Skip to main content
Question

How to determine which field is used for two linked tables

  • May 22, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 105 views
M
Forum|alt.badge.img+2
  • mpalsf
  • Participating Frequently

I’m missing which field/value is used with two tables are linked. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

In particular,  I have a master business directory table and I want use automation to push in the linking value to the separate Department table. I would have thought that they are linked on the record id, but when I try to push the Department record ID into the master table, it’s not recognized. It seems to want the department name, which is not always unique. Is there a place to see the linking values between tables?

5 replies

DisraeliGears01
Forum|alt.badge.img+21

The linked field is going to be the primary field for the table (the left most column). Primary fields in Airtable don’t have to be unique (they generally should be to prevent confusion, but they don’t have to be) because Airtable generates a unique underlying record ID for every created row.

Can I venture a guess that your “Department Record ID” is something you set rather than the Airtable generated Record ID? 

To generate links you either need to use the value in the primary field or the generated Airtable Record ID. You can view the Airtable Record ID in the automation pane and reference it there, or you can add a formula field with RECORD_ID() which will display the generated ID that you can then reference in automations.

M
Forum|alt.badge.img+2
  • mpalsf
  • Author
  • Participating Frequently
  • May 22, 2025

Thanks for the reply.

 

I think I have that part. I think I’m missing when I want to link two tables in an automation. I have a Business Directory table, a Master Business Table, and a Department Table. When a new Department Record is created in a Form, I want to use an Automation to create a new Directory record and link to the Master Business Table and the new record in the Department table. I don’t seem to be able to use the Airtable record IDs as values to push into the new Directory record to link the Master and Dept records. The Primary directory field is a formula showing Master/Dept names. Should I change the Primary field to just the Record ID?

Mike_AutomaticN
Forum|alt.badge.img+28

Hey ​@mpalsf!

Would you mind sharing a couple of screenshots of (i) your database structure -meaning tables and fields; and (ii) your current automation setup?

I think that will bring a lot of clarity.

Mike, Consultant @ Automatic Nation 

M
Forum|alt.badge.img+2
  • mpalsf
  • Author
  • Participating Frequently
  • May 22, 2025

Sorry, never mind. Operator error.

I really appreciate the responses. I’ve programmed a long time but new to Airtable, so hope to become a contributing member of the community.

Michael

TheTimeSavingCo
Alexey_Gusev
Forum|alt.badge.img+25

Hi,

JFYI, you can test such things quickly without automation run.
by simply copy-pasting record ID into link field instead of Primary field value.
even if your record ID is not displayed in table (you can add column of IDs by RECORD_ID() formula, but usually user has no reason to do it)

or example, I select random record in TEST2, expand it by SPACE key and notice record ID in browser link (record ID is like  ‘recAbC1dEf23xyz’ (14 chars after ‘rec’, letters/number only)

 



Then I paste ‘rechFmC9jqQoOvIyo’ into linked field of random record in TEST1

 

The result is as expected:

 

 

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement