Airtable has gained popularity as a versatile productivity tool thanks to its diverse array of features. The ability to connect to and integrate with a boundless amount of data and information is one of Airtable’s unique strengths.
One of Airtable’s standout features that enables this is the ability to attach files directly to your records. Here’s a look at Airtable’s Attachment field and how you may add it to your base.
What is The Attachment Field in Airtable?
The Attachment field in Airtable allows you to connect any file directly to the records in your base. This lets you add supporting information like images, documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets right into your data, helping youeffortlessly manage your projects with Airtable.
The Attachment field supports several sources for your file attachments, including your local computer storage and popular cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. It’s important to note that uploaded files must be smaller than five gigabytes.
Common file types such as PNG and JPG images, Word documents, Photoshop files, and PDFs, among others, will display thumbnail previews in your table. You can click on these thumbnails for a full-screen preview of the file. More unusual file types won’t display a preview, but you’ll still be able to interact with them in Airtable.
How to Add the Attachment Field to Your Airtable Base
There are two straightforward methods to add the Attachment field to your base in Airtable. You can add the field fromAirtable views, such as the Grid view, or directly from a record.
1. Adding Attachment Fields Using Grid View
Inside Airtable’s Grid view, click the plus-sign (+) at the end of your table’s top row of headings. You may have to scroll to the right, depending on your screen size and the number of fields you already have.
A pop-up menu will open up, displaying all the fields available. ClickAttachmentfrom that list to add the Attachment field. If you like, you can enter a name for the field, which will appear among the headings. When you’re finished setting up your field, clickCreate fieldto add it to your base.
2. Adding Attachment Fields Within a Record
In a record in your base, clickAdd new field to this tableat the bottom of the record. Click theSingle-line textdrop-down menu and selectAttachmentfrom the list. Enter a title if you’d like and clickSave.
In theEdit fieldpop-up, you may also see a toggle forShow attachments in reverse order, particularly if you’re using a template. This toggle adds new attachments to the beginning of the list rather than the end. This setting was discontinued as of April 2020, and instead, you can drag and drop attachments in the field to manually reorder them.
Attaching a File Using the Attachment Field
Once you’ve added the Attachment field, you can interact with it from within the Grid view or individual records.
In the Grid view, click on the Attachment field in a record’s row to access options for adding a new file (through the plus-sign button) or drag and drop a file directly onto the cell.
Inside a record, the Attachment field appears as a large box readingDrag files here or browse. You can either drag and drop files into the box or click thebrowse fileslink to open a file selection pop-up with more options.
Clicking the plus sign button in Grid view or the browse files link in a record opens a pop-up window where you can select files from multiple sources. You can drag and drop files from your local storage to add them as attachments.
Alternatively, you’re able to select one of the other options in the sidebar to find a file to attach. You can link a file from a URL or a web search, take a picture from your webcam, or add files from online storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box, as well as photos from Facebook.
Note that you’ll have to connect your accounts from these services to Airtable before adding files to your base. You can connect your external accounts by following the provided prompts after you click a service.
Effortlessly Connect Your Workflow With Airtable
With so many pieces to track in today’s digital workflows, keeping your work organized and connected to the relevant information can be challenging.
The Attachment field in Airtable helps you manage this by connecting your files directly to the information you need inside its robust database ecosystem. This helps keep you more organized and productive, ensuring everything you need is close.
