How to fetch a database from a child_database block using Notion API?

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1

I’m trying to get a database from a child_database block on my Notion page, but I’m stuck. I can get the page and its blocks, but I can’t seem to access the actual database.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

  1. Got the page:
let myPage = notionClient.pages.retrieve({ page_id: myPageId })
  1. Listed the blocks:
let blockList = notionClient.blocks.children.list({
  block_id: myPageId,
  page_size: 50
})

I found the child_database block, but it doesn’t have the database ID. I tried retrieving more details:

let blockInfo = notionClient.blocks.retrieve({ block_id: childDbBlockId })
let blockChildren = notionClient.blocks.children.list({ block_id: childDbBlockId })

The children list is empty, and I can’t find any reference to the database ID. I know the database exists because I can see it in the Notion app. How can I retrieve its ID or content through the API? Any help would be great!

2

hey there! i’ve dealt with this before. the trick is to use the block ID of the child_database as the database ID directly. like this:

let databaseContent = await notion.databases.query({
  database_id: childDbBlockId,
});

No need to retrieve the block separately. this should work for ya!

3

I’ve encountered a similar issue when working with Notion’s API. The key is to use the ‘retrieve database’ endpoint instead of trying to access it through the block structure. Once you have the child_database block ID, you can use it directly to fetch the database details:

let database = await notion.databases.retrieve({ database_id: childDbBlockId });

This should give you access to the database properties and metadata. From there, you can query the database contents using the ‘query database’ endpoint:

let databaseContent = await notion.databases.query({
  database_id: childDbBlockId,
  // Add any filters or sorting options here
});

Hope this helps you get unstuck. Let me know if you need any clarification on implementing these steps.

4

I’ve been down this rabbit hole before, and it can be frustrating! The trick is to understand that child_database blocks are a bit different from other block types.

When you retrieve the block info for a child_database, you actually get the database ID in the response. It’s not immediately obvious, but it’s there in the ‘id’ field of the block object. So, after you’ve identified your child_database block, you can do this:

let blockInfo = await notionClient.blocks.retrieve({ block_id: childDbBlockId });
let databaseId = blockInfo.id;

Now you have the database ID! From here, you can query the database or retrieve its schema:

let databaseContent = await notionClient.databases.query({ database_id: databaseId });

This approach has worked well for me in several projects. Just remember, the Notion API can be a bit quirky sometimes, so don’t be afraid to dig into the response objects - the data you need is often hiding in plain sight!