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Create a Schema - API Source

Create a Schema - API Source

🔴 On2Air Schemas has been shutdown to focus on our On2Air Backups Airtable app. We are working to add Schemas features into On2Air Backups. Learn more about automated Airtable backups - on2air.com

A Schema is a generated diagram to visualize your base structure and track changes to meta information for all tables, views, fields, and relationships. Understand your Airtable base configuration and view meta changes at a glance.

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In this article

Before Creating a Schema

Connect to Your Airtable Account

Note: Once a Schema is created and connected to a base, you cannot change which base is being used for that particular Schema. You will need to create a new Schema to connect to a different base.

Schema Source Types

There are three ways to set up a Schema for your Airtable base - API, Script, or Block

API

With this option, all the setup is done in the On2Air dashboard without having to add anything to your Airtable base. The API Source option uses the Airtable API to connect with your base and generate a Schema. The limitation with this option is you cannot view how relationships are connected.

  • *Benefits **
  • Can view every base, table, view, or field change, such as a name change, a field type change, or any deleted items
  • See a before and after of every change
  • Create multiple snapshots of your schema for backups
  • Share a public version of your schema
  • Create a print layout of your schema
  • Can use on Free, Plus, or Pro Airtable accounts
  • No setup required inside Airtable
  • All setup is done in On2Air: Schemas dashboard
  • *Limitations **
  • Limited ability to view all changes due to restrictions in the Airtable API
  • You can view Relationship fields in the Schema, but cannot view how Relationships are connected

Script

The Script Source option uses a generated script code from On2Air to paste into the Airtable Scripting App. It’s simple to create and add the code into your base (no coding experience required!)

Benefits

  • View and highlight all Relationship connections
  • Can view every base, table, view, or field change, such as a name change, a field type change, or any deleted items
  • See a before and after of every change
  • Create multiple snapshots of your schema for backups
  • Share a public version of your schema
  • Create a print layout of your schema
  • Can use on Free, Plus, or Pro Airtable accounts (Free and Plus until March 2021)

Limitations

  • You must add the generated JavaScript code to the Airtable Scripting App in your base

Block

  • Coming Soon!

How to Create A New Schema Using the API Source

  • Click New Schema
  • Enter a Name for your Schema
  • Choose the API Source Learn about each Source type
  • Select your Airtable connection
  • Select your Airtable base
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Generate a New Schema Snapshot

To generate a Schema Snapshot

  • In your Schema dashboard, Click New Snapshot
  • Rename your Snapshot
  • Click Create New Snapshot
  • View your new Schema Snapshot by clicking in the dropdown
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  • You can click through each tab to see the Tables, Views, and Fields
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Filter Your Schema

By Default, all Tables, Views, and Fields are included in your Schema

You can filter your Schema by

  • Table
  • Field Type
  • Fields
  • Relationships/Linked Records

To filter Tables, Field Types, or Fields

  • Choose the Filter icon above your Schema
  • Choose your Table, Field Type, or Field filter by clicking the Edit icon
  • Toggle your filter On (Green) or Off (White)
  • Click Done in your individual filter page
  • Click Done on the entire filter page
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To filter and view the connections in your Relationship/Linked Records field types

You are able to view the 'Linked to another record' field type, however viewing Relationship/Linked Records connections is only available for Script Source Schemas

Save Filter Settings

You can save specific filters to reference as needed

  • Click the Filter icon
  • Select your Filter parameters
  • Click Save Filter
  • Name Your Filter
  • Click Done
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Manage Filters

  • Click the Filter icon
  • Click Manage Filters

You can

Rename - Change the name of your filter Clone - Create a duplicate version of your filter Delete - Delete your filter

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View Schema Changes

In each tab, you can see changes for each Base, Table, View, or Field

Base Tab

  • Change - Type of Change
  • Before - Previous name of Base
  • After - New name of Base
  • Updated - Snapshot Timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name

Initial displays the first time the Schema was created

After a change is made to the name of the Base, the new name will be displayed

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Navigate Changes

  • Click Prev, Next, or a page number to navigate between the Base Changes pages

Refresh Schema

  • Click Refresh to generate any new Schema updates

Tables Tab

  • Name - Name of Table
  • Updated - Snapshot Timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name

When you click a Table name, you will see any Name Changes

  • Change - Type of Change
  • Before - Previous Table name
  • After - New Table name
  • Updated - Snapshot Timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name
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View Deleted Tables

  • Toggle View Deleted Tables On (Green) to view any Tables previously deleted
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Navigate Changes

  • Click PREV, NEXT, or a page number to navigate between the Table Changes pages

Views Tab

  • Choose the Table name containing the View you want to see
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In each View, you will see

  • Name - Name of View
  • Last Update - Snapshot timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name

To see changes for a specific View, choose a View name

In each specific View, you will see

  • Change - Type of Change
  • Before - Previous name of View
  • After - New name of View
  • Updated - Snapshot Timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name

View Deleted Views

  • Toggle View Deleted Items On (Green) to view any Views previously deleted
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Navigate Changes

  • Click PREV, NEXT, or a page number to navigate between the View Changes pages

Fields Tab

  • Choose the Table name containing the Fields you want to see
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In each Table, you will see your Field names and types

  • Name - Field name and type
  • Last Update - Last Updated Timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name

If you click a Field name, you will see any name changes

  • Change - Type of Change
  • Before - Previous Field name
  • After - New Field name
  • Updated - Snapshot timestamp
  • Snapshot - Snapshot name
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View Deleted Fields

  • Toggle View Deleted Items On (Green) to view any Fields previously deleted
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Navigate Changes

  • Click PREV, NEXT, or a page number to navigate between the Field Changes pages

Print Your Schema Layout

  • In the Diagram tab, select your Print Layout area by clicking the Zoom In(+) or Zoom Out (-) icons
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  • Click View Print Layout
  • A new tab with your Schema layout will open
  • Choose Print from your browser
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Snapshot History

The Snapshots tab displays a history list of Schema snapshots

  • Name - Name of Snapshot
  • Logged At - Snapshot timestamp
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When you click a Snapshot name, you will see a list of any changes made in the chosen Snapshot

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Refresh Schema

  • Click Refresh to generate any new Schema updates

Share

You can share a public version of your Schema with anyone else.

Shareable - Enable (green) the share toggle to share a public link or view to your schema

You have two options to share.

Option 1

In the Share tab, click View Public Version to view your Schema through a public URL

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Option 2

  • Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the public URL for your Schema to you clipboard
  • Share the URL with others

Settings

Code - A unique ID for your Schema

* Click **Refresh** to generate a new unique ID

Delete - To delete your schema, click Delete Schema * WARNING: This action cannot be undone

Refresh - Click Refresh to generate any new Schema updates

New Snapshot - To generate a new snapshot, follow the steps Generate a Schema Snapshot