Force Developer

Blist is a web based tool for creating spreadsheets and databases in a very visual and non-geeky interface. You may either start with a blank canvas, import data from an existing Excel sheet or use any of the existing lists as a base.

 

While the online spreadsheet market is dominated by apps like Google Docs and Zoho Office, there are some very useful and unique features available in blist that you are not likely to find anywhere else. Let’s take a look:

1. Add Images in your Spreadsheet Cells

This is perfect for spreadsheets like "100 most viewed pictures on Flickr" or "Fortune’s list of most powerful women" where it is becomes easy to connect with data if there’s a photograph. Pictures can be uploaded directly from the hard drive or you may point to web pictures that are already online.

Blist Table: Most popular YouTube clips with video thumbnail images

2. Better Visualization of Data

Rather than saying "high" for priority task, you could simply select a "red" flag icon for that cell and it will then become much easy for anyone to visualize data. Similarly, percentages are represented by in-cell bars similar to Microsoft Office 2007.

3. Quickly Filter Data with Lenses

Lenses in blist are equivalent to Excel filters but much more intuitive. You create a lens by dragging one or more columns and then setting the criteria.

4. Embedded Spreadsheets have Search

Like Google Docs and Zoho, you can embed a blist spreadsheet inside web pages as well but there’s a difference – the embed widget includes a search function so your visitors can quickly dig relevant information from lengthy sheets as well without having to scroll through.

The only downside is that you can’t pull web data or RSS feeds automatically into blist tables.