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Re: How to size a column in an automation email

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Greg_Maier
4 - Data Explorer
4 - Data Explorer

Hi Everyone,

I want to resize a column in a automation email I use.
My product code field is too large - and the description field is too small (causing the text to wrap).

I am inserting a grid into the email (a list will not work - there might be multiple rows).

Thanks in advance for your help!

Greg

 

airtable fields.jpeg

14 Replies 14
calvinscm
5 - Automation Enthusiast
5 - Automation Enthusiast

Hi Anncrutt,

In the grid options within the email, have you tried to truncate?  

calvinscm_0-1739143869305.png

 

anncrutt
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

This solution doesn't help my situation. I want all text to be visible (so truncating is not a good solution) but the default column sizing does appear to correspond with the quantity of text to display. Here is a screenshot of what my table looks like to illustrate. Ideally more space should be allocated to the "Logged Dates" column.

 Screenshot 2025-02-09 at 11.20.27 AM.png

calvinscm
5 - Automation Enthusiast
5 - Automation Enthusiast

Hi Anncrutt,

Use an array formula for the dates and truncate to optimize +/- width. Below is a email/automation example

calvinscm_0-1739251052631.png

 

anncrutt
6 - Interface Innovator
6 - Interface Innovator

Thanks for trying to be helpful, but this suggestion doesn't work well for my situation. I'm interested in optimizing the email display for a better user experience and improved readability. This requires a level of customization in displaying grids features that Airtable automated email do not currently support. The workaround of creating duplicate columns with different field types can help for some cases but comes with the tradeoff of cluttering up your raw data tables by adding these extra fields just for display purposes (very similar to the workaround of displaying date strings cleanly to removing the "UTC" by converting date fields to strings). I would like to see Airtable develop a more effective solution to overcome these limitations.

I decided to remove the start date column to help. Here is a comparison of displaying multiple dates as the suggested array/formula fields vs. my original lookup field. I find my original lookup field more readable and will stick with that.

Screenshot 2025-02-13 at 10.13.06 AM.png

 

calvinscm
5 - Automation Enthusiast
5 - Automation Enthusiast

You are welcome. I thought you were wanting the field wider. You can achieve your goal by changing the "Log Date" field to "Long Text" and "Enable rich text formatting". If working directly within the table, you will have two options when entering data,  "Pop Out" or it will show in a column format.  See below... 

calvinscm_0-1739484388258.png 

calvinscm_1-1739484702254.png

Below is an example of what the email could look like. Of course you would code the text within the email according to your needs.

calvinscm_2-1739484944073.png