The Backstory: As more teams use Backstory Sheets to view and update Salesforce data, you realize you need more control over which CRM data users can view and modify. You use App Controls to restrict who can create custom Sheets, helping protect sensitive fields, maintain accurate CRM data, and ensure teams work from consistent, standardized views.
App Controls let you manage whether users in a Configuration Profile can create Sheets in the Backstory App. You can allow all users to create custom Sheets, giving them flexibility in how they view and edit CRM data, or restrict Sheet creation to authorized users to ensure consistent, intentionally designed views across your organization.
Restricting Sheet creation with App Controls helps you:
Protect CRM data integrity: Prevent users from creating views or making edits that could introduce inaccurate, inconsistent, or incomplete CRM data.
Limit access to sensitive fields: Keep sensitive, confidential, or operationally important CRM fields out of Sheets.
Maintain consistent workflows: Ensure teams work from standardized views rather than creating their own versions of how CRM data should be organized or managed.
Note: App Controls restrict users with Member and Manager permissions. Administrators always have full access to create Sheets, regardless of this setting.
Manage App Controls
These steps show you how to access App Controls through the Backstory Admin Panel. You can also manage this setting directly from each Configuration Profile.
Note: Managing App Controls requires a Backstory administrator account.
Log into Backstory Engagement Dashboards as an administrator.
Click the grid icon in the top left corner.
Select Admin Panel.
Under Organization, click App Controls. The App Controls page will open and shows how many Configuration Profiles currently have Sheet creation enabled.
Click the gear icon to view all Configuration Profiles and their current Sheet creation setting.
Click the toggle to enable or disable Sheet creation for any Configuration Profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheet creation enabled by default?
Yes. Sheet creation is enabled for every Configuration Profile by default, so administrators who want to restrict it need to disable it explicitly.
What happens when Sheet creation is disabled for a Configuration Profile?
Users in that profile no longer see the Duplicate Sheet action on an existing Sheet or the + button next to My Content in the sidebar. If they try to reach the page to create a new Sheet directly by URL, they see the standard No Content page instead.
Does this setting affect Backstory administrators?
No. Administrators always have full access to application features regardless of the App Controls setting. The setting only restricts users with Member or Manager permissions.
Does disabling Sheet creation affect Backstory Engagement Dashboards?
No. App Controls only govern the Backstory App experience and do not restrict board or table creation in Engagement Dashboards.
Need Help?
Contact your Customer Success Manager or support@backstory.ai.