+17Somewhat recently, Airtable updated self-linked record fields so they automatically create a second field on the same table showing the inverse relationship — same as how linking between two different tables has always created a field on both sides.
I have a few tables with self-links that I set up before that change, and they're still one-way. Is there a way to add the inverse field to an existing self-link without deleting and recreating it?
+22When they pushed the update for two-way, they didn’t apply it to pre-existing self-linked fields to ensure no one’s in production bases were affected.
The simplest way I’ve handled this is to create a new self-linked field (which will automatically create another field as the inverse), title one field parent or child (depending on how your prior workflow was set up), and then just copy/paste the old one-way field into the appropriate new field. It’s inverse will auto populate and you can delete the old one-way field.
+17I was hoping I’d be able to do it without setting up all my automations & interfaces again, but I fear you are probably right. Thanks
+35
You might want to try changing your existing linked record field to a single line text field, and then changing it back to a linked record field afterwards. I haven’t tested this idea, but it might do the trick.
- ScottWorld, Expert Airtable Consultant
+24I tried to test
I’d need to do more to see what happens with automations or interfaces, or if you use Airtable with a third party front end. In my case I link with Noloco, which actually supported backlinks before they were added to Airtable (they would create an additional field for the backlink - which would not synch back to Airtable). Maybe that’s a unique concern but it took some additional work to recreate an app and I wish I had tried this back then.
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