I’m building a self-referencing task dependency system in Airtable. Each task can list its Predecessors, the tasks that must be completed before it, and I want Airtable to automatically display the corresponding Successors, the tasks that depend on it, without any code or automation.
In short, I’m creating a two-way view of task relationships so that linking one side (Predecessors) automatically reveals the other side (Successors).
So in the image attached, “Conduct internal briefing meeting” should show up as a successor in “Project set-up”.
If anyone can help this would be amazing!
Best answer by Mike_AutomaticN
Hey @db1593!
If deleted a month ago, I don’t think you’ll be able to restore it from trash. However, what you could easily do is create a new linked record to its own table. You’ll have both fields now, make sure to name one “Predecessors” and the other one “Successors”.
Create a new view on the table, and make sure you are NOT grouping it.
Click on the header of your original (meaning the one you have right now, not the new one) Predecessors field, which will select the full field/column. Copy (ctr c) and paste it in the new Predecessors field. By doing that you’ll see how you’r new Successors field gets automatically filled out.
You can then delete your original Predecessors field.
If your predecessors field has too many dependencies and deleting it is therefore not an option, you could try to: Change its field type (e.g. single line text), and then change it back to a linked record field, and see if by doing so the new field gets created.
Linked Record Fields that link to the same table now automatically create a “From” field that creates this relationship automatically. Sometimes on creation this field gets hidden, or if this field was created long enough ago you may need to recreate the field.
This should accomplish what you are looking for automatically.
Amazing thank you so much @Tyler_Thorson! If I’ve deleted that From field because I didn’t realise, is there a way to get it back? I potentially deleted it over a month ago.
If deleted a month ago, I don’t think you’ll be able to restore it from trash. However, what you could easily do is create a new linked record to its own table. You’ll have both fields now, make sure to name one “Predecessors” and the other one “Successors”.
Create a new view on the table, and make sure you are NOT grouping it.
Click on the header of your original (meaning the one you have right now, not the new one) Predecessors field, which will select the full field/column. Copy (ctr c) and paste it in the new Predecessors field. By doing that you’ll see how you’r new Successors field gets automatically filled out.
You can then delete your original Predecessors field.
If your predecessors field has too many dependencies and deleting it is therefore not an option, you could try to: Change its field type (e.g. single line text), and then change it back to a linked record field, and see if by doing so the new field gets created.
You can actually restore an older version of your base from a snapshot, and then copy and paste the deleted data into your current base… or come up with some other way to bring it into your current base, such as syncing or automations.
It wouldn’t be as easy as restoring a field, but at least you’ll be able to get back all of your data.
Thanks very much @Mike_AutomaticN and @ScottWorld. These and Tyler’s have been far more elegant solutions that I originally had hoped. I’ve ended up taking this approach from Mike:
Change its field type (e.g. single line text), and then change it back to a linked record field, and see if by doing so the new field gets created
Unfortunately it removed the predecessors in my record template but I can go through and add those back in fairly quickly!
