Frequently Asked Questions
General​
Does Excel View modify Frappe core?​
No. Excel View is a monkey-patched custom app — it adds behavior without modifying any Frappe core files. Upgrading Frappe will not break Excel View.
Does it work with ERPNext?​
Yes. Excel View works with both plain Frappe and ERPNext. It works with any DocType, including all ERPNext doctypes (Sales Invoice, Item, Customer, GL Entry, Stock Entry, etc.).
What happens if I uninstall Excel View?​
All Excel Workbook documents and user settings stored under excel_* keys are removed. Your Frappe data is completely unaffected.
Data & Editing​
Will my edits break anything in Frappe?​
Excel View uses the same frappe.client.save() API that forms use. Any validation logic, server scripts, or document hooks run as normal when you save from the grid.
Can I edit submitted documents?​
No. Documents with docstatus = 1 (submitted) are read-only in the grid, just as they are in form view. You must cancel the document first.
Can multiple users edit the same record simultaneously?​
Two users can have the same record in their grid and attempt to edit it. Frappe uses timestamp-based conflict detection — the second save will get a "Document has been modified after you have opened it" error. Refresh to get the latest version.
Does auto-save exist?​
No. All saves are intentional (Ctrl+S). This mirrors Excel behavior and prevents accidental overwrites.
Formulas​
Are formulas saved to Frappe?​
No. Formula cells are display-only and computed client-side by HyperFormula. Only raw values can be saved back to Frappe. To save a formula result, copy the cell → Paste Special → Values Only.
Do FRAPPE_GET / GL_BALANCE formulas update automatically?​
They update on page load and when you press Ctrl+Shift+R (full refresh). They do not auto-update on a timer.
Smart Lookup​
Can I edit Smart Lookup columns?​
No. Smart Lookup columns are read-only. The data comes from the source document — to change it, click the ID link to open the source document's form.
Does Smart Lookup work on Report sheets?​
Yes. Smart Lookup works on both DocType sheets and Report sheets.
Performance​
How many rows can Excel View handle?​
Excel View loads data in pages (default 200 rows). It supports virtual scrolling for up to 100,000+ rows. The DuckDB WASM query engine handles analytical queries on large in-memory datasets.
Why is the initial load slow?​
The first load of a DocType fetches metadata + data. Subsequent loads use cached metadata. For very wide DocTypes with many fields, the initial column render may take a moment. This is a one-time cost.
Export​
Can I export with my company name in the header?​
Yes — XLSX exports include 3 header rows: company name, sheet name + date, and active filters. See Export to XLSX.
Does the exported file open in Excel correctly?​
Yes. The export uses ExcelJS to produce proper .xlsx files with formatting, number formats, and correct data types.
Workbooks​
Are workbooks per-user or shared?​
Workbooks are per-user by default. You can share them with other users or roles via the Excel Workbook DocType's share settings.
Is there a limit on how many workbooks I can save?​
No limit. Each workbook is a Frappe document stored in your database.