🔧 What Are Helper Tables in Glide?
Helper tables are special-purpose tables used in Glide apps. While there's no button to create one directly, they’re commonly discussed and used by experienced developers.
🧠 Two Main Uses for Helper Tables
1. Store Temporary Data
Think of this like app "RAM":
Used during actions like custom searches or processing filters.
Holds data temporarily, which can be cleared after use.
Keeps transient values separate from critical data tables.
2. Subset of Data for a Specific Purpose
Sometimes called worker tables:
Useful for things like form options or search filters.
Easier to manage than embedding discrete values in larger tables.
📌 Common Use Cases & Examples
✅ Store Choices and Global Values
Lists like departments, days of the week, or locations.
Centralizing options makes them easier to update and reuse.
✅ Custom Forms with Temporary Storage
Create a form using a helper table row.
Let users fill it out on a detail screen.
A button sends the values to another table and clears the inputs.
✅ Custom Search Screens
Use choice and text components to populate a helper table.
A query column filters results based on those values.
A button can reset the search inputs for reuse.
🧩 Summary
Helper tables act as:
Short-term memory for temporary, user-specific values.
Worker tables for managing reusable, structured subsets of data.
They support advanced functionality like:
Multi-screen forms
User-specific filters
Simplified app logic
📣 Want More?
Join the Glide Community to explore how other developers use helper tables in creative ways.