Primary Field

By default, the primary field is the first field in a table. Every row in your table should be identified by a name that is unique. The primary field may be used as a row description in other areas of the UI. For example, when you link a row to another table, the title card representing the linked row displays the value of the primary field.

The position of the primary key field in a table as the first column is fixed and cannot be changed.

Customize the primary field

Although you cannot delete the primary field or make a different existing field as the Primary field, you can change its type or copy the data to another field.

To customize the primary field, click on the arrow next to the field name and select an option to edit the field name and type, create a filter or sort rows by the primary field.

The Primary field type supports these customization options:

• Field editing
• Duplicating a field
• Sorting by a field
• Filtering by a field

Change the primary field type

If you’d like to change your primary field name or the default single line text type to a different field type,

1. Click on the arrow next to the primary field name
2. Select ‘Edit field’.
3. You can then designate a new field type for your primary field.

Copy primary field data

To copy the data in a primary field, first create a new field on your table to hold the values of your primary field. Make sure the field type in your new field matches the field type in your primary field.

Copy Cmd ⌘ C and paste Cmd ⌘ V the data from your current primary field by selecting the rows and pasting them into your newly created field.

Supported field types

Each row’s primary field acts as its unique identifier, and cannot be deleted, moved or hidden. The primary field is a text-based field by default. It supports all other field types, except the link to table field.

Baserow currently allows for the following field types to be used as primary fields:

• Single line text
• Long text
• Number
• Rating
• Boolean
• Date
• Last modified
• Created on
• URL
• Email
• File
• Single select
• Multiple select
• Phone number
• Formula
• Lookup

If you’re looking for something else, please feel free to make recommendations or ask us questions in our online community —we’re ready to assist you!