Hey everyone, I’m struggling with my Airtable setup. I’ve got a base with company names and their unique IDs. The problem is Airtable keeps adding its own Record ID field, but I want to use my existing ID column as the main identifier. Is there a way to make this happen without messing up my data?
Here’s what my table looks like:
Company | Custom_ID
--------|----------
XYZ Corp| AB1234
123 Inc | CD5678
Tech Co | EF9012
I’ve tried a few things, but I can’t seem to get it right. Any tips or tricks would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your input.
As someone who’s been using Airtable for a while, I’ve faced this exact issue. While you can’t replace the Record ID, there’s a workaround I’ve found quite effective. What I do is create a formula field that concatenates my Custom_ID with other relevant info, like the company name. This gives me a unique, human-readable identifier I can use across my base.
For example, you could make a formula field like this:
{Custom_ID} & ’ - ’ & {Company}
This would give you something like ‘AB1234 - XYZ Corp’ as your reference. It’s not perfect, but it’s become my go-to method for managing data without relying on Airtable’s Record ID. Just remember to use this new field consistently in your views, forms, and integrations.
hey there, i’ve run into this too. airtable’s pretty stubborn bout that record ID. but here’s a trick - make ur custom_ID field the first column n sort by it. it’s not perfect, but it’ll make ur ID more prominent. also, u can hide the record ID column if it bugs ya. hope this helps!
Unfortunately, Airtable doesn’t allow you to set a custom field as the primary identifier. The Record ID is a system-generated field that Airtable uses internally and can’t be replaced. However, you can work around this limitation by using your Custom_ID field as the main reference in your workflows and integrations. You could also create a formula field that combines the Custom_ID with other relevant information to create a unique identifier that’s meaningful for your use case. While it’s not a perfect solution, many Airtable users successfully manage their data this way without relying on the default Record ID.