Python script unable to fetch specific Airtable cell data using identifier - what's the issue?

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1

I’m having trouble with my Python script that’s supposed to get specific cell content from Airtable using an identifier. The script works fine when fetching all fields, but it fails when trying to get a specific cell. Here’s what I’ve tried:

from flask import Flask, render_template, request
import requests

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/get_data')
def get_data():
    record_id = request.args.get('record_id')
    api_url = f"https://api.airtable.com/v0/myBaseId/myTableName/{record_id}"
    headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer MY_API_KEY"}
    
    response = requests.get(api_url, headers=headers)
    data = response.json()
    
    target_field = data.get('fields', {}).get('record_id', 'Not found')
    
    print(f"Record ID: {record_id}")
    print(f"Airtable Response: {data}")
    print(f"Status Code: {response.status_code}")
    
    return render_template('data.html', field_content=target_field)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

I’ve double-checked the Airtable structure and tried changing the ‘record_id’ field format. Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong? Thanks for your help!

2

I’ve dealt with similar Airtable API issues before. Your approach is close, but there’s a key misunderstanding. The ‘record_id’ isn’t a field within the record; it’s the identifier for the entire record. To fetch a specific field, you need to use its actual name from your Airtable base.

Try modifying your code like this:

target_field = data[‘fields’].get(‘YourDesiredFieldName’, ‘Not found’)

Replace ‘YourDesiredFieldName’ with the exact field name from Airtable. Also, ensure your API key has the correct permissions for reading data from this base and table.

If you’re still stuck, print out the entire ‘data’ dictionary to see what fields are actually being returned by the API. This can help identify any discrepancies between what you expect and what you’re receiving.

3

hey there! looks like ur trying to fetch a specific field but ur using ‘record_id’ as the field name. that’s probably not right. try changing ‘record_id’ to the actual field name u want from airtable. also, make sure ur api key and base/table IDs are correct. hope this helps!

4

I’ve encountered similar issues when working with the Airtable API. One thing I noticed in your code is that you’re using ‘record_id’ as both the identifier for the record and the field name you’re trying to fetch. This is likely causing confusion.

Instead, try separating these concepts. Use the record_id to fetch the entire record, then access the specific field you want by its actual name in Airtable. For example:

target_field = data.get('fields', {}).get('YourActualFieldName', 'Not found')

Replace ‘YourActualFieldName’ with the exact name of the field as it appears in your Airtable base.

Also, ensure you’re using the correct API endpoint. The v0 endpoint is older; you might want to try the v0 endpoint if you haven’t already. And double-check your API key permissions - sometimes it’s a matter of read vs. write access.