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Copy Columns to Other Bases


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I would like a way to easily copy and paste columns, along with entries, field type, etc. from one base to another.

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  • Participating Frequently
  • August 3, 2016

I use my browser’s Copy/Paste function.


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Richard_York wrote:

I use my browser’s Copy/Paste function.


I suppose that mostly works. Although, it doesn’t copy the header or update the header field type. You can highlight cells like in Excel but I wish you could include the headers.

There is no way to duplicate a tab to another base that I see. You have to export it to CSV and then import it to the new base.


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  • Participating Frequently
  • August 3, 2016
Kyle_Stenson wrote:

I suppose that mostly works. Although, it doesn’t copy the header or update the header field type. You can highlight cells like in Excel but I wish you could include the headers.

There is no way to duplicate a tab to another base that I see. You have to export it to CSV and then import it to the new base.


Ah. I see your requirement.


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Kyle_Stenson wrote:

I suppose that mostly works. Although, it doesn’t copy the header or update the header field type. You can highlight cells like in Excel but I wish you could include the headers.

There is no way to duplicate a tab to another base that I see. You have to export it to CSV and then import it to the new base.


Kyle, if you copy and paste and expand the table to accommodate more fields, the pasted fields will have the same titles and field types as what you copied—read this help article for more details.


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Katherine_Duh wrote:

Kyle, if you copy and paste and expand the table to accommodate more fields, the pasted fields will have the same titles and field types as what you copied—read this help article for more details.


Hi Katherine,

When copying and pasting, the fields (cells) will update appropriately but the headers with the customized “Field Type” cannot be copied as far as I can tell.


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Kyle_Stenson wrote:

Hi Katherine,

When copying and pasting, the fields (cells) will update appropriately but the headers with the customized “Field Type” cannot be copied as far as I can tell.


If you are pasting into existing fields, then the headers will not update according to what you are pasting into it. This is because you may not necessarily want to copy the field type or the headers when you copy and paste something from one field to another—you may just want to copy the raw data.

If you are pasting a greater number of fields/records than are in your table, however, the new fields/rows that are added will have the same titles and field types as the ones you originally copied.

If you are looking to copy and paste the exact same set of fields/records from one table into another table that already has a bunch of stuff in it, I would suggest:

  1. On the right-hand side of the new table, creating a new, blank field of the same type as the leftmost field of the selection you copied
  2. Click into the new, blank field you just created.
  3. Paste (ctrl + V/cmd + V)
  4. Make sure to select the option to Expand the table so that all of the pasted cells will fit.

If you do this, you’ll only have to change one field type/field name (the first new, blank one you created), and all of the other fields that you paste in will be of the same field type and field name as the data you copied.


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Katherine_Duh wrote:

If you are pasting into existing fields, then the headers will not update according to what you are pasting into it. This is because you may not necessarily want to copy the field type or the headers when you copy and paste something from one field to another—you may just want to copy the raw data.

If you are pasting a greater number of fields/records than are in your table, however, the new fields/rows that are added will have the same titles and field types as the ones you originally copied.

If you are looking to copy and paste the exact same set of fields/records from one table into another table that already has a bunch of stuff in it, I would suggest:

  1. On the right-hand side of the new table, creating a new, blank field of the same type as the leftmost field of the selection you copied
  2. Click into the new, blank field you just created.
  3. Paste (ctrl + V/cmd + V)
  4. Make sure to select the option to Expand the table so that all of the pasted cells will fit.

If you do this, you’ll only have to change one field type/field name (the first new, blank one you created), and all of the other fields that you paste in will be of the same field type and field name as the data you copied.


Interesting workaround. I’ll give this a shot. Appreciate the detail!


  • New Participant
  • December 20, 2018

When I do this, the column name is “Pasted Field 1”, “Pasted Field 2”, etc. I can’t find any way to paste the column titles and settings. Any suggestions?


  • New Participant
  • January 3, 2019

I’m running into the same “Pasted Field 1”, “Pasted Field 2”, etc. issue. Any solution? I have hundreds of fields for which I would have to change names and field types…


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I have the same problem. I wish there was a copy field option


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Elaine_Chan wrote:

I have the same problem. I wish there was a copy field option


@Katherine_Duh’s workaround from August 2016 should work for you.


  • Participating Frequently
  • August 25, 2020

Am I missing something? There is really no way to batch rename fields? @Katherine_Duh’s workaround is not working. I’m still getting the same “Pasted Field 1, Pasted Field 2, etc.”
I would think this would’ve been addressed early on. If people import .csv files, there is no way to copy their row names to the header names?


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