I have a master screen that has a feature for producing reports in Excel Format.
Every time I access this screen, it puts up a list of recent email reports in the upper right (see screen below.
I only want this list to show when I click on the Report Button but it shows on entry to the screen and when performing other functions.
Is there some way of controlling this so the email list only shows when reports are requested?
Mike
Hi @mdsmith1
If the objective is to hide the email list by default and show it based on a specific condition, you can control the visibility of the table component using the "Visible" property. Here's a screenshot for reference:
Additionally, if the goal is to prevent the table from being populated automatically, you can set the query that loads the data to run manually instead of automatically. This gives you control over when the data is fetched—typically triggered by a button click. Here's how to configure that:
Adnan:
I think there is a misunderstanding.
The emails are not part of the table. The email list is showing up under the download button in the upper right corner of the screen.
The table shows up fine, my problem is with the email list in the upper right.
Mike
Mike,
I'm unable to see the emails in the screenshot. Have you posted the correct screenshot?
In case you're referring to the list of Excel files that start with "Letter04", isn't that the download history for your web browser?
Ferret:
Yes, it is.
I have buttons that produce Excel Reports that stimulate the browser download. That is what I want.
But other times I get a download list when I have not produced a report. I would like to tum this part off.
Mike
The emails all start with the word "Letter4" in the upper right.
This is a listing of the titles of the emails. The actual email opens when you click on the title.
Mike
Hi @mdsmith1,
The list you're seeing is part of your browser’s download history overlay and is not generated by Retool.
To manage this behavior more effectively:
Ensure downloads are only triggered by explicit user actions.
→ Confirm that no queries are set to run automatically on page load.
Use a modal or confirmation step before initiating a download.
→ This helps prevent unintended file downloads.
Browser limitation:
→ The download list is controlled by the browser and cannot be disabled through Retool.
If you'd like, I can help review your button logic to ensure downloads are only triggered when intended.
Hamza:
You are welcome to look at my button logic.
There are 4 files: Speeding01, Speeding02, Speeding03 and Speeding04.
Any one brings you into the total mix. At the top of every screen there are black buttons that take you to the other 3 files.
The screen that has the logic for reports is the "Master File" Screen. Most times when I go to this file, I get the Letter4 browser dump. The other 3 files have no logic for producing reports, so there is no browser Letter 4 dump.
The Master Files screen has 2 buttons in the lower left, starting with "Produce Report ..." that contain the logic for the report generation.
If you can take a look, I would really appreciate it.
Mike
Thanks, Mike — that’s helpful.
It sounds like something on the "Master File" screen might be triggering the download automatically. Could you share the logic behind the two "Produce Report…" buttons? Also, let me know if any queries run on screen load.
I’ll take a look and help make sure downloads only happen when the button is clicked.
Hamza:
There is no logic that would trigger a download in the GoToApp code that routes to the Master File Screen.
The code under the "Produce Report .. " buttons is a bit complicated but there is nothing that would activate the code outside of pressing the buttons.
Mike
Hi @mdsmith1,
Just wanted to check in and see if these file downloads were still causing issues for you. And to confirm that the issue is that you are not expecting the downloads that I circled in red to appear when they are.
As @HamzaHassan pointed out, there may be a hidden query or script running that is causing those Excel documents to be downloaded to your computer.
Are these appearing on initial page load of when changing between the via views via the black buttons along the top?
This can be tricky to debug, but we can definitely troubleshoot better while looking at the app live during our Retool Office hours as needed!
Jack:
I have gone through all my code.
I know which button generates the letter 4 reports but the code under that button is not found anywhere else.
The initial code simply selects data for the table there is no reference to the code that generates the letter 4 report.
If you would like to look at my code during Office Hours, that would be great.
Mike
Hi @mdsmith1,
Ok great to hear. My one other thought was that the query that generates the letter 4 reports may be set to 'automatic' causing it to run on page load instead of 'manual' where it would only run when triggered directly, ie when the button is clicked.
I would imagine as a last ditch scenario we could try deleting that query and re-creating it from scratch with the run behavior set to 'manual' if this issue of unintentional file downloads is still causing problems after we look through the app.
Additionally to prep for office hours, if you could export the JSON for the app me and my team can look it over to confirm that everything is set up as expected.
You can export the app via the. button in the debug console!
Hope to see you in office hours tomorrow 
Jack:
I have tried Settings on the files that run with the "Go to Master" button and they are all set to "Manual".
I have clicked on the "Download to JASON" in the debug frame and I am getting a list of files, some were run several minutes ago.
I am not clear on how I transfer JASON filed to you.
Mike
Hi @mdsmith1,
Thank you for checking that all the queries are set to 'Manual' that is good they are not running automatically but now more confusing as to why the queries to download those files are running without the button triggering them.
The next step would be to check the 'controlled by' panel for the queries, this will be at the bottom of the query's state tab. This might give us more clues as to what component's or events are able to run the query.
For how to export the app as a JSON file, check out this video in the link below. Once you click the button, the JSON file will be in the top of your downloads.
Then you can click to drag and drop it into a comment here and it will automatically turn into a link that I can use to download and test the app!
If you do not see the "controlled by" at the bottom, you may need to turn on a feature flag for this.
You can do that by going to the settings page of your Retool Org and then clicking 'Beta' and then typing in the flag name to then toggle on.
(Correction, this flag is not shown in the GUI but can be turned on by request by a Retool team member)
Top right drop down and then it will be the top option!
There are lots of really cool stuff in the 'settings' page, I would highly recommend exploring around as well as flipping that feature flag under the 'Beta' tab in the bottom left.
Let me know if when you turn this on and restart the app if the query is showing its "controlled by" list as that will let us know what could be running the downloads 
