Create apps using Gemini in AppSheet

Gemini, an AI-powered collaborator in AppSheet, lets you create an app by describing your idea using natural language. 

For example, you might give Gemini a description for an app that manages facility inspections. Gemini returns the app structure that you can review, optionally, edit, and create an inspection app, as the following diagram shows:

The following sections describe how to create apps using Gemini in AppSheet:

• Access Gemini in AppSheet
• Step 1: Describe your app idea or process
• Step 2: Review and edit the app structure
• Step 3: Create and customize your app
• What's next?

See also the Gemini in AppSheet FAQ.

Access Gemini in AppSheet

To access Gemini in AppSheet:

1. Access My Apps:
   • Sign in to AppSheet. My Apps is displayed, by default.
   • Click My Apps in the top navigation. 
   • Select My Apps from the account profile drop-down.
     
     

   For more information about the My Apps page, see Explore the My Apps page.

2. Click + Create > App > Start with Gemini.

The Gemini in AppSheet chat interface opens.

Create your app using Gemini in AppSheet in three steps:

• Step 1: Describe your app idea or process
• Step 2: Review and edit your app structure
• Step 3: Create and customize your app

 Step 1: Describe your app idea or process

At the Gemini in AppSheet prompt, do one of the following and press Enter:

• Describe your app idea or process. In your description (also referred to as a prompt), provide as much detail as you can.
• Click on one of the sample prompts provided to auto-populate the prompt. 

Gemini in AppSheet responds with an app structure summarizing data that will be managed by your app, including the tables and their associated columns.

Let's use a simple facility inspections example:

Enter: Manage inspections of my facility. Our inspectors conduct facility inspections, and every week we need to check that everything is operating correctly at each facility, pass or fail an inspection, and create and submit reports.

 

Gemini in AppSheet responds with an app structure:

In this example, Gemini in AppSheet performed the following:

• Created the following tables to keep track of your data (similar to tabs in a spreadsheet): Inspectors, Reports, Inspections, and Facilities.

• Created the columns, listed after each table, which are the attributes that describe each row in a table. For example, the Inspections table includes the following columns: Id, Facility Id, Inspector Id, Date, Status, and Report Id.

• Added links between tables. For example, in the Inspections table, the Facilty Id and Inspector Id columns link to the Name columns in the Facilities and Inspectors tables, respectively, as the following diagram shows:
  
  

The following diagram provides an example of how your app might display and manage the records in the Inspections table.

Notice that the Inspections table includes an additional column: Image. You'll learn how to add the Image column to the Inspections table in the next step.

Step 2: Review and edit your app structure

Review and edit your app structure, as required.

Review your app structure

Review the app structure and decide if there is other information that you would like to track using your app.

If you are satisfied with your app structure, click Create app to create and customize your app.

If you aren't satisfied with your app structure, do one of the following:

• Edit your app structure (described below).
• Click Start over to discard the current app structure and start over. 

Edit your app structure

To edit your app structure, do one or more of the following:

• Add a table
• Edit a table

See also: Example: Edit a table

Add a table

Click +Add table to add a new table.



A dialog displays prompting you to enter the name of the table and add columns. The Id column is created automatically, providing a unique ID for the table that can't be edited or deleted. 

Edit a table

Click a table in the app structure to edit it.



The Edit table dialog displays:



As shown in the previous figure, you can edit the table by doing one or more of the following, then click Save to save your changes:

• Edit the table name by clicking  adjacent to the table name.

• Add a column by clicking + Add column. Enter the column name and select a type from the drop-down. If you select Single select or Multi select (Enum), you'll be prompted to add one or more option values.

• Edit a column name or type, or edit single- or multi-select option values.
  Note: The Id column provides a unique ID for the table and can't be edited or deleted. 

• Delete a column by clicking  adjacent to the column. You'll be prompted to confirm the operation.
• Delete the entire table by clicking  in the upper right corner of the dialog. You'll be prompted to confirm the operation.

Example: Edit a table

Let's add an Image column to the Inspections table:

Next, you'll create the app and open it in the AppSheet app editor.

Step 3: Create and customize your app

When you're ready to create your app, click Create app.

Gemini in AppSheet creates your app and opens it in the AppSheet app editor, where you can preview, customize, and share your app.

Try out your live app in the welcome screen, and then click Customize with AppSheet to go to the AppSheet app editor.

What's next?

• Explore the app editor
• Explore the app preview
• Share your app with users
• Turn Gemini in AppSheet on or off
• See also the Gemini in AppSheet FAQ