Inconsistent results from Airtable queries using Node.js library

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1

I’m having trouble with the Airtable Node.js library. My code uses filterByFormula to find records, but it’s not always reliable. Sometimes it doesn’t return results even when I’m sure they exist.

Here’s what I’m doing:

async function findReservation(externalID) {
  const results = await bookingsTable('Bookings').select({
    view: 'Main View',
    filterByFormula: `{Booking ID} = "${externalID}"`,
    maxRecords: 1,
  }).all();

  return results.length ? results[0] : null;
}

// Usage
const existingBooking = await findReservation(booking.id);
if (!existingBooking) {
  addNewBooking(booking);
} else {
  modifyBooking(booking);
}

This inconsistency is causing duplicate entries. When Airtable doesn’t return an existing record, my code creates a new one instead of updating the old one.

Is this a known issue with Airtable? Am I doing something wrong in my query? Any ideas on how to make this more reliable? I really need to avoid these duplicates.

2

I’ve encountered similar issues with Airtable’s Node.js library, and it can be frustrating. One thing that helped me was implementing a retry mechanism with exponential backoff. Sometimes, Airtable’s API can be a bit flaky, and retrying the query a few times often resolves the issue.

Here’s a modified version of your function that includes retries:

async function findReservationWithRetry(externalID, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++) {
    try {
      const results = await bookingsTable('Bookings').select({
        view: 'Main View',
        filterByFormula: `{Booking ID} = '${externalID}'`,
        maxRecords: 1,
      }).all();
      return results.length ? results[0] : null;
    } catch (error) {
      if (attempt === maxRetries - 1) throw error;
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000 * Math.pow(2, attempt)));
    }
  }
}

This approach has significantly reduced inconsistencies in my Airtable queries. Also, double-check that your ‘Booking ID’ field in Airtable is set up correctly and that the data types match what you’re querying. Hope this helps!

3

I’ve dealt with similar Airtable quirks before. One approach that’s worked well for me is implementing a double-check system. First, query by the Booking ID as you’re doing. If that returns no results, do a broader search using other unique identifiers like customer name and date. This helps catch records that might be missed due to API hiccups.

Also, consider adding logging for these edge cases. Log when a booking isn’t found but then is created as new. This can help you track the frequency of the issue and potentially identify patterns.

Lastly, ensure your Airtable base isn’t hitting any rate limits. If you’re making many rapid queries, you might be getting throttled, leading to inconsistent results. Implementing request queuing could help if this is the case.

These strategies have significantly reduced similar issues in my projects. Good luck!

4

yo, i’ve seen this happen too. it’s a pain. have u tried caching ur results? like, store the last successful query in memory or a local db. then check that before hitting airtable again. might help catch those weird misses. just an idea, could be worth a shot.