Date order not quite right in a linked record

[Sebastian_Page]

I am a historian, constructing a historical database (1940s-60s). When I click on my linked record for a person or institution, some of which will have to link to 1000+ records, I notice that the records are almost arranged in date order - but not quite.

As I scroll down, I will notice up to 20 or 30 records running from earlier to later, as I would like, then a record from a decade earlier will appear next, followed by another run of (successful) earlier-later sequencing, though often for yet another subset of years.

Naturally, I would like the entire contents of a linked record to run from earlier to later.

I cannot see what other sort criterion the linked record might be using. It certainly isn’t the random 6-digit number I’ve created for each record ID. What is odd is how the linked record is almost in date order.

[Mohamed_Swella1]

Hi @Sebastian_Page,

I believe Linked Records appears in the order they were linked in. Meaning, everytime you link a record it will appear in the end of the list.

If you want to have a better view, maybe use the Kanban or Gallery view and customize the cards as you like.

If this helps you, please mark it as Solution so others can see it.

BR,
Mo

[Sebastian_Page]

Thanks for helping! That certainly explains the “runs” of correct dates, in that each one represents my logging a specific manuscript collection, itself arranged in date order, before starting on the next one.

Having now looked at those different views, I just wonder whether I’ve hit the limits of AirTable’s functionality for my particular needs. Being able to view everything in date order for a specific entry in a linked-record column - e.g. for following the activities of a certain person - is just as important to me as being able to arrange the underlying records - the overarching historical events - by date.

[Mohamed_Swella1]

How about you use the Group By function in the original table instead? You can then sort it by date as well.

[Sebastian_Page]

I’m very new to AT, so hadn’t even thought of that! It almost worked, but produced a different entry for my person of interest (i.e. the linked record) whenever he appeared alongside a different person/people in that same column. Using “group by” alerted me to “filter,” however, which seems to do the job.

Thank you for helping such an unabashed rookie!

[Mohamed_Swella1]

Anytime :slightly_smiling_face:

[kuovonne]

Depending on how your primary fields are setup for your linked record, if you have a Pro subscription, you can use the Batch Update block to sort the linked records in order.

To setup the primary field for this, set the primary field in the linked record to a formula that starts with the date formatted in year-month-day order. If you need help with setting this up, please post a screen capture of your table showing the primary field and the date field.

[Sebastian_Page]

I do have pro, and have now installed the Batch Update block, but cannot see where to go from there.

The wider screenshot shows what I’m looking at when I consult my base most of the time: these are historical events, drawn from different sources, all rearranged into chronological order. There is a “Person,” “VG,” who, like all the other Persons, can be the “Author” or the “Recipient,” and/or the “Subject” of each record. I am mostly interested in Subject when I look at his linked record, as an Author or Recipient must always be a Subject, but the reverse is not necessarily true. If the fix somehow had to collate these three columns in the linked record only (i.e. not under any of the base’s main tabs), that would be fine, even preferable.

The narrower screenshot shows the problem, and is the linked record for VG. I’m looking at the entries under “Subject,” and would like them to be in chronological order (earlier-later), like under my main tab (“Event”). Only, this is where I get stuck.

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!

[kuovonne]

It looks like the primary field is an Autonumber.

In order to use Batch Update as I suggested, you would need to change the primary field to a formula field. In this process, you would loose the Autonumber. You will need to decide if you really need to keep the field as an Autonumber with its current value. (If the current value isn’t necessary, there are workarounds.)

Here is one formula for the primary field:

DATESTR(date)

Here is another possibility that shows a bit more info.

DATESTR(date) & IF(Comments, " " & Comments)

Once the primary field is set up, open the Batch Update block, select the table with the linked record field and a view. For the actions, select the linked record field, and select “sort links” as the action. When you click “update record” the records in the linked record field will be sorted.

[Sebastian_Page]

My only use for the autonumber was to create a unique ID for each record, as the obvious alternative, the date, is not unique: I might have up to 20 separate records for events that happened on the same date. As such, could I safely delete the autonumber column and set the date as primary? (Indeed, is that the purpose of the formula you’ve just shown me?)