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Re: Basic Tutorial on Functions

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ATG
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

Is there a sample code snippet to pass table records into a function? Do I also need to pass the table or field itself (because I need the field to get cell value, or the table to get the field, right?)

16 Replies 16
ATG
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

How do I call datetime_diff from a scripting block?

ATG
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

Is there a function to raise a float to an arbitrary number?

e.g., 2^1.04 = 2.0566

@ATG

All of the SDK that Airtable makes available is documented in the Scripting block. Mostly all you are using the SDK for is to retrieve records, retrieve information about your base schema, or update/create/delete records.

Outside of that, any logic you want to implement (such as the concept of “datetime_diff”) will be done with vanilla JavaScript, not with Airtable formula-field functions. So, for stuff like that, you’ll want to checkout the JavaScript documentation:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/javascript

Here’s information on working with dates in JavaScript:

Date

JavaScript Date objects represent a single moment in time in a platform-independent format.

Here’s information on Math operators in JavaScript:

Math

Math is a built-in object that has properties and methods for mathematical constants and functions. Not a function object.

I haven’t been able to find any documentation on the scripting block - is there a link?

For example, does an Airtable date field correspond to a JavaScript Date object or does it need to be processed?

What is the right way of selecting the first record?
let date0 = query.records[0].getCellValue(date);
//This seems to return an object but not a Javascript Date?

Can I make sure the records are pre-sorted before they are returned in the Javascript environment (or do I need to set up a view with the records sorted and getRecords from the View)?

Lots of basic questions - the scripting block documentation just has 5 pretty limited examples

thanks

ATG
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

getCellValue(date) on a date field returns just a Javascript string it seems:

let date0 = query.records[0].getCellValue(date);
output.text(date0);
output.inspect(date0);
output.text(typeof date0);

OUTPUT:

2005-12-30

“2005-12-30”

string

The documentation for the Scripting Block is located in the Block itself, underneath where you write your code:
image

The documentation is pretty thin, but that’s because the API is pretty thin also. Airtable is only concerned with providing you access to your tables, views, and records via the API, and access to create, update, or destroy them.

All the rest is just JavaScript – which means the limits of what you can do once you have your records is bound by the JavaScript documentation, not Airtable’s API documentation. That’s why I provided you the JavaScript documentation. That said, JavaScript is not easy per se. I feel your pain, @ATG. The struggle is real.

Since you are working with dates, you might benefit from taking a look at my Example Script for Detecting Scheduling Conflicts:

I use, process, and compare dates by retrieving them from Airtable and turning them into JavaScript Date objects in that Script.

It looks like you are mostly on the right track with stuff, and I promise you that you will learn far more from the difficult “troubleshoot as you go process” you are going through now than you would by reading documentation! Experience is the best teacher.

Another little tip - make use of the output.inspect() function Airtable makes available while you are trying to figure stuff out. If you are unsure what some variable in your code might be holding at any point, throw it into an output.inspect(variable) and run your script to see what it is, what shape it takes, how/if it can be delved into, etc.
image

@Jeremy_Oglesby, great post.

… and excellent insight. And by “thin” I think you mean good (mostly). The SDK Airtable has created is concise, relatively simple to learn, and extremely powerful.

Early on I had trepidation concerning the lack of filter queries and things that are undeniably critical in API integration, but then I realized two things which are key distinctive qualities about Script Blocks -

  1. Gathering records from a table does not actually embody the fields themselves [see output.inspect() of any recordset and you’ll see just how lightweight this request is].

  2. The underlying architecture of Script Blocks appears to lean on the existing Airtable UI [i.e., a block runs in context with the UI and as such, all the data has been previously requested].

Indeed, and this especially the case with “modern” javascript patterns where promises are required.