When Application Express was first introduced as HTML-DB at the beginning of the century, it was positioned as a Microsoft Access killer. This was because of the fast and easy way data-centric applications could be created, just like in Access, but centralized and having all the benefits of a multi user, consistent way of manipulating data.

In APEX 4.0, a new type of application is introduced called Websheets and developers have already described it as the Excel killer.

Websheets allow multiple users to simultaneously work on the same pieces of data, without directly working on a defined data model. Instead, websheets store data in generic tables that change depending on the design of the websheet.

The biggest innovation in this is that almost every aspect of a websheet application can be altered by users instead of developers. They are easy to use and very flexible. Constraints, lists, and calculations can be added by end users, without having to use the services of a developer.

A websheet application can be published for others to use, with or without privileges to modify data or alter the Websheet itself. This multi-user environment erases the need of merging data that is a common problem in spreadsheet programs like Excel.

All this makes websheets very interesting for use in management environments to quickly have access to data.