---
title: Airtable
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---
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[Airtable](https://airtable.com/) is a collaborative dataset hosting service.
[SheetJS](https://sheetjs.com) is a JavaScript library for reading and writing
data from spreadsheets.
This demo uses SheetJS to properly exchange data with spreadsheet files. We'll
explore how to use the `airtable` NodeJS library and SheetJS in two data flows:
- "Exporting data": Data in Airtable will be pulled into an array of objects and
exported to XLSB spreadsheets using SheetJS libraries.
- "Importing data": Data in an XLSX spreadsheet will be parsed using SheetJS
libraries and appended to a dataset in Airtable
## NodeJS Integration
### Installation
The [SheetJS NodeJS module](/docs/getting-started/installation/nodejs) can be
required in NodeJS scripts that interact with Airtable.
The Airtable connector module is `airtable` and can be installed with `npm`:
{`\
npm i --save https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/xlsx-${current}.tgz airtable`}
### Authentication
Airtable recommends Personal Access Tokens ("PAT") for interacting with the API.
:::note pass
The ["Personal Access Token"](#personal-access-token) section walks through the
process of creating a PAT.
:::
The connector constructor accepts an options argument. The PAT should be passed
using the `apiKey` property:
```js
const Airtable = require("airtable");
const apiKey = "PAT..."; // personal access token
const conn = new Airtable({apiKey, /* see docs for other options ... */});
```
The `base` method opens a specified workspace. The internal workspace name is
the first fragment in the Airtable URL, typically starts with "app":
```js
const base = conn.base("app...");
```
The `table` method of the workspace object opens a specified table:
```js
const table = base.table("tablename...");
```
### Exporting Data
When querying data, a result set will be a simple array of Record objects. The
`fields` property of each record object is a simple JS object. Mapping over the
result set and picking the `fields` field yields a standard array of objects:
```js
/** Create array of objects from Airtable table */
async function airtable_to_aoo(table) {
/* get all rows */
const result = await table.select().all();
/* pull raw objects from the result */
// highlight-next-line
const aoo = result.map(r => r.fields);
return aoo;
}
```
The SheetJS `json_to_sheet` utility function[^1] can generate a worksheet object
from the array of objects:
```js
const XLSX = require("xlsx");
/** Create SheetJS worksheet from Airtable table */
async function airtable_to_worksheet(table) {
/* get all rows */
const result = await table.select().all();
/* pull raw objects from the result */
const aoo = result.map(r => r.fields);
/* create a worksheet */
// highlight-next-line
const worksheet = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(aoo);
return worksheet;
}
```
:::caution pass
The results are not guaranteed to be sorted. The official API includes options
for sorting by fields.
:::
The worksheet object must be added to a new workbook object using the `book_new`
and `book_append_sheet` helper functions[^2]:
```js
/** Create SheetJS workbook from Airtable table */
async function airtable_to_workbook(table) {
/* generate worksheet */
const ws = await airtable_to_worksheet(table);
/* create a new workbook */
const wb = XLSX.utils.book_new();
/* add worksheet to workbook */
XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(wb, ws, "ExportedData");
return wb;
}
```
Local files can be created using the SheetJS `writeFile` method[^3]:
```js
(async() => {
/* generate SheetJS workbook */
const wb = await airtable_to_workbook(table);
/* write to XLSX */
XLSX.writeFile(wb, "SheetJSAirtableExport.xlsx");
})();
```
### Importing Data
The Airtable table `create` method expects an array of record objects. The
`fields` property of each object is expected to contain the raw record data.
Mapping over a standard array of objects can create Airtable-friendly data:
```js
/** Append records from an array of data objects to Airtable table */
async function airtable_load_aoo(table, aoo) {
/* reshape to be compatible with Airtable API */
// highlight-next-line
const airtable_rows = aoo.map(fields => ({ fields }));
/* upload data */
return await table.create(airtable_rows);
}
```
Starting from a SheetJS worksheet object[^4], the `sheet_to_json` method[^5] can
generate normal arrays of objects:
```js
const XLSX = require("xlsx");
/** Append records from a SheetJS worksheet to Airtable table */
async function airtable_load_worksheet(table, worksheet) {
/* generate normal array of objects */
// highlight-next-line
const aoo = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet);
/* upload data */
return await airtable_load_aoo(table, aoo);
}
```
A SheetJS worksheet object can be extracted from a workbook object[^6]:
```js
/** Append records from the first worksheet of a workbook to Airtable table */
async function airtable_load_workbook(table, workbook) {
/* pull first worksheet from workbook object */
// highlight-next-line
const first_sheet_name = workbook.SheetNames[0];
const ws = workbook.Sheets[first_sheet_name];
/* upload data */
return await airtable_load_worksheet(table, ws);
}
```
Local files can be read using the SheetJS `readFile` method[^7]:
```js
const wb = XLSX.readFile("SheetJSAirtableTest.xlsb");
(async() => {
await airtable_load_workbook(table, wb);
});
```
## Complete Example
:::note Tested Deployments
This demo was last tested on 2023 September 03. At the time, free accounts
included limited API access.
:::
0) Create a free Airtable account and verify the email address.
### Personal Access Token
:::note pass
In the past, Airtable offered API keys. They are slated to deprecate API keys
in January 2024. They recommend "Personal Access Tokens" for operations.
:::
API actions will require a PAT, which must be created through the developer hub:
1) Click on account icon (topright area of the page) and select "Developer Hub".
2) Click "Create Token".
3) In the form, make the following selections:
- Name: enter any name (for example, "SheetJS Test")
- Scopes: `data.records:read` and `data.records:write` (adding 2 scopes)
- Access: "All current and future bases in all current and future workspaces"
The form will look like the screenshot below:
4) Click "Create Token" and you will see a popup. Copy the token and save it.
### Workspace
For the purposes of this demo, a sample workspace should be created:
5) Download https://sheetjs.com/pres.xlsx
6) Create a project in Airtable using "Quickly upload". Select "Microsoft Excel"
and select the downloaded file from step 1. Click "Upload", then "Import".
7) A workspace will be created. The name will be found in the URL. For example:
```
https://airtable.com/appblahblah/tblblahblah/blahblah
--------------------/^^^^^^^^^^^/ workspace name
```
the first part after the `.com` will be the workspace name.
### Exporting Data
8) Save the following to `SheetJSAirtableRead.js`:
```js title="SheetJSAirtableRead.js"
const Airtable = require("airtable"), XLSX = require("xlsx");
// highlight-start
/* replace the value with the personal access token */
const apiKey = "pat...";
/* replace the value with the workspace name */
const base = "app...";
// highlight-end
(async() => {
const conn = new Airtable({ apiKey });
const table = conn.base(base).table("Sheet1");
const result = await table.select().all();
const aoo = result.map(r => r.fields);
const ws = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(aoo);
const wb = XLSX.utils.book_new();
XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(wb, ws, "Sheet1");
XLSX.writeFile(wb, "SheetJSAirtable.xlsb");
})();
```
9) Replace the values in the highlighted lines with the PAT and workspace name.
10) Install dependencies:
{`\
npm i --save https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/xlsx-${current}.tgz airtable`}
11) Run the script:
```bash
node SheetJSAirtableRead.js
```
The script should write `SheetJSAirtable.xlsb`. The file can be opened in Excel.
### Importing Data
12) Create a file `SheetJSAirpend.xlsx` with some new records in sheet `Sheet1`:
`npx xlsx-cli SheetJSAirpend.xlsx` should print the following data:
```csv
Sheet1
Name,Index
Someone Else,47
```
13) Save the following to `SheetJSAirtableWrite.js`:
```js title="SheetJSAirtableWrite.js"
const Airtable = require("airtable"), XLSX = require("xlsx");
// highlight-start
/* replace the value with the personal access token */
const apiKey = "pat...";
/* replace the value with the workspace name */
const base = "app...";
// highlight-end
(async() => {
const conn = new Airtable({ apiKey });
const table = conn.base(base).table("Sheet1");
const wb = XLSX.readFile("SheetJSAirpend.xlsx");
const ws = wb.Sheets["Sheet1"];
const aoo = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(ws);
await table.create(aoo.map(fields => ({ fields })));
})();
```
14) Replace the values in the highlighted lines with the PAT and workspace name.
15) Install dependencies:
{`\
npm i --save https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/xlsx-${current}.tgz airtable`}
16) Run the script:
```bash
node SheetJSAirtableWrite.js
```
Open Airtable and verify the new row was added:
[^1]: See [`json_to_sheet` in "Utilities"](/docs/api/utilities/array#array-of-objects-input)
[^2]: See ["Workbook Helpers" in "Utilities"](/docs/api/utilities/wb) for details on `book_new` and `book_append_sheet`.
[^3]: See [`writeFile` in "Writing Files"](/docs/api/write-options)
[^4]: See ["Sheet Objects"](/docs/csf/sheet) for more details/
[^5]: See [`sheet_to_json` in "Utilities"](/docs/api/utilities/array#array-output)
[^6]: See ["Workbook Object"](/docs/csf/book)
[^7]: See [`readFile` in "Reading Files"](/docs/api/parse-options)