Learning Airtable

Chapter 5. Importing Data

We can create new tables and fields in Airtable to build a base from scratch. But chances are you want to work with some existing data. When you import data that was effectively locked away in an Excel file or an old database system, the collaborative features of Airtable can shine.

For instance, we can import data from different sources and compare them in the same table. Or we can import data and clean it up for our own analysis. Finally, and perhaps most of all, we benefit from the ability to import outside data and make it available to our collaborators in Airtable, which gives them the ability to customize how they view it.

We’ll look at ways anyone on your team can learn to access data from static files or dynamic sources. For example, if you have data locked away in spreadsheet files, Airtable has straightforward ways to bring that data into your base. Airtable also has several built-in integrations with third-party tools, like Box or Jira, and you can have an ongoing synchronization from those tools to your base using Airtable’s Sync capability.

Lastly, Airtable provides users with a useful built-in form builder. Forms enable an easy way to solicit data from customers or other stakeholders. The Form view functionality doesn’t have every bell and whistle, but it is convenient since the forms you build and manage are tied to your base without any extra integrations. But first, let’s start by understanding how to import data from spreadsheets and ...