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To create your own applications, whether it’s an invoice management system, event calendar or customer management solution (CRM), you normally need detailed knowledge of at least one programming language.

With Ninox, though, you can

• get started straight away without any prior programming skills or knowledge about coding and

• easily create your own applications that are always flexible and customizable.

But before we get started, we would like to briefly familiarize you with a few terms, as these will keep cropping up.

We recommend that you simply click through the tutorial in sequence by pressing the Next button (on the bottom right-hand side).

Of course, you can also navigate to specific topics individually.

Now for the terms, you need to know, as you will keep coming across them ...

Databases

A database is a collection of data structured so that you can easily search for and retrieve items.

If you take a closer at our logo, you might recognize the standard symbol for databases in it. At least, that’s the idea behind it…

Tables

Tables contain data. A table is a database object that stores data in records (rows) and fields (columns).

The data usually relates to a specific category of people or things, such as employees or orders. You’re probably familiar with this from using Excel spreadsheets.

A database can consist of various tables.

Table structure

Tables are really important when it comes to databases. That’s why we would like to take a look at their structure. But don’t worry, we’ll come back to them again when we work through an example in a moment.

Forms

In some applications (especially databases), a structured window, box, or other self-contained element provides a visual filter for the underlying data it is presenting.

A form can also be a template into which you enter information (data). For example, first and last names, customer addresses, etc.

Views

A view shows only the data selected for that particular view. You can therefore determine which content should be displayed and how.

With large amounts of data, it makes sense to only display the information that is specifically needed, for instance, you might want to show only those customers who paid by credit card and spent more than €1,000 in the last week.

Applications, often simply called apps, are complete, self-contained computer programs developed for end users.

Applications perform specific and useful tasks that have nothing to do with the IT system itself or its maintenance; and can include mobile and desktop programs.

Ninox is such an application. Ninox runs everywhere via the cloud (i.e. in your browser), but is also available as a native app for Android and Apple.

Every Ninox project starts with a database where you store your information.

How to do it

1. Go to the Ninox homepage and click the Login button in the upper right corner (more about Create account).

2. Log in to your Ninox account.

3. Click the Start Ninox button. The Ninox app opens in your browser.

4. In the app screen, click on New database.

We will now create a form with various fields in which we want to enter our data.

Preparation

For our example, we need the following fields:

More information on the individual Field types

Procedure

Here you can watch us do it. Watch and copy!

Result

After you have dragged the corresponding fields from the right column to the center in the table settings, it should look like this.

Everything OK? Then we’ll move on...

Before we save the changes, we would like to make a few updates.

You’ve already clicked the Save button? Then we will quickly show you how to return to editing.

How to do it

1. Go to the table where you want to make some updates.

2. Click the gear icon in the top left corner.

3. Select Edit fields from the drop-down menu and you’re back in the table settings.

Take a look

Now we will continue working with the Event Management database that we’ve just created.

Tables

We will now create an Events tabIe in this Event Management database. There we will store information for each new event, such as the agenda, venue, participants, etc.

Each table in a database is assigned a name, ideally so that you know straight away as to which information is held in this database.

Reminder: Table structure

Here are the most important terms again.

Creating and naming a table

Open your new Event Management database.

How to do it

1. Then click on New table in the next screen.

2. The table settings open.

3. Enter a name for your table under Table name. Since this table will hold data about events, we will name it Events (this is a bit shorter).

You don’t need to save it yet, as we are about to continue working in the table settings.

Ninox offers a variety of different templates that you can use as needed, for instance for your address book, collections, own custom CRM or inventory, and much more. However, here we are creating our own small database from scratch to manage events. Step by step ...

How to do it

1. We create our database without a template and select Blank database at the top. This opens an empty database.

2. Your new database needs a name. In the New database pop-up, enter the name Event Management and then click the Create database button.

3. Your new database is ready.

Have fun!

You can display the options stored in a Choice field in 3 different ways.

Combobox

The desired value is selected from a drop-down menu.

Recommended use

• There is a default option, which can be placed at the top of the selection list

• There are more than 7 entries (then it’s best to sort them alphabetically)

• The options do not need to be compared

• A “More” or “Other” option is needed

Radio Buttons

All options are visible. Simply click on the desired value.

Recommended use

• All options should be visible at a glance

• When there are 5 or less choices

• It should be possible to compare the options

• It should be possible to quickly select them

Switch

In our example this would probably not be the best choice, as there are 4 options. Nevertheless, we would like to show it to you so that you can get a better idea as to how the different display options compare.

Recommended use

• There are up to 3 options

• There is a default option

• It should be possible to toggle quickly between 2 simple options like On and Off (if you need only Yes and No, we recommend the Yes / No field).

You can access the edit mode by clicking on the wrench icon which you will always see in the upper right corner..

The wrench icon must be enabled before you can make changes to your tables such as

• Edit fields

• Add fields

• Delete fields

When you close a table in edit mode, the edit mode is also closed. After reopening your table, simply click the wrench icon again to make further changes to your table. If the form doesn’t “slide” into view from the right on its own, simply click on the arrowhead (top right) to display the form.

Of course, Ninox also allows you to import data, but in our example, we’ll first show you how easy it is to enter data directly into your form.

There are 2 ways to do this:

• In the form (our recommendation)

• In the table

Entering data in the form

Click in a line and enter your data in the form that opens (on the right).

Take a look

Entering data in the table

Alternatively, you can enter your data directly into the table. This is a little less convenient, but in some cases, it may be a little faster.

Double-click in a field and start typing. Use the Tab key to move to the next field (or double-click again).

Take a look

To prevent you from “accidentally” deleting a table, we’ve made the corresponding button slightly less accessible. And, of course, you will be asked again to confirm whether you really want to delete your table.

This way we want to make sure that you really only delete tables that you no longer need.

How to do it

1. Go to the table you want to delete.

2. Click the gear icon in the top left corner.

3. Select Edit fields from the drop-down menu. They are in the table settings.

4. You will find the Delete table button at the bottom left.

Take a look

Ninox was developed to offer all users as much design freedom as possible. Of course, this also applies to one of the centerpieces of each table: the form.

Customize forms to your liking. This applies to their layout, but also to the fields included in them. Ninox grows with your needs.

Opening the form in edit mode

Let’s take a look at the Events table that we have just created.

1. In the Event Management database, click the Events table.

2. You can see the form in the foreground on the right. The corresponding table is behind it.

3. Enable the edit mode by clicking the wrench icon in the upper right corner. The edit mode is enabled when the icon is red.

Adjusting the field size

2. The field is outlined with a red frame with one or 2 handles.

3. Customize the field according to your needs.

4. Don’t forget to save! To do this, click on Save changes in the upper right corner.

Take a look

Or you can also adjust the order of the fields at the same time ...

Customizing the order of the fields

If you find that you would like to change the order of the fields, that’s also quite simple.

2. The field is outlined with a red frame with one or 2 handles.

3. Drag the field to the desired location.

Take a look

Saving changes

If everything is to your liking, don’t forget to save your changes in the upper right corner.

You can customize the options for a data field to suit your needs. For example, you might want to specify that a field must always be filled in, i.e. that it’s a Required field. Simply store this in the field settings.

In the same way, you can specify the

• minimum or maximum length for an entry,

• add general information, or

• specify who should be able to see (or not see) a field.

To-dos

In our example, let’s configure the Venue choice field as follows:

• The field should be a Required field, i.e. it needs to be filled in.

• You want it to be shown as a radio button.

• You would like to add a Tooltip.

• You would like to provide a list with a choice of 4 options.

Procedure

Click Venue in the table settings. The field settings for the venue, a choice field, open.

Making a field a Required field

1. Open the field settings.

2. Under Required in the field settings, select Yes.

Showing the choice field as a radio button

1. Open the field settings.

2. Under Show as, click Radio buttons.

Adding a Tooltip

1. Open the field settings.

2. Click More options.

3. Add your Tooltip (here: “Select the event location”)

Adding choice options

We’ve created the venue as a Choice field. Therefore, we will now add various options to the field, which you can then choose from.

You can, of course, add as many options as you like, but we will limit ourselves to 4 in the example.

1. Open the field settings.

2. Click + New option.

3. Add an option and confirm by pressing Enter.

4. Repeat point 2 and 3 until you have entered all 4 options.

5. When you’re finished, click OK to return to the table settings.

6. Click Save to save all your customizations to the table.

In the example, we’ve named the rooms after cities: Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich.

Result

After saving the changes, your table should now look like this:

Before we take a look at how to enter data, we’d like to show you a few more options for displaying the Choice field.

In Ninox, there are 2 ways to number a row and/or record:

• The always visible row number

• The ID for a record (No.)

Row numbers

This is the row header. The row number is always displayed. It always starts at 1 with the row numbers listed sequentially in ascending order until the end of the table.

The row number refers to a different record depending on how the table is sorted. In our example, the same record appears once in row 3 and once in row 4.

IDs

Then there is the unique identification of a record. This is automatically assigned by Ninox when a new record is created. It cannot be changed.

Internally, it plays a considerable role, for example when linking different tables with table references or selecting certain records.

But since you don’t need them for now, Ninox has hidden the IDs column by default. However, you can display them at any time.

You can apply standard sorting and filtering operations by clicking the respective column header. Depending on the field type, you will be shown various sorting and filtering options.

Sorting data alphabetically

In our example, click on Title and you can arrange the table alphabetically by clicking on Ascending.

Sorting dates

If you select the same option for the event date, the events will be sorted by date.

Grouping data

Grouping the entries under Venue will give you an overview of how many and which events are booked per room.

Filtering data according to specified values

If you are searching for a specific value in a column, enter your search query in the filter and the results will be displayed. In the example here we have searched for events in December 2022.