93 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
93 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Baserow"
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category: "Files, photos, and documents"
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tagline: "Spreadsheet-style databases for tracking anything, plus forms, kanban boards, and simple apps."
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replaces: ["Airtable", "Smartsheet", "Google Sheets", "Notion databases"]
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address: "baserow.example.com"
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website: "https://baserow.io/"
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upstreamDocs: "https://baserow.io/user-docs"
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links:
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- name: "Baserow user documentation"
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url: "https://baserow.io/user-docs"
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- name: "Field types"
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url: "https://baserow.io/user-docs/baserow-field-overview"
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- name: "Import from Airtable"
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url: "https://baserow.io/user-docs/import-airtable-to-baserow"
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- name: "Baserow REST API"
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url: "https://baserow.io/user-docs/database-api"
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---
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## Overview
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Baserow is a no-code database. It looks like a spreadsheet, but each column has a type (text, number, date, single select, link to another table, file, and more), so your data stays consistent and tables can be connected to each other. It's a good fit for inventories, content calendars, applicant tracking, event planning, and any list that has outgrown a spreadsheet.
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Main capabilities:
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- **Workspaces** that hold **databases**, which hold **tables**.
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- Over 20 **field types**, including links between tables, lookups, rollups, formulas, files, and collaborators.
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- **Views** of the same table: grid, gallery, form, kanban, and calendar, each with its own filters, sorts, and hidden fields.
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- **Forms** that anyone can fill in to add rows, without seeing the rest of the data.
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- **Real-time collaboration**, row comments, and change history.
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- **Application Builder** for simple internal tools and portals on top of your data.
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- A REST **API** and webhooks for connecting to [n8n](/apps/n8n/) and other tools.
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### What it replaces
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Baserow replaces Airtable and Smartsheet, and the database features of Notion. Some features are labelled Premium or Advanced in Baserow; whether they're available depends on whether your installation includes a Baserow licence.
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## Signing in
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Open your Baserow address and sign in. You may be invited by email to a workspace by a colleague; follow the invitation to join.
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## Create your first database
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1. On the dashboard, choose **+ Create new**, then **Database**. Start from scratch, or choose a **template** to start with example tables and views.
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{{< screenshot src="baserow/create-new.png" alt="The Baserow Add new menu listing Database, Application, Dashboard, Automation, From template, and Import data" caption="The **Add new** menu in a Baserow workspace." >}}
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2. Rename the default table and add fields with the **+** at the end of the column headers. Pick the right field type now: it's what makes filtering and linking work.
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{{< screenshot src="baserow/add-field.png" alt="Adding a field in Baserow, with the list of field types open" caption="Adding a field. Choose the field type from the list." >}}
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3. Add rows directly in the grid, paste from a spreadsheet, or import a file (see below).
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### Link tables together
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Use a **Link to table** field to connect records, for example linking each **Task** to a **Project**. Then add a **Lookup** or **Rollup** field to pull values across, such as a project's deadline onto each task, or a count of open tasks onto each project.
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## Use views
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Every table can have many views. Create one from the view menu at the top left:
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- **Grid**: the spreadsheet view. Add filters, sorts, and groupings, and hide fields people don't need.
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- **Kanban**: cards grouped by a single select field, such as status. Drag cards to change the status.
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- **Calendar**: rows shown by a date field.
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- **Gallery**: cards with a cover image, good for products or people.
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- **Form**: a shareable form that creates new rows. Choose which fields appear, add descriptions, and set a thank-you message or redirect.
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Views can be **collaborative** (everyone sees the same filters) or **personal** (only you).
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## Import data
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- **CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML**: choose **+ Create table** in a database and import the file. Check the field types after import and convert them where needed.
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- **Airtable**: create a shared link to your Airtable base, then use **Import from Airtable** when creating a new database. Fields, views, and attachments come across.
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## Share and collaborate
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- Invite colleagues from the workspace's **Members** page and choose their role (admin, builder, editor, commenter, or viewer, depending on your edition).
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- Share a view publicly with a read-only link from the view's **Share view** option. You can password-protect it.
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- Mention colleagues in row comments to notify them.
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## Administer Baserow
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Instance administrators see **Admin** in the left sidebar, with pages for users, workspaces, health, and settings. Under **Settings** you can control whether new people can sign up, and whether to allow workspace creation by everyone.
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## Superpanel settings
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{{< review "confirm Superpanel option names for Baserow." >}}
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- **Access**: choose which groups can use Baserow.
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- **Administrators**: choose who is an instance administrator.
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Baserow sends email (invitations, notifications) through your server's mail settings, which Federated Computer configures.
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