Coda is a new document type that combines the functionality of word processing, spreadsheets and databases into one document. Within a Coda document, you can build tables of data and easily embed results from the table directly in your text portions of your document. Those results can be a formula summing columns from a table or two or embedding a chart depicting the data from any of your tables.
No longer must you copy formula results from Excel or Google Sheets to Word or Google Doc. Simply press the equal sign (=) in the Coda document to trigger the visual formula builder. An embedded formula can contain complex data queries or simple sums of columns or charts created from your table data.
Coda was founded by Shishir Mehrotra and Lane Shackleton, two former Google employees. Shishir and Lane realized even with an internet filled with applications many organizations including Google/Youtube ran using customized spreadsheets and documents. Their mission is to revolutionize the way we see data – no more artificial boundaries around documents, spreadsheets and databases – combine them and allow “makers” to create powerful custom applications for their organizations.
Coda provides a number of templates that you can use to start your own document. Or dissect the template to discover how others have accomplished tasks that you need for your own document. Coda support is terrific and I cannot emphasize that enough. The Coda support members are always eager to help and provide assistance. Aside from posting questions or issues directly to the support team, Coda encourages you to post questions and ideas to their community forum which the Coda team members actively monitor.
Using Coda, we built a timesheet management, invoice application for freelancers, and a recipe costing model. Zapier has built an integration for Coda and moving data from QuickBooks, Shopify or any other application is only a Zap away.
Give Coda a shot on your next project.