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    Formula field overview
    • 27 Oct 2023
    • 2 Minutes to read
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    Contents

    Formula field overview

    • Updated on 27 Oct 2023
    • 2 Minutes to read
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    Article Summary

    The formula field is available for all Airtable plan types. Formulas can be very helpful in adding sophistication to your Airtable bases, especially when combined with Airtable Automations, Sync, and Apps.

    Overview

    Formulas allow you to output numbers, dates, strings, and more in each record based on static or dynamic information from other cells in that same record. For example, if you have a table of product orders, you can create a field that computes the Total Cost for each record based on the Price and Quantity.

    Screen Shot 2019-05-07 at 8.29.32 PM

    To configure a formula, select the Formula type from the field configuration menu. From there, you can enter the formula into the text box as you would in a spreadsheet, except you use the names of fields instead of cell ranges. A formula can be composed of functions (e.g. SUM, CONCATENATE), operators (e.g. +, -, *, /, &), and other fields from the same table.

    When you start entering your formula, you will see suggestions of fields and functions you can use in the formula.

    Screen Shot 2019-05-07 at 8.26.56 PM

    If your formula will result in a numerical output, you have the option of formatting the formula's result as a decimal, an integer, a currency, a percent, or a time duration. Additionally, for decimals, currencies, and percentages, you can adjust the precision.

    Screen Shot 2019-05-07 at 8.30.44 PM

    TIP

    For a complete reference of formula functions and operators, please refer to the Formula Field Reference.

    Formula editor

    The formula editor's capabilities include:

    Colorful Syntax highlighting
    Green = Functions Purple = Fields Orange/Brown = Numbers Teal = Text/strings Black = Anything else not represented above. ex. commas, parentheses, etc.

    formula_color_syntax

    Parenthesis matching

    formula_field_parenthesis_matching

    Multiline editing with the ability to fold multiline formulas

    formula_field_multiline

    Error warnings when there are unbalanced parenthesis.

    formula_field_parenthesis_error

    Error warnings when there is blankspace or miscellaneous characters between a function name and the opening parenthesis.

    formula_field_blankspace_error


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    FAQs

    Can I create SQL queries in Airtable?

    While you can't directly query a table in Airtable, a view can help accomplish something similar. 

    By building a view, you can apply similar parameters to filter and present the information you'd like from your base's tables.

    When building a view, you can filter records, hide unnecessary fields and group values, sort values, and add additional formula fields to manage complicated conditional logic to use in a filter.

    You can join multiple tables by hard-coding joins into a table using linked record fields. With linked records in place, you can perform subqueries using lookup and rollup fields.

    With your view/query—created, it is automatically saved in your table. You can easily switch between views, building new views—knowing your view/query is there for future reference. 

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