Building a no-code app can feel like an exciting journey—until you hit the first roadblock: setting up your database. That’s usually where many people get stuck. But at Fuzen, we believe that building apps should be easy and accessible for everyone, including non-tech users.
So we found a way to make this step super simple by using something most of us already know and love—Google Sheets!
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a database for your app using Google Sheets within Fuzen, step-by-step.
Table of content
1. Why You Need a Database for Your App
2. Why Google Sheets?
3. Creating a Database Using Google Sheets
3.1 Step 1: Create a New App in Fuzen
3.2 Step 2: Connect Your Google Sheets
3.3 Step 3: Set Up Your Data Structure in Google Sheets
3.4 Step 4: Sync Your Google Sheet with Fuzen
3.5 Step 5: Customize Data Fields
4. Using Your Database in the App
5. Conclusion
Why You Need a Database for Your App
Before we dive in, let’s talk about why a database is so important. A database is basically the heart of your app. It stores all the essential data you’ll need, like user details, product info, or, in our example, hotel bookings.
Once the database is in place, it becomes the foundation upon which you’ll build your app’s pages and workflows.
Why Google Sheets?
So, why did we choose Google Sheets? Because it’s easy! You don’t need to learn a new tool, and it’s flexible enough to handle all the customizations you’ll need as your app grows. Plus, Google Sheets is familiar—you’ve probably used it before, and if not, it’s super intuitive.
Fuzen seamlessly connects to Google Sheets, so you get the best of both worlds: the simplicity of a spreadsheet and the power of a database. This setup also allows you to make changes quickly. Need to add another field or a new tab to your sheet?
No problem. Once you update the Google Sheet, it syncs with your app instantly.
Now, let’s get started on how you can set up your app’s database in Fuzen using Google Sheets.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Database Using Google Sheets in Fuzen
Step 1: Create a New App in Fuzen
First things first, log in to Fuzen and create a new app. Once your app is up and running, navigate to the App Database section. This is where your database structure will live. As of now, it’s empty, but that’s exactly what we’re here to fix.
Step 2: Connect Your Google Sheets
Under the “App Database” section, go to the Manage Data with Google Sheets section. You’ll need to connect your Google account here.
Once that’s done, click the button to import your app data into a Google Sheet. If this is a new app and you haven’t added any data yet, Fuzen will create a blank spreadsheet for you to work with.
Step 3: Set Up Your Data Structure in Google Sheets
Now, you’ve got your blank Google Sheet. This is where you’ll set up the tabs and columns that will form the structure of your app’s database. Each tab will represent a “Data Collection” while the columns will represent the “Data Fields” of your app’s data.
For example, if you’re building a hotel management app, you’ll want to create
- A Bookings tab for all guest bookings
- A Rooms tab to track details about hotel rooms
In the Bookings tab, you might add columns for Booking number, Guest name, Room number, Check-in and check-out dates, Payment status, etc.
In the Rooms tab, you can track Room number, Room type (single, double, etc.), Room status (available, booked), Bed type, Photos, etc.
Step 4: Sync Your Google Sheet with Fuzen
Once you’ve added all the necessary tabs and columns in your Google Sheet, hit the update button to sync the data structure from the sheet to your app’s database.
After a quick page reload, you’ll see your newly created data structure reflected in Fuzen, complete with the collections (like Bookings and Rooms) you set up.
Step 5: Customize Data Fields
By default, all the fields from your Google Sheet will be imported as plain text (or “string” fields), but you can easily change the data types later.
Now that your database is ready, it’s time to put it to work. Let’s say you want to create a page in your hotel app for new bookings. You’d add a form to this page and pull in data directly from the Bookings collection you just created.
Using Your Database in the App
When adding fields to the form, you can choose exactly which ones to include. Plus, each field can be customized based on its data type.
For instance, you can change the Room Number field from text input to a dropdown that pulls room data from the Rooms tab. This makes your app super user-friendly.
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it—a simple and effective way to create your app’s database using Google Sheets in Fuzen. It’s an approach that’s easy for anyone to grasp, even if you have zero coding experience. With this method, you can set up your database, customize it to your needs, and build your app with confidence.
What do you think? Was this guide helpful? If you have any questions or ideas on how to improve this process, feel free to reach us out.
