Formula field overview
  • 06 Jul 2022
  • 1 Minute to read
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Formula field overview

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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