Field configuration options

Field configuration in Baserow transforms basic columns into powerful data tools; letting you control appearance, behavior, and organization to match your workflow without rebuilding your entire table structure.

This guide explains how to customize fields after creation, including editing field types, reordering, sorting, filtering, hiding, and deleting fields to optimize your table structure.

For a comprehensive overview of available field types and their initial setup, see the fields overview guide. For information about adding new fields, consult the field creation guide.

Field configuration menu in Baserow

Overview

After creating fields, you can customize their type, appearance, behavior, and organization through the field configuration menu. These options let you refine your database structure as requirements evolve without losing data or starting over.

Field configuration operates independently per view; hide fields in one view without affecting others, apply different sorts, or create view-specific filters while maintaining a single source of data truth. This flexibility enables you to create specialized views for different teams, workflows, or purposes from one table.

Field-level permissions provide granular control over who can edit specific fields in your tables. This enterprise-grade feature is available for paid users as part of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

Field configuration menu

Access all field customization options through the field dropdown menu:

To open field configuration:

  1. Locate the field you want to configure
  2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  3. Select your desired option from the menu

Available options vary by field type; computed fields like formulas have different configuration options than manual entry fields like text or numbers.

Primary field limitations: The Primary field has restricted configuration options. You cannot delete, hide, or insert fields to its left, though you can edit its type and other properties.

Field configuration options overview

Configuration Purpose Affects data Affects views
Edit field Change type, name, or settings May transform data All views
Edit field permissions Control over who can edit the field No All views
Insert Add new field next to current No All views
Duplicate Create copy of field No (unless copying data) All views
Filter Show/hide rows based on criteria No Current view only
Sort Arrange rows by field values No Current view only
Hide Remove field from view No Current view only
Delete Remove field permanently Yes, deletes data All views
Group Organize rows into sections No Current view only
Reorder Change field position No Current view only

Core field operations

How to edit a field

Modify field properties, including type, name, and type-specific settings, after creation.

To edit a field:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Edit field from the menu
  3. Make your desired changes:
  4. Click Save to apply changes

Editing field properties

Change field types

When converting between field types, Baserow attempts to preserve data by transforming values to the new type. Understanding conversion behavior helps avoid data loss.

Recovery tip: Press Ctrl/Cmd + Z immediately after a conversion to undo and restore original data if values were lost. Learn more about data recovery.

Insert a new field

Add new fields to the left or right of existing fields for precise positioning. See the field creation guide for insertion instructions.

Duplicate a field

Create a copy of a field with identical configuration, optionally including data. See the field creation guide for detailed duplication instructions.

Create filters from a field

Quick-create filters directly from the field menu to show only relevant rows. This shortcut saves time compared to opening the filter panel and selecting the field manually. For advanced filtering with multiple conditions, see our filtering guide.

To create a field-based filter:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Create filter
  3. The filter panel opens with your selected field pre-populated
  4. Choose an operator and value to complete the filter

Creating a filter from field menu

Sort by a field

Arrange rows based on field values to organize data for analysis or presentation.

To sort by a field:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Sort ascending or Sort descending
  3. Rows reorganize immediately based on the sort

Multiple sorts can be applied sequentially; sort by Department first, then by Priority within each department.

Sorting behavior by field type

Field type Ascending order Descending order Notes
Text fields A → Z Z → A Alphabetical sorting
Number fields 1 → 9 (smallest first) 9 → 1 (largest first) Numerical sorting
Date fields Oldest → Newest Newest → Oldest Chronological sorting
Boolean fields ☐ → ☑ (unchecked first) ☑ → ☐ (checked first) Binary sorting
Single select A → Z or option order Z → A or reverse order Can use creation order
Rating fields 1 → 5 (lowest first) 5 → 1 (highest first) Numerical sorting
Lookup fields Based on looked-up value type Based on looked-up value type Sorts by linked data

Unsortable fields: File fields cannot be sorted directly.

Empty values: When sorting in ascending order, empty cells typically appear at the top of your table.

How to hide fields

Remove fields from view without deleting data, useful for creating focused views for specific tasks or audiences.

Hide from field header menu

To hide a field:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Hide field
  3. The field disappears from the current view

Hide from bulk hide menu

To hide multiple fields:

  1. Click the Hide fields button in the view toolbar
  2. Toggle visibility for multiple fields simultaneously
  3. Click outside the menu to apply changes

Hide from row detail panel

Hide fields within the row detail panel for a focused editing experience:

  1. Open a row’s detail panel
  2. Click the options menu beside any field
  3. Select Hide field

Primary field exception: You cannot hide the Primary field; it always remains visible as the primary identifier.

How to delete a field

Remove a field and all its data from your table. Deleted fields move to the trash with a recovery period. Access the trash to restore deleted fields before permanent deletion. After the grace period, deletion is irreversible.

To delete a field:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Delete field
  3. Confirm the deletion in the dialog

Deleting a field in Baserow

Primary field exception: You cannot delete the Primary field, though you can change its type or designate a different field as primary.

Additional field operations

Adjust field width

Change column width in Grid View for optimal data visibility. See the Grid View guide for width adjustment instructions.

How to reorder fields

Change field positions to organize logically related fields together.

Drag-and-drop reordering:

  1. Click and hold the field header in Grid View
  2. Drag left or right to your desired position
  3. Release to drop the field in place

Reordering fields by dragging

Reordering in row detail panel:

You can also reorder fields when viewing the row detail panel by dragging fields up or down in the vertical field list.

Reordering fields in expanded view

Use case: Group all contact fields together (Name, Email, Phone), followed by address fields (Street, City, State, ZIP) for logical data entry flow.

How to group by a field

Organize rows into collapsible sections based on field values for categorical analysis. Grouping works only in Grid View and creates hierarchical organization. Add multiple group levels to create nested categorization. Learn more about grouping strategies.

To group by a field:

  1. Click the dropdown arrow next to the field name
  2. Select Group by this field
  3. Rows organize into sections by unique field values

Grouping rows by field

Advanced field operations

Field value constraints

Field value constraints are data quality rules that Baserow enforces automatically when users create or update rows. Learn more about field constraints.

Field index

Field indexes are database optimization structures that improve query performance by creating organized reference tables for specific fields. Learn more about the field index.

Frequently asked questions

Can I undo field configuration changes?

Yes, use Ctrl/Cmd + Z immediately after changes to undo field edits, deletions, or type conversions. For deleted fields, access the trash within the grace period to restore them. Configuration changes like hiding, sorting, or filtering can be reversed through their respective menus.

Do field configuration changes affect other views?

Some changes affect all views (edit field type, delete field, rename field) while others are view-specific (sort, filter, group, hide, reorder). This design lets you create specialized views from one table without affecting other views.

Can I configure multiple fields simultaneously?

Bulk operations are limited. You can hide/show multiple fields at once through the bulk hide menu, but editing, sorting, or deleting requires individual field actions. For bulk changes, consider using the API or duplicating configured fields.

What happens to data when I change a field type?

Baserow attempts to convert data to the new type. Compatible conversions preserve data (text to long text), while incompatible conversions may lose data (text to number drops letters). Always test conversions on a duplicate table first or use Ctrl/Cmd + Z to undo immediately.

Can I configure computed fields like Formulas or Lookups?

Yes, computed fields have specialized configuration options. Formula fields let you edit the calculation, Lookup fields let you change the looked-up field, and automatic fields like Created On have minimal configuration since they generate values automatically.

How do I know which views are using a specific field configuration?

Field configurations like sorts, filters, and grouping apply only to the current view. To see configurations across views, open each view individually. Editing the field type or name affects all views, and you’ll see the change reflected everywhere immediately.

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