automation between two tables

Screenshots would be helpful to understand what functionality your looking for, as it’s a bit hard to interpret.

Are you using a linked record field to connect table 1 and table 2? If so then you could use a lookup field to display the information from table 2 to table 1.

If you’re not using linked records, and you’re just using automation, another solution would be for your automation moving data from table 2 to table 1, use a “Find Records” action, and then a repeating group to update all the records found. Something like “Find Records where Project # = 3” and then update all records found to “ok”. That would push the information across multiple rows.

If you want data consistency between both tables, you need to link them.

In Table 2, create a linked record field that connects to the matching record in Table 1. When your automation creates a record in Table 2, make sure it sets this linked field to the corresponding project in Table 1. Then, add a lookup field in Table 1 to pull the "Status" field from Table 2 via the linked record.

If you can't use a linked record due to your setup, I’ll need more details about your tables to suggest an alternative. More context would be helpful.

Taha, Airtable Advisor

thanks for quick reply !!

Here are pictures

my 2 tables, MECANIC and TASKS

when ENGINE is TO DO and AFFECTATION is YES=> line is created in TASK table

what I need to do : in TASKS table if ENGINE is DONE I need that MECANIC table update ENGINE to DONE related to the CAR

My automation is in French, maybe hard to read for you ?

I’m going to try to link tables but I found that it was not enough good for my manager.

I don’t understand that it is so hard to do this kind of automation between two tables while it’s so simple on one table

thanks !!

Understand that Airtable is different from a regular spreadsheet. In a spreadsheet, if you copy data, you end up with the same information repeated in multiple places.

But Airtable is a relational database, which means it helps avoid duplication by linking data between tables.

So instead of having the same data in two tables, you just create a link to the table where the data lives.

For your setup:

• In your Tasks table, the Car field should be a linked record connected to the Mechanic table.

• The Engine field in your Tasks table should be a lookup field that pulls data from the Mechanic table.

This way, when you update something in the Tasks table, it will automatically update in the Mechanic table too.

Hope that makes things clearer!

Taha, Airtable Advisor

thanks ! how to proceed to do that ?

Convert the Car field in Tasks to a Linked Record

1. Go to the Tasks table.

2. Find the Car field.

3. Click the dropdown arrow on the field name and select “Customize field type”.

4. Change the field type to “Link to another record”.

5. Choose Mechanic as the table to link to.

6. Click Save.

Add a Lookup Field for Engine in the Tasks table

1. Still in the Tasks table, click “+” to add a new field.

2. Choose Field type: Lookup.

3. Name the field something like Engine from Mechanic.

4. Choose the linked Car field (you just created) as the source.

5. Then select the Engine field from the Mechanic table to pull in.

6. Click Save.

You can then delete your old Engine field in Tasks table.

Taha, Airtable Advisor

Thanks ! but in this case I have to manually choose the car from a list, it cannot be automatic ?

Convert the existing car field into a linked record. Since the names are the same in both tables, it will automatically link for you.

Taha, Airtable Advisor

it does not automatically link

If a create a  line in task table with automation I can link the car field, no problem, the car number appears.

But in mecanic table it doesn’t update the information from task

I’m going to try stuff 😅

I’m newbie but I have mainly to create this automation, the others automations are ok for me.

I’m going to use the team subscription soon but I have to  succeed this automation before 

thanks again

I have setup the base for you. You can check it out here - https://airtable.com/apptODLEFgw0Bd0JW/shr4a7XHosJSxLxOt

Taha, Airtable Advisor

many thanks for your help !

yes this kind of setup is quite simple, I manage to do that

I’m at this step below, now how to modify en engine status to DONE and how the MECANIC table could be updated ? because in TASKS table I can’t have the choice to put the ENGINE at DONE to update the MECANIC table, hope I’m clear 😄

Take a look at my setup—you should be able to change the Engine field in the Tasks table.

Basically, include the Engine field in your Tasks table, and then use a lookup field in your Mechanic table to reference it.

Taha, Airtable Advisor

Yes it works !!!

really appreciated your help

I understand now how it works.

To be clear and hope this is what you explained to me

In TASK table I linked CAR and ENGINE from MECANIC table, this line is created by automation.

Then, in MECANIC table I link ENGINE STATUS (new column) and CAR from TASKS table.

And by automation I can update the ENGINE column with ENGINE STATUS.

I have now to hide colums to avoid double information.

is it correct ?

Yes, this is how you need to do it.

Taha, Airtable Advisor

It’s quite complicated compared to automations on the same table.

I have lots of automations like this do to, it will be headache …. one for each operation to do on a car 😣 but it’s my job

thanks again !!!