Skip to main content

Hi AirTable Team,


Thank you so much for AirTable – it’s been so inspiring and helpful!


Feature Request: “Would it ever be possible to duplicate an AirTable Table to a different AirTable Base?”


Use Case: After creating a great Table with customized fields we realize, “This table would work great in another base we already have going. Let me just export it to CSV and Import.” While this gets us most of the way there, we lose the field type customizations in the process (i.e. Single Select, Multiple Select, Attachment, URL, Currency, etc.).


For now, I am happy to go back through the 18 fields (in our case) and customize each field type. Simply changing it to an “Attachment” or “URL” is no problem, but where it takes a little bit more time is in recreating or cleaning up the Single Select and Multiple Select options. We have a number of those fields and have to edit again, add, etc.


Idea for Implementation: Perhaps in the Table arrow dropdown we could enhance the “Duplicate Table” option that is already there so that, when clicked, it presents a new window that lets the user select which Base they want to duplicate this Table to. The dialogue/window might look similar to the one we see when we switch Bases by pressing Cmd+K: we can simply start typing the Base name with the ability to duplicate the Table to that Base. This might be one of many ways to introduce this functionality.


If the feature request ever makes it to the AirTable “Let’s do this” list, of course that would be exciting for me, but I know there are other priorities as well!


Thanks again for AirTable(!) and to the teams, friendships, and vision behind it – keep up the good work! 🙂

@James_Hahn_II you are blessed among men! Thanks for sharing this tidbit!

I’ve deleted all columns and rows in the new table, then Paste. But it still doesn’t copy the formulae - only the data.



After CTRL-V, only this pops up:


Do you want to expand this table?


To fit your pasted data into the table, we need to add 52 more recordsand 12 more fields.


Expand the table so that all of the pasted cells will fit.


Don’t expand the table. Values outside of the table will not be pasted.

This is a must. seems to also be a different thread for the same feature

I WIN! NOT YOU (code/software/etc), ME! I WIN! IT’S ALL I DO!!!


Please forgive my exuberance, it’s how I celebrate after hours of toiling away trying to get something to work. This seems simple enough, but after avoiding figuring this out for months I finally decided to give it a go on a Saturday morning. Just spent another 2 hours completely perplexed, much like @Jarret_Cassaniti above.


For anyone still struggling to figure this out, here is the workflow at last!



  1. Go to the table you want to copy and select “Grid View”.

  2. Remove any Group filters you have in place so you see all of the data in list like a traditional spreadsheet.

  3. Click anywhere on the Table. It doesn’t matter if you click a Column, click into a Cell, or in the gray space off to the side.

  4. Press Command+A (Mac) or Windows+A (PC) on your keyboard. All of the columns and rows are now a highlighted light blue.

  5. Press Command+C (Mac) or Windows+C (PC) on your keyboard. You have now copied all of the rows AND the structured data for each column.

  6. Click the Airtable “Go home” logo at the top left of your screen.

  7. Click the base where you want to duplicate the table.

  8. Click the “(+)” plus sign icon next to “SHARE” at the top-right of the first Table you see in the Base.

  9. Select “Create empty table”.

  10. Give your Table a name or press Enter to use the generic Table name assigned by Airtable.

  11. Right-click the Attachments column and select “Delete field” at the bottom list.

  12. Right-click the Notes column and select “Delete field” at the bottom of the list… You are now only left with the Name column and three rows.

  13. Click the checkbox next to each of the three rows.

  14. Right-click and select “Delete all selected records”.

  15. Click the (+) plus sign to add a new row. You will now see the blinking | line icon indicating you can now add information to the cell.

  16. Press Command+V (Mac) or Windows+V (PC) on your keyboard.

  17. Cry tears of joy because you now know how to fully duplicate a table in a different base!


Only deleting the columns didn’t do the trick for me, but h/t to @James_Samuel for that advice. Once I deleted all columns AND rows, it worked like a charm.


Hope this helps save at least one poor soul from the torture of having to piecing this together without step-by-step instructions. Airtable, if you’re listening, please add this to your documentation!


Cheers y’all!


James


Thanks James for sharing!

I’d also like to copy the views along with the table, to the new base.

I found this doesn’t work in Firefox (won’t copy the data structure) but will in Chrome.

The copy and paste option works fine if you only have one view to recreate on the new base. But I’ve got a table with multiple views all filtered differently, as well as a number of forms with customized text. Copy and pasting and then recreating my views and forms will take quite a bit of time. It makes this copy and paste solution not a strong enough answer to this feature request. Would really love to be able to copy an entire table and its views, completely as-is, to another base in one or two clicks. I love Airtable, but this would be a significant improvement. Thanks!

You can actually already do this by pressing Cmd+A, Cmd+C to select and copy all cells, respectively, then Cmd+V to paste into a new table (even in a different Base). Replace Cmd with Ctrl if you’re on Windows.


Hi @Howie_Liu, if I copy and paste the cells into a new base, will it automatically link the cells so both bases are updated with new information added/edited/deleted?

Hi @Howie_Liu, if I copy and paste the cells into a new base, will it automatically link the cells so both bases are updated with new information added/edited/deleted?


Hi @Hannah_Garza - unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Copying creates a new copy and they are not linked when you copy to a new base. If you copy within a single base (i.e. between tables) then it will keep the linked relationship. But not between bases.

Hi @Hannah_Garza - unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Copying creates a new copy and they are not linked when you copy to a new base. If you copy within a single base (i.e. between tables) then it will keep the linked relationship. But not between bases.


Hi Howie, thanks for your response! So if I’m wanting to use the same data in one base and all the updates that will occur there, how can I create a new base and/or table with that copy the same linked information?

Hi Howie, thanks for your response! So if I’m wanting to use the same data in one base and all the updates that will occur there, how can I create a new base and/or table with that copy the same linked information?


Hi Hannah - you can’t 😦 That is the #1 requested feature.


btw - I’m not Howie. Howie is the CEO of Airtable. I figured he’s pretty busy these days so thought I’d jump in to answer 🙂

Hi Hannah - you can’t 😦 That is the #1 requested feature.


btw - I’m not Howie. Howie is the CEO of Airtable. I figured he’s pretty busy these days so thought I’d jump in to answer 🙂


Hey @openside! I realized after I sent the last message. Thank you for your responses, I will just have to come up with a workaround. :winking_face:

You do win! Worked like a champ! I would just add after #16 to click yes to the “Expand Table” query. Thank you!!

Hi, I’m using this thread because the request can be related: if we have two identical tables, it would be nice to have a feature (a block maybe?) that keeps them synchronized.


What do you think?


Yes, it would be amazing to duplicate a table to another base and keep the two synchronised - and it would also (kind of) solve the “link to tables across bases” issue 🙂

I WIN! NOT YOU (code/software/etc), ME! I WIN! IT’S ALL I DO!!!


Please forgive my exuberance, it’s how I celebrate after hours of toiling away trying to get something to work. This seems simple enough, but after avoiding figuring this out for months I finally decided to give it a go on a Saturday morning. Just spent another 2 hours completely perplexed, much like @Jarret_Cassaniti above.


For anyone still struggling to figure this out, here is the workflow at last!



  1. Go to the table you want to copy and select “Grid View”.

  2. Remove any Group filters you have in place so you see all of the data in list like a traditional spreadsheet.

  3. Click anywhere on the Table. It doesn’t matter if you click a Column, click into a Cell, or in the gray space off to the side.

  4. Press Command+A (Mac) or Windows+A (PC) on your keyboard. All of the columns and rows are now a highlighted light blue.

  5. Press Command+C (Mac) or Windows+C (PC) on your keyboard. You have now copied all of the rows AND the structured data for each column.

  6. Click the Airtable “Go home” logo at the top left of your screen.

  7. Click the base where you want to duplicate the table.

  8. Click the “(+)” plus sign icon next to “SHARE” at the top-right of the first Table you see in the Base.

  9. Select “Create empty table”.

  10. Give your Table a name or press Enter to use the generic Table name assigned by Airtable.

  11. Right-click the Attachments column and select “Delete field” at the bottom list.

  12. Right-click the Notes column and select “Delete field” at the bottom of the list… You are now only left with the Name column and three rows.

  13. Click the checkbox next to each of the three rows.

  14. Right-click and select “Delete all selected records”.

  15. Click the (+) plus sign to add a new row. You will now see the blinking | line icon indicating you can now add information to the cell.

  16. Press Command+V (Mac) or Windows+V (PC) on your keyboard.

  17. Cry tears of joy because you now know how to fully duplicate a table in a different base!


Only deleting the columns didn’t do the trick for me, but h/t to @James_Samuel for that advice. Once I deleted all columns AND rows, it worked like a charm.


Hope this helps save at least one poor soul from the torture of having to piecing this together without step-by-step instructions. Airtable, if you’re listening, please add this to your documentation!


Cheers y’all!


James


THANKSSSSSSS ! great job

thanks a lot a lot

Thank you for this! You’ve at least given us some of our field types back with this very well written solution. Your time is VERY much appreciated. Airtable is now referring people to your post when we once again request the ability to duplicate and move tables! Rob (Airtable Support)


"Sep 12, 4:14 PM PDT


Hi Jeri,


Take a look at James Hahn’s post here. This workaround accomplishes most of the heavy lifting with a requirement to rebuild formulas. It’s not perfect but it’s something! Unfortunately, I don’t have a timeline on a table copy feature though it is a heavily requested one."


Still, having developed dozens of formulas and linked tables, I and others like me are left with no viable solution from Airtable for a much needed feature.

I found this doesn’t work in Firefox (won’t copy the data structure) but will in Chrome.


Thanks for this! It worked.

I WIN! NOT YOU (code/software/etc), ME! I WIN! IT’S ALL I DO!!!


Please forgive my exuberance, it’s how I celebrate after hours of toiling away trying to get something to work. This seems simple enough, but after avoiding figuring this out for months I finally decided to give it a go on a Saturday morning. Just spent another 2 hours completely perplexed, much like @Jarret_Cassaniti above.


For anyone still struggling to figure this out, here is the workflow at last!



  1. Go to the table you want to copy and select “Grid View”.

  2. Remove any Group filters you have in place so you see all of the data in list like a traditional spreadsheet.

  3. Click anywhere on the Table. It doesn’t matter if you click a Column, click into a Cell, or in the gray space off to the side.

  4. Press Command+A (Mac) or Windows+A (PC) on your keyboard. All of the columns and rows are now a highlighted light blue.

  5. Press Command+C (Mac) or Windows+C (PC) on your keyboard. You have now copied all of the rows AND the structured data for each column.

  6. Click the Airtable “Go home” logo at the top left of your screen.

  7. Click the base where you want to duplicate the table.

  8. Click the “(+)” plus sign icon next to “SHARE” at the top-right of the first Table you see in the Base.

  9. Select “Create empty table”.

  10. Give your Table a name or press Enter to use the generic Table name assigned by Airtable.

  11. Right-click the Attachments column and select “Delete field” at the bottom list.

  12. Right-click the Notes column and select “Delete field” at the bottom of the list… You are now only left with the Name column and three rows.

  13. Click the checkbox next to each of the three rows.

  14. Right-click and select “Delete all selected records”.

  15. Click the (+) plus sign to add a new row. You will now see the blinking | line icon indicating you can now add information to the cell.

  16. Press Command+V (Mac) or Windows+V (PC) on your keyboard.

  17. Cry tears of joy because you now know how to fully duplicate a table in a different base!


Only deleting the columns didn’t do the trick for me, but h/t to @James_Samuel for that advice. Once I deleted all columns AND rows, it worked like a charm.


Hope this helps save at least one poor soul from the torture of having to piecing this together without step-by-step instructions. Airtable, if you’re listening, please add this to your documentation!


Cheers y’all!


James


All hail King James for saving the people! 👑

I WIN! NOT YOU (code/software/etc), ME! I WIN! IT’S ALL I DO!!!


Please forgive my exuberance, it’s how I celebrate after hours of toiling away trying to get something to work. This seems simple enough, but after avoiding figuring this out for months I finally decided to give it a go on a Saturday morning. Just spent another 2 hours completely perplexed, much like @Jarret_Cassaniti above.


For anyone still struggling to figure this out, here is the workflow at last!



  1. Go to the table you want to copy and select “Grid View”.

  2. Remove any Group filters you have in place so you see all of the data in list like a traditional spreadsheet.

  3. Click anywhere on the Table. It doesn’t matter if you click a Column, click into a Cell, or in the gray space off to the side.

  4. Press Command+A (Mac) or Windows+A (PC) on your keyboard. All of the columns and rows are now a highlighted light blue.

  5. Press Command+C (Mac) or Windows+C (PC) on your keyboard. You have now copied all of the rows AND the structured data for each column.

  6. Click the Airtable “Go home” logo at the top left of your screen.

  7. Click the base where you want to duplicate the table.

  8. Click the “(+)” plus sign icon next to “SHARE” at the top-right of the first Table you see in the Base.

  9. Select “Create empty table”.

  10. Give your Table a name or press Enter to use the generic Table name assigned by Airtable.

  11. Right-click the Attachments column and select “Delete field” at the bottom list.

  12. Right-click the Notes column and select “Delete field” at the bottom of the list… You are now only left with the Name column and three rows.

  13. Click the checkbox next to each of the three rows.

  14. Right-click and select “Delete all selected records”.

  15. Click the (+) plus sign to add a new row. You will now see the blinking | line icon indicating you can now add information to the cell.

  16. Press Command+V (Mac) or Windows+V (PC) on your keyboard.

  17. Cry tears of joy because you now know how to fully duplicate a table in a different base!


Only deleting the columns didn’t do the trick for me, but h/t to @James_Samuel for that advice. Once I deleted all columns AND rows, it worked like a charm.


Hope this helps save at least one poor soul from the torture of having to piecing this together without step-by-step instructions. Airtable, if you’re listening, please add this to your documentation!


Cheers y’all!


James


You saved me days of work! Thanks James!

I WIN! NOT YOU (code/software/etc), ME! I WIN! IT’S ALL I DO!!!


Please forgive my exuberance, it’s how I celebrate after hours of toiling away trying to get something to work. This seems simple enough, but after avoiding figuring this out for months I finally decided to give it a go on a Saturday morning. Just spent another 2 hours completely perplexed, much like @Jarret_Cassaniti above.


For anyone still struggling to figure this out, here is the workflow at last!



  1. Go to the table you want to copy and select “Grid View”.

  2. Remove any Group filters you have in place so you see all of the data in list like a traditional spreadsheet.

  3. Click anywhere on the Table. It doesn’t matter if you click a Column, click into a Cell, or in the gray space off to the side.

  4. Press Command+A (Mac) or Windows+A (PC) on your keyboard. All of the columns and rows are now a highlighted light blue.

  5. Press Command+C (Mac) or Windows+C (PC) on your keyboard. You have now copied all of the rows AND the structured data for each column.

  6. Click the Airtable “Go home” logo at the top left of your screen.

  7. Click the base where you want to duplicate the table.

  8. Click the “(+)” plus sign icon next to “SHARE” at the top-right of the first Table you see in the Base.

  9. Select “Create empty table”.

  10. Give your Table a name or press Enter to use the generic Table name assigned by Airtable.

  11. Right-click the Attachments column and select “Delete field” at the bottom list.

  12. Right-click the Notes column and select “Delete field” at the bottom of the list… You are now only left with the Name column and three rows.

  13. Click the checkbox next to each of the three rows.

  14. Right-click and select “Delete all selected records”.

  15. Click the (+) plus sign to add a new row. You will now see the blinking | line icon indicating you can now add information to the cell.

  16. Press Command+V (Mac) or Windows+V (PC) on your keyboard.

  17. Cry tears of joy because you now know how to fully duplicate a table in a different base!


Only deleting the columns didn’t do the trick for me, but h/t to @James_Samuel for that advice. Once I deleted all columns AND rows, it worked like a charm.


Hope this helps save at least one poor soul from the torture of having to piecing this together without step-by-step instructions. Airtable, if you’re listening, please add this to your documentation!


Cheers y’all!


James


Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you…

Someone warned already - this does not work in Firefox. It did work in the PC Desktop ‘app’. Someone said it does also work in Chrome.

Create a sync table and then remove the syncing

This allows you to duplicate a table from one base to another

Hi Everyone,


I’ve tried everything, and… it does not work !



  • Deleting all the cell, columns and rows

  • Deleting other table

  • Using Chrome


I still have the message about expanding the cells, and it always only copy the content and not the structure.


Anyone has an idea of what to do ?


Thanks,

Hi Everyone,


I’ve tried everything, and… it does not work !



  • Deleting all the cell, columns and rows

  • Deleting other table

  • Using Chrome


I still have the message about expanding the cells, and it always only copy the content and not the structure.


Anyone has an idea of what to do ?


Thanks,


There’s another simple way now. In short it is using “Share View”


Reply


Terms & Conditions