Hello,
I have a primary table of records and a secondary table to request updates to the primary table. I want a column in the secondary table that lists all of the columns in the primary table that someone could select to update. Preferably, this would be a list that is linked to the actual column names in the primary table so that the list updates if I update a column name in the primary table. Is this something that AirTable can do?
TIA!
Hey, unfortunately that is not currently possible using native Airtable features.
However you could build an automation to check the base schema every minute or so using a 3hs party tool such as n8n and then get your multiple select field on your secondary table updated if schema changes. I believe this should be possible :)
Please let me know if it does!
Mike, Consultant @ Automatic Nation
It is not natively possible in Airtable to create a dropdown menu that automatically gives a list of all the column names in another table.
You might be able to use Javascript or an app like Mike suggested to continuously update a linked record field with options. (You probably couldn’t update a multiple select field because that typically requires creating new records.)
But I’m curious if you are keeping this list of update requests because the updates need to be approved by someone before the updates go live?
If you DON’T need the updates to be approved by someone before the updates go live, this is extremely easy to do for 100% free with Fillout’s advanced forms for Airtable, because Fillout lets your users update Airtable records with a form. You would still need to decide which fields appear on your form, but the updates would be automatic & instantaneous.
Even if you DO need the updates to be approved first, you could still do that with Fillout’s “update record” forms, but that is a much more advanced process that would require you building in special “update-only fields” into Airtable, and displaying the old data in a read-only fashion on your Fillout form so people can’t change the old data without someone reviewing the changes in Airtable first.
Hope this helps!
If you’d like to hire the best Airtable consultant to help you with this or anything else that is Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld
No, you cannot link to fields in another table in Airtable. Airtable only allows you to link to records. A workaround is to use a multi-select field where each option represents one of those column names, and then use automation to detect which options were selected and update related records accordingly.
That said, if your actual goal is to update records in a table based on input, the cleanest and most efficient way to do it is with a Fillout form. It saves you from setting up extra tables and automations, and gives a better experience overall.
If you're set on doing it entirely within Airtable, I’ve written an article on that approach too, which might be helpful.
Taha, Airtable Advisor
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