Compatibility
NocoDB imports a whole Airtable base, tables, views and records, into a NocoDB base, using the Default data source or an external database connection. Links, lookups, rollups and attachment fields come across; formula fields do not.
Before you switch
- In Airtable, create a Personal Access Token with at least the
data.records:readscope and access to the base you want to import. - In the base’s Share menu, open the Share Publicly tab, turn on full base access and copy the shared base URL.
- In NocoDB, click the base name in the sidebar and choose Import data, then Airtable Base, or use Import Data on the base dashboard.
- Enter the token and the shared base ID or URL, pick the data source and click Import Base.
- Advanced settings let you import only the schema without records, only the primary grid view of each table, and turn rollup, lookup and attachment columns on or off.
Pitfalls
- Formula fields are not imported. The option is greyed out, so formulas have to be rebuilt by hand.
- The import needs a public share link with full base access, so the whole base can be read through that link while it is on.
- Items that cannot be copied are skipped, approximated or marked as failed, and the import carries on. Only a table NocoDB cannot create stops it. Click Download report for a CSV listing each item with its table, view, field, Airtable field type and reason. The report shortens long lists; the full list is in the import log under Show Details.
- “Approximated” means the item was imported but behaves differently from the Airtable original. Check those before relying on the base.
- The guide covers tables, views, fields and records only. It does not mention Airtable automations, interfaces, comments or collaborator permissions, so plan to recreate those.