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Allow a Default for Long Text

  • September 21, 2020
  • 10 replies
  • 140 views

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I’d love to be able to define a default for LONG TEXT type fields so that I can spell out a template for my sales team to fill out prep sheets. Just a bunch of headings with colons. I am sure that I could automate this with a RECORD CREATED automation and populate the field if empty, but seems like there should be a defaults option for that field type.

10 replies

ScottWorld
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  • Genius
  • September 21, 2020

Yes, I agree with you that there should be a default option for long text fields.

However, the default field option is extremely limited and should never be depended on, as explained in the thread below.

Hands-down, your #1 best bet for this is to use automations for all your default field values. It’s the only way to ensure that you’ll get default values for all new records.


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  • Author
  • New Participant
  • September 21, 2020

Yeah, bummer! But thank you for the info!


ScottWorld
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  • Genius
  • September 21, 2020

You’re welcome! Glad I could help! :slightly_smiling_face:


  • New Participant
  • April 26, 2021

I would also like to see a default text option for long text fields, especially with rich text formatting!


+1, so we can add a standard checklist to each record


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  • Participating Frequently
  • October 28, 2021

Definitely +1 for this as well – with all the automation potential available in Airtable right now this feels like a very basic element which isn’t keeping up with the times

You could even do this completely through the automation panel: ie If new record created –> Update cell with pre-formatted text. I imagine you could even have a little Mock long-text field in the automation panel so you can pre-format yourself exactly as though you were formatting it in the long text field itself (With Rich text on or off)


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  • Known Participant
  • October 30, 2023

This is from 2 years ago- is there a fix for this or a workaround? I want a default template of text that i want staff to see rather than having this template somewhere else- what's the best way to do this?


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  • New Participant
  • April 30, 2024

+1 to this


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  • New Participant
  • August 14, 2024

+1 to this!


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  • Inspiring
  • February 10, 2025

It's been about 4. 5 years since this was initially asked. Any update? It would be so useful for providing templates to our teams in the long text field (with rich text formatting enabled).

+1 to this request!!