Airtable interface layout: Record detail

1. Open the interface page using a List, Gallery, Kanban, Calendar, Timeline, or Grid layout in Edit mode.

2. Click on the main area of the page to ensure that it is selected - you should see a blue outline around it.

3. In the properties panel on the right side of the screen, under the “User actions” section toggle on the Click into record details option.

4. You’ll see a “Record detail pages” menu appear. From here, either:

   1. Click the dropdown to use another record detail page that has already been created

   2. Create a new record detail page - Click the + Create new layout option and begin configuring the page.

   3. Duplicate a layout - Click the Duplicate current layout button and then modify/configure the page.

   4. Click the up arrow icon to edit an existing record detail page.

1. Open an interface page using a Record review, Record summary, Dashboard, or Blank layout in edit mode.

2. Click on the Add element button.

3. Drag a List, Gallery, Kanban, Calendar, Timeline, or Grid element onto the page canvas.

4. Make sure the element is showing records from the table that you intend it to. Change the table if needed in the Source section of the sidebar.

5. In the Permissions section of the sidebar, toggle on Allow users to open record details.

   

You will then see a new record detail layout that your collaborators will be shown when they click on a specific record from this page. You can begin editing the record detail layout using the instructions in the rest of this article.

• Title field - The title, shown at the top of a record detail layout, shows one particular field that is intended to help collaborators identify the record in question. By default, the primary field for the record is used as the title. *Only fields that are supported as the primary field of a record are able to be used as the title field within a record detail layout.

• Fields - See how many fields are currently visible on the page. Additionally:

  • Find a field

  • Collapse or expand field groups

  • Hover over a field to reveal the … icon. Click this icon to Delete or Edit that individual field. Note that deleting the field removes it from the record detail page not from the underlying source table.

  • Toggle record visibility by clicking on the eye icon

  • Scroll to the bottom of the list of fields to the “Hidden” section to see any fields that will be hidden from end users.

Learn more about configuring fields in another section below.

• Title size - Choose between a large or extra large title on the record detail page.

• Page style - Record detail pages display as a sidesheet by default, but this can be changed at any time, with no loss or change to the contents of the record detail layout. You can toggle between these options in the sidebar when viewing a record detail layout in edit mode.

  • Sidesheet - This option shows the record detail layout in a drawer that slides out from the side of the page on top of the original page, keeping the original page in view. Choose sidesheet when:

    • You expect collaborators to browse multiple records in the same workflow - A sidesheet includes buttons for moving to the next or previous record.

    • You expect collaborators to interact with the initial list of records after the record detail page has been opened (e.g. to select a different record or apply different filters).

    • You want collaborators to keep the original list of records visible for greater context.

    • You expect collaborators to only comment on the record rarely, or in specific situations.

  • Full-screen - This will open the record detail layout on a new page that takes up the entire screen. Choose full-screen when:

    • You expect collaborators to focus deeply on one record at a time and not browse multiple records at once as part of their workflow.

    • You expect collaborators to spend more time working with a single record.

    • You want to display a large number of fields for that record and need more visual space.

    • You expect collaborators to comment on records often.

• Comments - Give end users the opportunity to comment on records when they have opened a record detail page. For more information on commenting in Airtable, see Commenting on records and @mentioning collaborators.

• Revision history - Show end users revision history for the particular record that they have open. Note that:

  • With revision history, users will be able to see any changes that were previously made to fields that are visible in record details, as well as any changes moving forward. These changes may include:

    • Interface edits

    • Extensions

    • Automations

    • External applications (ex: OAuth)

• Buttons - Add one or more buttons to the record detail page that end-users can click to perform a multitude of actions. For a more in-depth understanding of buttons consult this documentation.

You can also create different record detail layouts to use in different interface pages. Using different record detail layouts on different interface pages allows you to display different fields from a record, or the same fields in a different order, whenever a user clicks into the record.

1. Open a page that shows records from that table in edit mode.

2. Click on the canvas where records are shown as a visualization or grid element. This will open the specific properties panel options for that set of records.

3. Click on the cogwheel icon in the “User actions” section next to the “Click into record details” option.

4. You will see a dropdown list of the available record detail layouts. Create a new layout or duplicate an existing layout as needed. Click on the up arrow button to view and edit the record detail layout that is currently being used for this interface page.

To help manage record detail pages across interfaces, you can copy the layout from a record detail page in another interface.

• To access this flow, click Copy another record detail layout from the ... menu at the top right of a record detail inspector.

• This will overwrite the layout of the current record detail page with the layout of the selected record detail page.

• If the selected record detail page opens other record details or forms, you will be prompted to replace them with record details or forms in your new interface or exclude them

1. Open the interface in Edit mode.

2. Navigate to the element-based record detail layout that you would like to upgrade.

3. Next to the name of the record detail page click the … icon. Then, click the Upgrade layout button.

4. A confirmation screen will appear that will show you how many and which locations in the interface are currently referencing the layout.

5. After understanding any impact the change may make, click the Confirm button.

6. Some additional information will appear about the upgraded layout.

   1. Once you confirm the upgrade, the page will be duplicated. The original will be renamed to include an “(Old)” suffix. Any elements with the “Click into record details” enabled with this page selected will be updated to link to the new, upgraded page automatically.

   2. Click the Open legacy layout button to open the old page so you can compare the two side-by-side and make any necessary adjustments to the new page. Otherwise, click Done to enjoy the additional features of the upgraded layout.

Note

If you need to revert to the old layout, you can “Revert unpublished changes” on the affected pages or update any layouts with the “Click into record details” option enabled to link to the old page instead.

• Add group - Hovering over a line break on the canvas will reveal the option to + Add group. Groups allow you to section out the various fields that make up the record detail page.

• Add field - Hovering in between fields on the canvas will reveal a + button. Click this to add an existing field from the source table or click + Create field to add a new field to the form page. This will also add the new field in the underlying source table.

• Remove a field - Clicking on an individual field will reveal a … icon. Click this icon to reveal a menu where you can Remove the field from the form page. *This does not delete the field in the source base.

• Field Visibility - In the Rules section of a field’s properties, builders can click the cogwheel icon to set up conditions for when to show a field on the record details page. By default, the visibility rules will be set to “Always show field.” A few important callouts:

  • This functionality is only available on Business and Enterprise plans

  • This functionality is not supported on iOS or Android interface experiences

  • We don’t recommend using this for sensitive fields. Although visually hidden, underlying record/field values may still be exposed. Visibility should not be equated with security in this case.

• Reorder fields - You can also reorder/move fields around on the canvas by clicking, holding, and dragging those fields around. You can drag and drop fields above or below other fields, into other groups, or next to other fields (4 maximum, but can vary depending on field type and space constraints).

• Click into the page-building canvas. Find a line break on the page and hover over it.

• Then, click +Add group.

• A New Group will appear. Click on the New group text box. Feel free to rename the group at this time.

• This will open up configuration options in the properties panel on the right.

• Title - Rename the grouping of fields

• Fields - Choose to show or hide

• Show group title - Toggle whether to hide or show the group title

• Show description - Toggle to show and add a description for the group. Find the “Click to add text” section to add the description.

• Show background color - Give the form a slight gray background color to help visually separate the group from other groups or fields.

• Field labels - Choose whether field labels (titles) will appear on the Side or on Top of the fields in the group. The “Side” option is not available when two or more fields are next to each other.

• Buttons - Choose to add a button into the group that end users can click to perform an action.

• Rules - By default, the Visibility rules will be set to “Always show group.” However, builders can click the cogwheel icon to set up conditions for when to show a group of fields on the record details page. A few important callouts:

  • This functionality is only available on Business and Enterprise plans

  • This functionality is not supported on iOS or Android interface experiences

  • We don’t recommend using this for sensitive fields. Although visually hidden, underlying record/field values may still be exposed. Visibility should not be equated with security in this case.

• Click on the group’s name.

• Hit delete twice to remove the form group.

• Click into the canvas where the group currently resides.

• Click, hold, and drag the group to another location on the canvas.

Record detail pages can be turned off or deleted.

To turn off a record detail page:

1. Navigate to the layout of your choice.

2. Find the section marked “Click into record details” below the “User actions” section.

3. Toggle the record detail page off.

To delete a record detail page:

1. Navigate to the layout of your choice.

2. Find the section marked “Click into record details” below the “User actions” section.

3. Click the cog wheel icon, then click the drop-down menu.

4. Finally, click the three dot … icon and click the Delete option.