Knack

Knack is an online database software that does not require code for the basic functionality of a database. This platform comes with easily accessible help pages which allows individuals to get up to speed with the software.

Pros:

Pretty much unlimited users. Each user account takes up one record of your allotted records. Cheapest option comes with 20,000 records for data and accounts.
Cheaper option than other CRMs/ Databases
Pretty easy to use Interface
Comes with templates depending on the type of database you’re trying to create

Cons:

Some limited functionality in terms of triggers
Need to know languages like javascript/jquery if you want to customize (we never needed to)
If you need help with your app, you get app consultation, but only in the Pro and Corporate subscriptions

For more information on pricing, click here.

Create a new object

An object in Knack is a way to separate your data into similar categories.

You will need to add new objects whenever you have a new category of data.

A field in Knack is a specific attribute of an object. You can think of a field like a column in an Excel sheet.

You are able to define fields when creating the object or add/edit them as you go

For additional information on Objects, click here.

For additional information on Fields, click here.

Add additional records (after the initial upload)

A record in Knack is a specific row of data.

You are able to add in records manually in Knack or via .CSV upload in the backend.

For additional information on Records, click here.

For more information on importing Records, click here.

Add User Roles

User and user roles in Knack are the key to managing permissions for your app.

Users can be created to define a specific group of people that will be using your app. Based on the user, you are able to limit what specific users can see and do within the app.

For more information on Users and Roles, click here.

Pages

Pages and views are used to build your live app. A view is a visual element like a form, table, calendar, menu, report, list, details or search that works with records in your database. A page is used to group multiple views into one web page. Both will show up visually in the live app.

The pages tab is broken into All Pages and User Pages.

The All Pages section shows all the pages associated with your app. If you click the dropdown next to All Pages, you will be able to filter the pages that are seen by each of the user roles.

The User Pages will show the pages that a user of the app will go to in order to change their account settings.

Editing Views is beneficial when you want to alter the types of fields shown and their arrangements.

For more information on pages, click here

For more information on views, click here.

Form Rules

When creating a Form view, Knack will allow you set conditions of the form in three categories of rules:

Submit Rules: Rules that affect where the user is directed to after form submission.
Display Rules: Shows and hides inputs based on form values
Record Rules: Rules that can alter how the records are inserted or updated after the form is submitted.

For more information on forms, click here.

For more information on display rules, click here.

For more information on record rules, click here.

Building Reports

Reports display summary data in either pivot tables, charts, or graphs. Users can view these reports in different graphical displays as well as export specific data that makes up the report.

Layouts and filters can be applied to the reports.
All reports are built in the backend of Knack and automatically updated as new data is added.

For more information on reports, click here.

Other Tips

ALWAYS MAKE A COPY of your application when you make changes to it. This can help you avoid any setbacks if your original application fails. Knack allows you to create 3 apps on the free trial, and all three can be utilized.

Only two builders are allowed on Knack to build and edit apps at a time. If your client wants to allow more builders to edit at the same time, the Pro and Corporate plan allow 5 and 15 builders respectively.

Use your resources. Knack has a chat functionality that will allow you to chat with a customer service representative, and they are pretty helpful in demonstrating functionality and giving tips on how to implement functionality within your app. If you need any functionality enabled within your app that you don’t have access to, reach out to the customer service representative. They will also extend your free trial if needed. Additionally, make sure to reach out to them from the email you used to sign up for the Knack account to get the fastest help, otherwise it will take some time for them to get back to you.

How to Build a Multi-Page Form with Saving:

When building a multi-page form on Knack, there is no functionality to navigate between pages. If you do, your responses will not be shown and you can re-enter values/cannot navigate between pages of the form without losing inputted information. The following steps detail how to set up a multi-page form where you can navigate between pages:

Open up a new page and add a form view (Pick the record you want the field values to show from)

Remove all fields on this first page and change the “Submit” button to say “Continue”

Under submit rules, select redirect to child page (name this page and save)

On this new page, you will be adding another form and selecting UPDATE A RECORD under show options to, and select the same record as the first page

Change the “Submit” button to “Continue”, add the fields wanted for this page, select redirect to the new child page under submit rules.

Repeat steps 4-5 until all pages are added for the form

On the final page of the form, DO NOT change the submit button or the submit rules. Only add the last fields you need on the form before the submission is made.

Essentially, you are setting up the form to have an initial continue button (which on the back end is submitting an empty record under the logged-in user). Each subsequent page is set up to update this empty record. Each page will redirect to a new child page where the next page of the form can be added until the last page which will include the final submit button. Users are able to navigate between pages and see what has been entered.

Email Rules

On Knack, you are able to add email rules under Form rules. These email triggers can be sent to either custom or email field addresses. Furthermore, you can set these emails to trigger when a form submission has been made or when an edit has been made to a record. More information can be found here: https://learn.knack.com/article/n03ccldqsy-emails-notifications

A common issue run into is when the email is first set up. Since Knack is sending emails using your email account, it is triggering email spoof alerts not allowing the email to be sent. A solution is to make sure that Knacks email servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your email address. You will have to fill out this form to get access: https://www.knack.com/email-domain-whitelist-request