What is the process for incorporating additional items into a multi-select field in Airtable?

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1

Question

I’m looking for a straightforward method to add new choices to a multi-select field in Airtable. Currently, when I attempt to create a record with fresh entries in the Multiple Select field, I encounter the following error:

{
  error: 'INVALID_MULTIPLE_CHOICE_OPTIONS',
  message: 'Unknown choice values: Agency',
  statusCode: 422
}

Here’s the code I’m using:

base('Clients').create({
    Name: 'Example',
    Tags: ['Agency']
});
2

To add new items to a multi-select field in Airtable, you’ll need to first ensure that all possible choices are predefined in the Airtable field configuration. This means you have to manually update the field settings to include the new choice. Here’s how I do it: I first go to the Airtable interface and edit the field type settings to add the new item to the list of allowed values. Once you add ‘Agency’ as a selectable option manually, you can successfully use it in your API requests without facing the INVALID_MULTIPLE_CHOICE_OPTIONS error.

3

In my experience with Airtable, I’ve found that using their API to update the table schema isn’t directly supported for adding new select options. As a workaround, I usually find it easiest to automate this using third-party integrations such as Zapier or Integromat. These tools can watch for certain conditions and automatically update the field options in Airtable without needing to manually adjust settings within the Airtable interface every time you introduce a new option. This approach saves time and ensures your multi-select fields remain dynamic and flexible without manual intervention.

4

You might wanna try using Airtable’s scripting block if you’re comfy writing a bit of JS. With it, you can automate the process of adding new options to your multi-select fields by writing a script that batch updates your field configurations as needed. it’s pretty flexible!

5

In case you prefer a code-less solution, I’ve had some success using Airtable’s Automations feature. You can create a trigger for when a new record is added or edited, and then set an action for updating the multi-select list directly within the Airtable interface. While it doesn’t directly add new select options via code, it can streamline updating the choices without having to go into the field configurations each time. This makes managing options more seamless, especially if changes happen frequently.