How to make a field's data be unique, must be unique to add record

[Nick_Truch]

Hi,
I’m creating a table to track playlists and their curators. To stop me from adding duplicate records by mistake is it possible to set a requirement/validation on a field that all data must be unique.

To be more specific, I’m currently using Knack.com where I can set a field to ‘Must be unique’ and I am using this on the ‘Playlist Link’ url field. This means when I’m adding a new record it would tell me if I’ve already created it - thus avoiding duplicates.

I understand the Primary Field (the first column) is automatically set like this. But having the url as the primary field is not ideal as I’m assuming it will show up in the various views as the main field. Or I may need more than one field to be unique.

Is this possible in AirTable … my fingers are crossed. Many thanks for reading my post.

Best wishes
Nick

[ScottWorld]

Unfortunately, these types of validation options are a basic feature of most database systems, but they are missing from Airtable.

For example, my previous database language that I specialized in for 30 years was Claris FileMaker , and it offers this option, along with an unlimited amount of validation options because you can write your own validation rules. (By the way, if you need an expert FileMaker consultant or Airtable consultant, please feel free to contact me through my Airtable consulting website.)

So you may want to email support@airtable.com to request "data validation" as a feature.

In the meantime, MiniExtensions has a form that lets you prevent duplicates from being added into your Airtable base here, but MiniExtensions is very expensive: https://miniextensions.com/prevent-duplicates-in-miniextensions-form/

Beyond that one expensive solution, you would need to search for duplicates and merge your duplicates together AFTER the duplicates have already appeared in Airtable.

There are at least 4 ways of doing this:

1. Writing your own custom Javascript code.

2. Using this very easy Airtable trick that I demonstrate on this Airtable podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc-0Jp6AvAs&list=PLqssva4liHRwHhQIpTXekG8WObEoyC2F1

3. Using Airtable's DeDupe extension.

4. My favorite way: The most powerful & customizable way of handling duplicates in Airtable is to use Make's Airtable automations & integrations. Make is an extremely powerful tool for Airtable that lets you create wildly complex automations, and it lets you integrate with almost 2,000 other apps as well.

There is a small learning curve with Make, which is why I’ve assembled a bunch of Make training resources in this thread: https://air.tableforums.com/t/make-com-basic-navigation-tips/277

For example, to instantly trigger a Make automation from Airtable, check out this thread on instantly triggering a Make automation from Airtable using a webhook. https://air.tableforums.com/t/sending-airtable-data-to-an-external-webhook-such-as-make-com/159

i also give live demonstrations of how to use Make in many of my Airtable podcast appearances here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbH9iE5ncCk&list=PLqssva4liHRwHhQIpTXekG8WObEoyC2F1

p.s. If you have a budget for your project and you’d like to hire an expert Airtable consultant to help you with any of this, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld