Which Features Sync Data Automatically, and Which Require Triggering?

Ragic offers various features for creating relations between sheets and automating workflows. Some features enable "automatic synchronization", while others can only be "manually triggered". Below is a summary table.

Difference Between "Auto-Synced" and "Triggered" Links

Ragic provides 4 features for linking sheets: Link and Load, Multiple Versions, New Sheet from Subtable, and Show References from Existing Sheets.

Except for Link and Load the other 3 features support auto-sync. These features create links between sheets by sharing fields with the same Field ID. Therefore, when you update Field A in one sheet—regardless of how the change is made—the same Field A in its Multiple Versions, New Sheet from Subtable, or in sheets using the Show References from Existing Sheets feature (with the same Field ID) will automatically sync the updated value.

Note: Not every field in sheets created by Multiple Versions or New Sheet from Subtable shares the same Field ID with the source sheet (e.g., fields unique to a specific Multiple Versions sheet or new fields added after creating a New Sheet from Subtable). Fields that do not share the same Field ID will not be auto-synced.

Link and Load is different from the other three features. Loaded Fields are only populated when triggered by "entering data into Linked Fields".

Knowing the difference between "Auto-Synced" and "Triggered" is crucial for choosing the right design feature for your database.

For example, if you want the "Contacts" sheet to sync with the "Employee Information" sheet or the "Contact Info" Subtable in the "Customer" sheet to sync with the "Customer Contacts" sheet, you can use Multiple Versions or New Sheet from Subtable, which can share Field IDs.

However, in cases like syncing the "Pricelist" sheet with the "Sales Information" Subtable in the "Sales Order" sheet, real-time synchronization is usually unnecessary. You only need to bring in the current product information when creating an order, without affecting past orders with changes made to this month's products.

Common Features That Require Triggering

Besides Link and Load, these features also require triggering: Formulas, Auto Generated Field Value, and Default Values.

In general, these features can only be triggered in the sheets where they are applied. That is, when you apply Default Values, Auto Generated Field Values (such as sequential numbers), and Formulas, the corresponding fields will be populated in the sheet when you create new entries or modify existing ones.

If a field value is modified or populated by other features, such as Updating Value on Another Sheet or executing Link and Load when importing files, additional steps (e.g., enabling specific settings or advanced options) are typically required to trigger value syncing.

Additionally, Action Buttons also require manual triggering (either by pressing the Action Button or using the Batch Execute Action Button on the Listing Page). You don’t need to worry about accidentally triggering the Action Button when updating field values.

For more detailed information, please refer to corresponding documents in the Ragic Design Manual.