App Versions: Undo Changes and Restore Older Versions
What “versions” mean in Spanner
Each time you edit an App in Forge, Spanner keeps a snapshot of the App as it was before (and/or after) the change. These snapshots are called versions.
What gets saved in a version
- The App’s setup (what screens it has, what fields/buttons you see, what the App is supposed to do).
- Not a “backup of your life”: versions are mainly about the App itself, not necessarily your entries inside the App.
How Spanner creates version history when you edit in Forge
You don’t need to turn anything on. Version history is created automatically as you make changes.
- When you ask Forge to change your App (add a field, simplify a screen, change the layout, etc.), Spanner records the App’s state so you can return to it later.
- Each version is typically labeled by time (and sometimes a short description of what changed).
View earlier versions of an App
Start from your App Library and open the App that was changed.
Look for Forge (the chat used to create and edit the App). Open it from within the App so Forge knows which App you’re working on.
In Forge, open the Version history (sometimes shown as Versions or History). You’ll see a list of earlier versions with timestamps.
Select a version to preview what the App looked like and how it behaved at that point in time.
What to look for when choosing a version
- The time/date that matches when the App “last worked.”
- A change summary (if shown), like “Added category field” or “Reorganized layout.”
- Missing or broken pieces: fields that disappeared, buttons that moved, or results that no longer make sense.
Restore a version when a change didn’t work out
From the App, open Forge and then open Version history.
Pick the version that matches the App behavior you want back.
Tap Restore (or Restore this version). Spanner will confirm what will change.
After restoring, run the App the way you normally would to confirm the issue is gone.
Common situations (and what to do)
Go back to Version history and restore an earlier version (one more step back). If you’re not sure which one, choose the last version from before the day you made major edits.
Make sure you opened Forge from inside the App you want to change (not a general Forge chat). Then look for Versions or History in the Forge options/menu.
Versions are primarily about the App’s setup (screens, fields, behavior). If Spanner shows a confirmation that mentions data/entries, read it carefully before restoring. When in doubt, restore and then check your entries right away.
Use Version history to restore the version right before that change, or ask Forge: “Undo the last change to this App.”
Restore safely (best practices)
- Restore first, then refine: get back to a working version, then request improvements in small steps.
- Test immediately: after restoring, try one or two real examples you normally use.
- Use timestamps: if you remember “it worked yesterday morning,” pick the version from around that time.