Airtable Node

Overview

The Airtable Node is a comprehensive integration component that automates data synchronization and manipulation with Airtable bases. This node enables both trigger-based workflows that respond to Airtable automation events and action-based operations for creating, updating, and managing Airtable records, tables, and bases.

This node supports both Event Trigger and Action modes, providing flexible integration capabilities for Airtable workflows.

Features

Prerequisites

Before using Airtable Node, ensure the following:

• Airtable Account: Access to an Airtable account with appropriate permissions.
• API Token: Valid Airtable API token with necessary permissions for target bases.
• Base Access: Read/write permissions on target Airtable bases and tables.
• Webhook Endpoint: For trigger mode, access to the flow's webhook endpoint URL.
• Airtable Automation: For trigger mode, ability to create and configure Airtable automations.

Setup

Step 1: Set Up Airtable Credentials

Please refer to the Airtable Integration documentation (opens in a new tab) to complete the setup and obtain the necessary credentials.

Step 2: Set Up Lamatic Flow

For Trigger Node:

1. Add Airtable Node: Drag the Airtable node to your flow as a trigger
2. Setup Trigger In Airtable: Create automation in Airtable that triggers this flow
   1. In Airtable, go to your base and click "Automations"
   2. Create a new automation or edit an existing one
3. Provide Script
   1. Add a "Run a script" action after your trigger
   2. Paste the script into the script editor

For Action Node:

1. Add Airtable Node: Drag the Airtable node to your flow as an action
2. Enter Credentials: Provide your Airtable API token
3. Select Action: Choose the desired action type
4. Configure Parameters: Set up action-specific parameters

Configuration Reference

Event Trigger Configuration

Airtable Automation Setup

1. In your Airtable Automation, select a trigger when you would like to trigger this flow
2. Define your input and use this script to send data to the webhook:

const inputconfig = input.config();
fetch("https://hooks.lamatic.ai/hook/XXXX", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
  },
  body: JSON.stringify(inputconfig)
})
  .then(response => {
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`HTTP error! Status: ${response.status}`);
    }
    return response.json();
  })
  .then(result => {
    console.log(result);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.error("Error:", error);
  });

Important Notes:

1. Customize the inputconfig object to match your Airtable fields
2. Test your automation before enabling it in production

Action Configuration

Configure the Airtable node by selecting the desired action and providing the necessary parameters.

Available Actions

1. List Bases

Retrieves all bases accessible to the authenticated user.

2. Create Comment

Adds a comment to a specific record.

3. Create Field

Creates a new field in a specified table.

4. Create Multiple Records

Creates multiple records in a specified table.

5. Create Record

Creates a single record in a specified table.

6. Create Table

Creates a new table in a specified base.

7. Delete Record

Deletes a specific record from a table.

8. Get Record

Retrieves a specific record from a table.

9. List Records

Retrieves multiple records from a table with optional filtering.

10. Update Record

Updates a specific record in a table.

Low-Code Example

Event Trigger Example

triggerNode:
  nodeId: triggerNode_1
  nodeType: airtableNode
  nodeName: Airtable
  values: {}
  modes: {}

Action Node Example

nodes:
  - nodeId: airtableNode_510
    nodeType: airtableNode
    nodeName: Airtable
    values:
      credentials: ''
      action: AIRTABLE_LIST_BASES
      baseId: ''
      tableIdOrName: ''
      recordId: ''
      fields: ''
      records: ''
      recordIds: ''
      name: ''
      workspaceId: ''
      tables: ''
      fieldsConfig: ''
      fieldType: singleLineText
      fieldOptions: ''
      fieldDescription: ''
      tableDescription: ''
      baseDescription: ''
      commentText: ''
      rowCommentId: ''
      cellFormat: json
      returnFieldsByFieldId: false
      fieldsFilter: ''
      filterByFormula: ''
      maxRecords: ''
      pageSize: 100
      offset: ''
      sort: ''
      view: ''
      timeZone: utc
      userLocale: ''
      recordMetadata: ''
    modes: {}
    needs:
      - triggerNode_1

Output Schema

Event Trigger Output

The Airtable trigger node outputs data in the following format when triggered by an Airtable automation:

{
  "base_id": "appXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "table_id": "tblXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "record_id": "recXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "event_type": "record_created",
  "data": {
    "Name": "John Doe",
    "Email": "[email protected]",
    "Status": "Active",
    "Created": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
  },
  "metadata": {
    "triggered_at": "2024-01-01T12:00:00Z",
    "automation_id": "automation_123"
  }
}

Action Node Output

Action nodes return data based on the specific action performed:

Create Record Output

{
  "id": "recXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "fields": {
    "Name": "John Doe",
    "Email": "[email protected]",
    "Status": "Active"
  },
  "createdTime": "2024-01-01T12:00:00Z"
}

List Records Output

{
  "records": [
    {
      "id": "recXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
      "fields": {
        "Name": "John Doe",
        "Email": "[email protected]"
      },
      "createdTime": "2024-01-01T12:00:00Z"
    }
  ],
  "offset": "itrXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
}

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Debugging

• Check Lamatic Flow logs for detailed error messages
• Verify Airtable API token permissions and validity
• Test API token using Airtable's API documentation
• Validate base and table IDs exist and are accessible
• Confirm webhook URL is reachable from Airtable
• Monitor Airtable automation logs for trigger issues
• Test with simple operations before complex workflows
• Check Airtable API rate limits and implement appropriate delays

Best Practices

• Use specific field names and types when creating records
• Implement error handling for API rate limits
• Test webhook endpoints before deploying automations
• Use appropriate field types for data consistency
• Regularly monitor API token permissions
• Implement retry logic for failed API calls
• Use filter formulas efficiently for large datasets
• Keep record payloads within Airtable's size limits
• Test automations with sample data before production use

Example Use Cases

Data Synchronization Workflows

• CRM Integration: Sync customer data between Airtable and other systems
• Project Management: Automate task creation and updates based on external events
• Inventory Management: Update product information and stock levels
• Lead Management: Process and route leads from various sources

Automation Workflows

• Form Submissions: Process form data and create Airtable records
• Email Integration: Create records from incoming emails
• Calendar Integration: Sync events and appointments
• Social Media Monitoring: Track mentions and create engagement records

Data Processing Workflows

• Data Validation: Validate and clean incoming data before storage
• Data Transformation: Transform data formats for different systems
• Reporting: Generate reports from Airtable data
• Backup and Archival: Automate data backup and archival processes

Additional Resources

• Airtable API Documentation (opens in a new tab)
• Airtable Automation Guide (opens in a new tab)
• Airtable Field Types Reference (opens in a new tab)