Are you the one who wants to know how to share your Sheet from Excel/Google Sheets on a public website in a few clicks? Let’s take a look at the complete process of this. Most amazingly, no prerequisites are required to import or publish your data.

However, it is recommended to convert the data into a CSV or JSON format if you are going to export it from another source(like a MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, PostGreSQL, or any other DB). This article is going to show you how to publish Excel to the web page.

So, here we go:

Step by step process to publish a Excel Sheet

Here is our step by step easy to follow guide to publish your Sheet on Database Hub.

1-Create a your Database/WorkSheet

The first step of this process is super simple. Just go to Database Hub to create your new database. Click on “+Database” button available on the right top corner of the screen. It will lead you to a subsequent screen showing the process of creating and Publishing your Database/Sheet here. However, here you have to follow the steps given below to complete the first step in the best possible way.

1- Log in to your Back4app account. If you don’t have it already then sign up for a free back4app account. Creating an account on back4app is pretty simple and free. You don’t have to spend even a penny here.

2- Now the second step is to populate your Classes with your Sheets content. For this you have to import your data through dashboard.

3-Publish your Excel Sheet on HUB.

4-Customize your Excel Sheet Web Page on the HUB.

After seeing all these steps on the model window, click on “Get Started”. Simply log into your account and if you don’t have that then click on Sign Up and provide email address and password to get done with this.

Now choose your Database/WorkSheet Name. Stay clear while giving your a WorkSheet name and make it easier to remember and find. In this example, we will publish an Airport List Sheet, so we are naming it “Airport”. After naming click on create.

Now a success window will be displayed on screen showing your database has been created. To let the magic happen get into its main dashboard.

2-Create your Class/Sheet

Before to show how to import I'm gonna give you a Quick Overview of the main Dashboard:

Here you will see a vertical menu bar on dashboard window. The “Core” menu here is all about your database. Each of the sub-option available in this menu is meant to improve your database.

Database Browser is to create database and populate your classes;

is to create database and populate your classes; Connections will let you connect your database with other public databases;

will let you connect your database with other public databases; Index Manager is meant to manage entire automatic or non-automatic indexes to ensure improved performance;

is meant to manage entire automatic or non-automatic indexes to ensure improved performance; Cloud Code Function will help you to create Node JS functions to run by using data(if you need to convert your macros to the HUB);

will help you to create Node JS functions to run by using data(if you need to convert your macros to the HUB); Web Hooks can let you create external functions to use them on your cloud code functions;

can let you create external functions to use them on your cloud code functions; Logs are meant to check database logs;

are meant to check database logs; Jobs are meant to help you to schedule execution of cloud functions with a described frequency;

are meant to help you to schedule execution of cloud functions with a described frequency; Config menu is meant to add fixed parameters on your functions;

menu is meant to add fixed parameters on your functions; API Console can let you test the HUB created API;

Getting back to Dashboard

You will see two default classes under the Database Browser. Don’t bother these currently and just create your won Location class.

· Click on “Create Class”.

· Fill the information required for a basic class.

· Select “Custom” and give your class a name.

· Move ahead while clicking on the “Create Class” button at the bottom.

It’s important to note that your Sheet/Class name should be in a singular form in order to generate automatic GraphQL and REST APIs to access your Data. Also it make easier to people who are looking for this data on the HUB.

3-Import your Sheet Data

A subsequent screen will appear. Now you have to add data here. Here you will have two methods to populate your database. The one is manual and other is by importing files. We will use import file option here.

Rules to compile your CVS file

Before getting started with this, it is highly important for you to ensure that your CSVs files have been compiled as per rules to be imported properly. If you have imported your files from other sources then make sure to compile them as per following rules.

Use comma as a separation character. So, adjust your spreadsheet to use commas as separation character;

First line must be the column name;

Importer should convert numbers, Booleans, geo-points and strings automatically;

Dates should come up with two columns. date.__type to specify date type, and date.iso to specify its format;

Geo-points should have 3 columns. columnName.__type for geo-points types, columnName.latitude for latitude and columnName.longitude for longitude;

Arrays should be passed in double quotes;

In this article, I’m going to show how to populate your Database only via CSV Import. If you would like to know more details about how to populate using the API or by exporting directly from other Database please leave a message on the comments.

Make sure to follow all these rules and prepare your CVS file and then use it to import.

This is the file I'm going to use to import:

Now you have to click on “import file” button and select your required file to import.

Once you are going to select your CVS file then the “import” button will turn into blue. Just click that and wait for the import process to be completed. After that refresh your browser page. You will get your class created and database populated with Sheet Data on your Back4App. Now it's time to share this data on HUB.

It’s important to note that sometimes when the file is large this modal window won’t close. Do not click twice on Import button to avoid duplicated content on your Class.

4-Publish your Sheet

On the vertical menu of your dashboard you will see the option of “Publish on HUB”. Click on this option and then click on “Publish on hub” displaying on the screen. Accept the terms and conditions to proceed and then click on publish.

Congratulations! Your database is public now. Now you can see automatically generated URL. Click on the link generated to see your newly created public database on DATABASE HUB.

5-Customize your Excel Web Page

Now is the best part where you can fully customize your Excel Sheet Web Page.

Go to your Public WorkSheet Page (in this case: https://www.back4app.com/database/brenda/airport) and then Click on edit to start customising your database. Here you can change database name, details and description of database. And then click on “Save”.

· Now click on edit classes and then add description to each class and see which of these you want to make public. And click save.

· On Notes, you can also add simple text, image or HTML link to your database.

This is just an example to illustrate the feature

On each class page you can perform same process as you have done at the main database page. The customisation options here are including number of records per page, key field, sorting. You can also add Notes here.

After editing your Sheet Page will looks like this:

For a more complete guide please take a look here: How to Publish a Database

Hope that guide could help you. If you have questions or comments, please leave a message.