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Summarize Records Fields

The Summarize Records Field allows you to calculate aggregate values such as sums, averages, counts, and more from related tables. This field is ideal for summarizing data across linked records, like totaling order values or counting tasks associated with a project. This guide explains how to create and configure Summarize Records Fields in your Buildaible app.

Creating a Summarize Records Field

There are two ways to create a new Summarize Records Field in Buildaible:

Way 1: Adding Fields via Table Settings

  1. Access the Table Settings:
    On the table, click the down arrow next to the table name, then select “Table Settings” from the dropdown menu.

  2. Navigate to the Fields Tab:

    1. In the Table Settings screen, click the “Fields” tab.

    2. Click the “+ New Field(s)” button in the top right.

  3. Select Summarize Records as the field type and configure the settings.

Way 2: Adding Fields via Manage Fields

  1. Open Field Management:

    1. On the table, click the “Manage Fields” button.

  2. Add a New Field:

    1. In the Manage Fields modal, click the “+ New Field” button.

  3. Choose Summarize Records as the field type, provide a Field Name, and customize the settings.

Note: You must have an existing Link a Record Field before creating a Summarize Records Field, as it relies on linked records for its calculations.

Settings for Summarize Records Fields

When creating or editing a Summarize Records Field, you can configure the following options:

  • Show in Table Home: Toggle this option to display the field in the default Table Home view.

  • Select Table to Summarize From: Choose the linked table from which you want to pull values for summarization.

  • Select Primary Lookup Field: Select the Link a Record Field that connects the table to the summarized data.

  • Summary Type: Define the type of summary calculation (e.g., sum, average, count, minimum, maximum).

  • Summary Field: Choose the specific field in the related table that will be summarized (e.g., a numeric field to sum or a date field for the latest date).

  • Helper Text (Optional): Add a short explanation or instruction to guide users when interacting with this field.

  • Description (Optional): Click the + Description link to provide additional context about the field’s purpose and usage for collaborators.

Use Cases for Summarize Records Fields

  • Order Management: Calculate the total value of orders for a customer or the total quantity of products ordered.

  • Project Tracking: Count the number of tasks linked to a project or calculate the average completion time.

  • Inventory Management: Sum the stock levels of items in a particular category or location.

Editing a Summarize Records Field

To edit an existing Summarize Records Field:

  1. Navigate to the Fields tab in your table settings.

  2. Select the Summarize Records Field you want to modify and adjust the settings as needed.

Best Practices

  • Choose the Right Summary Type: Use the most relevant calculation type (e.g., sum for financial totals, count for tracking quantities).

  • Plan Your Data Relationships: Ensure your Link a Record Field relationships are set up correctly for accurate summaries.

  • Provide Helper Text: Guide users on what the summary represents to avoid confusion.

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