Can comments to AT records perform an auto-update to the 'Last Modified Date' field?

Nicky_Lombo · ‎Oct 16, 2020

I’m using AT as an Applicant Tracking System for recruiting. For records in AT, we use the Comment function to provide long-form notes on our candidates. We know the Comments automatically time-stamp the post, but we’re wondering if it’s possible to have the comment also update the ‘Date Modified’ field. This will help us run reports on the last date/time we’ve had an interaction with a candidate in our system.

Bill_French · ‎Oct 16, 2020

Not that I’m aware of. The commenting system is off-limits to scripting and the API, thus making it impossible to blend the realm of comments with the realm of data.

One workaround is to create comments using Airtable itself and link those comments to the applicant. Such a process could easily be done with a form and once a new entry is linked to an applicant record, it’s a simple matter of using an automation to update the date in the applicant record and link the record back to the staff comment.

Not ideal, but doable.

Jon_Techilovsky · ‎Jul 23, 2024

This would be so useful. We really need a way to get more information from the commenting side of Airtable.

There are many uses for this. Knowing how often a record is interacted with within a team is such useful information. Having a "Date/time of last comment" field or "User last commented" field or "Last comment added" field would open up a world of opportunities.

Creating your own comment system within airtable is not a viable solution as there is no way to easily integrate this into an airtable interface. The current Comments/Revisions sidebar in interfaces works well. We just need data on when comments are being added and by whom.

Use cases:

CRM - when was the sales lead last updated? How old has the prospect been sitting without anyone updating it?
Marketing to do list - who is most engaged within the team with projects?
Pipeline - what was the last comment added to a row, to display on a kanban card