apple processes about 90% of app submissions within 24 hours, while Google Play reviews typically take 1–7 days. From the same interface, you can upload app icons, screenshots, and descriptions tailored for U.S. users, then submit your app for review.
Maintain and Scale Your App
For web apps, updates go live instantly after changes are made in the builder. However, updates for iOS and Android require new builds to be submitted to their respective app stores. As your app's data grows, you can monitor its performance through Adalo's dashboard and adjust your plan accordingly. Free plans allow up to 500 imports, while professional plans handle over 100,000 records. If your app relies on frequently updated Excel data, you can integrate with tools like Zapier or Pipedream for automatic syncing. This way, your app stays current without needing manual updates or republishing.
FAQs
How can I format my Excel data correctly for importing into Adalo?
To make sure your Excel data imports smoothly into Adalo, follow these formatting tips:
- Stick to a single header row with clear and descriptive column names such as
ProductName,Quantity, orPrice. Avoid using spaces or special characters in your headers. - Ensure your data matches Adalo's field types. For example:
- Use plain text for text fields.
- For numeric fields, stick to plain numbers without commas.
- Format currency in US style as
1234.56(you can add the dollar sign within the app later). - Dates should be in the
MM/DD/YYYYformat.
- Eliminate any blank rows or columns, so your file contains only the data you plan to import.
- Save your file in CSV (UTF-8) format to prevent compatibility or encoding issues.
By prepping your spreadsheet with these guidelines and using US formats for dates, numbers, and currency, you'll ensure a smooth import process into your Adalo app.
How do I set up relationships between data collections in Adalo?
To establish connections between data collections in Adalo, you need to define how these collections relate and interact. These relationships enable your app to link data - like pairing customers with their orders or grouping products under specific categories.
For step-by-step guidance, check out the Relationships section in Adalo’s Help Center. It offers detailed instructions to help you organize your app’s data for smooth and efficient operation.
How can I keep my app updated with changes made to my Excel sheet?
To keep your Adalo app in sync with changes in your Excel sheet, you can set up an automated connection for seamless data updates. Start by storing your Excel file on a cloud platform like OneDrive or Google Drive. This ensures the file is accessible to both Excel and Adalo. Next, enable Excel's auto-refresh feature to update your data at regular intervals.
In Adalo, use SheetBridge to connect your app to the Excel file. Map the columns in your sheet to the corresponding fields in your app, and activate the data sync feature. This setup ensures your app refreshes its data whenever a relevant screen is loaded.
For instant updates, consider using tools like Zapier to create workflows that push changes directly from Excel to Adalo. This way, your app will always display the latest data, whether through periodic syncing or real-time updates.
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