Workaround to allow user to add Single Select options

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1

I’m using Airtable as my data source and I’m new to Noloco. From my research, seems it’s not possible to allow users to add options to a single select list. Curious if there’s a workaround.

I work in video post production. There are a wide set of values that are repeated across different tables. For example, a video can have multiple resolutions, some of which are standard and some of which are bespoke.

I’ve repopulated the resolution single select option with standard resolutions, but if a user needs to add a custom resolution, then they will have to ask me to go into Airtable to add it. This greatly reduces the value of having a front-end like Noloco.

I’ve toyed with the idea of building a global settings table, but doesn’t seem like an option given you can only add new records via Noloco.

Here’s a quite data schema on some of the fields I need to add + their standard values:

Frame Rate: 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 59.94
Resolution: 1920x1080, 2048x858, 3840x2160, 4096x2160
Aspect Ratio: 16x9, 9x16, 4x3, 4x5, 1x1, 2:1, 2.39:1
Language: EN, SP, FR, DE

I have two tables that need to link to this data: Edits and Deliverables.

I would like a setup that allows the user to add options when the need arises, i.e. if we have do a Haitian language deliverable, they can add the language code “HT”.

Thanks

2

Not sure if this is what you want or would work for you but I do something similar. I would say though, I use it rarely to avoid the end users inputting bad/misspelled data, learnt my lessons early :flushed::

  1. I store all preset values in another table, in my example its call tbl_plan_type
  2. I then link my main table to that using the linked record field, configuring as required.
  3. On the form in editor, select the field and “allow users to create new records”
  4. On the front end now, when users hit the select fields they are presented with an option for “New” to add a new record (a form pops up).

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3

This is what I was thinking, but it seems I would need to do a new table for each parameter, i.e. one for Frame Rate, one for Resolution, one for Language, etc. Correct?

I think if that’s the only workaround, then so be it, but a lot of tables to manage. I have about a dozen parameters I need to track like this.

And I hear you on user data, but the problem is there are so many variables for some of these parameters it’s cumbersome to have only one person be able to update the values (the rest of the team isn’t savvy enough on the backend of things).

4

I’ve only used to add this single value but it may be possible to add multiple, sure Noloco will be along to answer that one :slight_smile:

(the rest of the team isn’t savvy enough on the backend of things)

You could use a front end form to add the variables into the backend table and give access to that form to certain users? Once the added via front end those values would be available in the select field to all users.

So you’d create 1 table with fields for all variables, then have some user enter those details via the front end? Just a thought.

The single select with an option to add new values would obviously be the ideal scenario but I’ve not found a way to do this yet.

5

Linked records would be my approach as well.

6

This would be a very welcome addition!