Relational data without SQL
Link records across tables — clients to projects, invoices to payments, tasks to deadlines — using reference columns and lookups. Same power as a relational database, no queries to write.
Applications → Grist
The power of a database with the familiarity of a spreadsheet.
Grist is a modern, open-source spreadsheet-database that combines the familiarity of a spreadsheet with the structure of a database. Use it to track clients, manage projects, build approval workflows, or replace shared spreadsheets that have become unmanageable.
What Grist does
Grist fills the gap between Excel and a full database. It gives you relational data (linked records, lookups, references), formulas, access rules, custom layouts and widgets — all from a spreadsheet interface your team already understands. It ships as part of every ReefOffice server, with SSO and daily encrypted backups included.
Why teams use Grist on ReefOffice
Access rules per table
Control who can see, edit or delete what — at the table, column or row level. Perfect for client data that should stay client-specific.
Custom layouts & dashboards
Build visual dashboards with cards, charts, calendars and your own custom widgets. Arrange data in layouts that tell a story, not just a grid.
Formulas & Python
Use spreadsheet formulas for everyday calculations, or Python formulas for advanced logic — all running in a sandbox on your own server.
Import & export
Import from Excel, CSV or SQLite. Export to CSV, Excel or PDF. Document format is standard SQLite — no proprietary lock-in.
Multiple data sources
Grist supports linking multiple tables and external data sources — CSV, Google Sheets, SQLite. Build dashboards that combine data from your CRM, invoicing, and project tracking into one view.
Self-hosted and private
Grist on your own server, not someone else's cloud
Grist runs as a Docker container on your ReefOffice server. All your spreadsheet data stays on your machine — never shared with a SaaS provider. SSO through Authentik means one login works. Backups capture everything via daily encrypted Restic snapshots. The OSS edition is Apache-licensed, so there is no license fee or feature gate.
Connected to your workspace
Grist integrates naturally with the rest of your ReefOffice stack. Automation recipes in Activepieces can read and write Grist tables. The Hermes AI agent can query your Grist records to answer questions about your data. Your documents and client files live in Nextcloud, while the structured records that organise them live in Grist.
Common questions
Can I use Grist as a CRM? +
Yes. Many teams use Grist as a lightweight CRM — track leads, manage deal pipelines, log client interactions and automate follow-ups, all in one document. If you need invoicing and quotes alongside your CRM, Dolibarr is also included on your server.
Can I migrate from Airtable or Excel? +
Yes. Grist supports importing from Excel, CSV, SQLite — and you can export any document back to these formats at any time. For larger Airtable migrations, ReefOffice can help during onboarding.
Can I share a Grist document with someone outside my team? +
Yes. Grist supports sharing via email invitation with configurable access levels (view, edit, or full), and public share links with optional access rules. Guest users only see the data you choose to share.
Ready to turn your spreadsheets into structured data?
Book a demo and see how Grist on ReefOffice can replace the shared spreadsheets that slow your team down.