Spreadsheet Forms

Spreadsheet Forms allow you to build forms in a spreadsheet-style grid instead of a standard OSPROV form or PDF form. They are useful when the form layout is naturally tabular, calculation-driven, or similar to an existing spreadsheet template.

This manual is for:

• Form Creators who build spreadsheet forms
• Submitters who fill spreadsheet forms in workflows, public links, edits, drafts, prefill flows, or action queues
• Reviewers and Approvers who review spreadsheet forms in action tasks
• Administrators who need to understand supported features, export behavior, query support, and limitations

OSPROV uses a spreadsheet grid engine with OSPROV-specific handling for named cell fields, dropdown fields, date picker fields, validation, submission storage, viewer mode, and XLSX export.

What Are Spreadsheet Forms?

Spreadsheet Forms are grid-based forms that let you:

• Build forms with rows, columns, cells, and multiple sheets
• Add headings, instructions, formulas, and static labels directly into the grid
• Turn selected cells into form fields with names, labels, field types, and validation
• Capture submitted data while preserving the original spreadsheet layout
• View submitted spreadsheets in read-only mode
• Export submitted spreadsheet snapshots as .xlsx files

Key Features

Feature	Details
Grid Layout	Spreadsheet-style rows, columns, cells, and multiple sheets
Named Cells	Bind selected cells as OSPROV form fields
Field Types	Text, Number, Date, Dropdown
Validation	Required fields, number validation, date validation, dropdown option validation
Formatting	Text color, fill color, font size, bold, alignment, supported borders, merged cells
Formulas	Supported where the spreadsheet engine evaluates them
Draft Saving	Save progress and return later
Export Options	Read-only spreadsheet viewer and XLSX export

How Spreadsheet Forms Store Data

Spreadsheet Forms store two related sets of data:

• Named field data — values extracted from cells that are bound as form fields
• Document snapshot — the full spreadsheet state, including sheets, cell values, styles, column widths, merged cells, and submitted values

This allows OSPROV to show and export the submitted spreadsheet layout while still using named field values in workflows, submission lists, and reports.

When to Use Spreadsheet Forms

Spreadsheet Forms work best for layouts that are easier to understand as rows, columns, totals, or spreadsheet-style sections.

Good examples:

• Claim forms with line items, subtotals, and totals
• Checklist-style forms where each row represents an item to review
• Budget, quantity, rate, or scoring forms
• Forms based on an existing spreadsheet template that can be rebuilt in OSPROV
• Forms where reviewers need to see the submitted layout exactly as the submitter filled it

Use a normal OSPROV form instead when the form needs many component types, repeating data grids, file uploads, signatures, complex conditional logic, mobile/PWA submission, or API submission.

Device Support

Spreadsheet Forms are supported in the desktop web application for:

• Form creation and editing
• Form preview
• Internal workflow submissions
• Collaborative desktop submissions when the workflow enables collaborative forms
• Public workflow submissions
• Draft and submitted edit flows
• Workflow action queues
• Bulk action flows
• Workflow prefill flows
• Read-only submission viewing
• XLSX export

note

Spreadsheet Forms are not currently supported in the mobile/PWA app. Mobile/PWA pages show an unsupported message instead of loading the spreadsheet editor.

What's in This Section

• Creating Spreadsheet Forms — Build a grid layout, bind cells, add validation, and save your form
• Builder Interface Reference — Understand the launchpad, full-screen shell, toolbar groups, native toolbar, and grid area
• Filling Out Spreadsheet Forms — Fill cells, use dropdowns and date pickers, save drafts, and submit
• Viewing and Exporting — Review submitted spreadsheets and export XLSX files
• Spreadsheet Features — Supported grid features, formulas, formatting, and Excel limitations
• Field Types and Validation — Text, Number, Date, Dropdown, and Checkbox behavior
• Dropdown and Date Picker Behavior — Why OSPROV uses custom single-cell controls
• Workflow, Query, and Security — Workflow usage, query fields, data protection, API behavior, and mobile behavior
• Best Practices — Recommendations for form creators, submitters, and formulas
• Common Scenarios — Examples for claims, dropdown choices, revisions, and reviews
• Troubleshooting — Common issues, solutions, and getting help