Airtable — Unified Skill

Everything needed to work with Airtable: 6 methods, each with different strengths.

As of April 2026. API keys deprecated Feb 2024 — use PATs only.

1. Method Decision Tree

I need to read/write records
  → MCP available? → Use MCP (preferred — handles auth, pagination, batching)
  → No MCP?       → Public REST API with PAT

I need schema info (tables, fields, types)
  → MCP describe_table (detailLevel: full)

I need field configurations (formula text, rollup aggregation, lookup source)
  → MCP describe_table may include it (base-size dependent)
  → If not: Omni AI — ask it to list calculated field configs

I need to create/modify formulas, rollups, lookups, counts, or buttons
  → Public Meta API refuses these — pick ONE of two paths:
    • Omni AI (natural language, in-browser)  — default for human-driven,
      one-off work. Safe, supported, no maintenance.
    • Internal Web API (scripted)             — for bulk / reproducible /
      CI-driven work. See reference.md → "Internal API — Calculated
      Field Creation". Undocumented endpoint, may break without notice.

I need to build or modify interfaces
  → Omni AI (creates full pages + AI-generated custom elements)
  → API has zero interface-building capability

I need to create automations
  → Omni AI or Airtable UI — no API for automation creation

I need interface page layout, visibility conditions, element structure
  → Internal Web API: readDraft

I need to query data as the interface sees it (with interface filters)
  → Internal Web API: readQueries

I need to export automation definitions
  → Internal Web API: application/read + workflow/read

I need to enumerate automations in a base (lightweight inventory)
  → Internal Web API: /v0.3/application/{baseId}/listWorkflows
  → Faster than parsing application/read?includeAllData=true

I need run history / find runaway automations / per-workflow run rate
  → Internal Web API: /v0.3/workflow/{wflId}/listExecutions
  → Page size 20, paginate via offset
  → For rate: fetch latest 20, divide 19 / (newest_ts - oldest_ts)

I need to disable / enable an automation (off → on toggle)
  → Internal Web API: POST /v0.3/workflow/{wflId}/unregister to disable
  → Internal Web API: POST /v0.3/workflowDeployment/{NEW_wfd_id}/create to enable
  → Requires secretSocketId + x-airtable-page-load-id from active browser session
    (generated values fail — must be from live websocket)
  → See reference.md → "Disable / enable an automation"

I need to run logic inside Airtable
  → Scripting Extension (standalone) or Automation Script (triggered)

I need real-time change notifications
  → Public REST API: Webhooks

I need to build a formula
  → See Section 8: Formulas

I need to manage Personal Access Tokens (list / create / regenerate / rename / revoke)
  → Internal Web API: /v0.3/user/{userId}/...
  → See reference.md → "Internal API — Personal Access Token Management"
  → Public REST API has no PAT-management endpoints

I need to enumerate workspaces + which bases live in each
  → Internal Web API: GET /v0.3/user/{userId}/listApplicationsAndPageBundlesForDisplay
  → Response.data.workspaceRecordById[wsid].visibleApplicationOrder = ordered list of appIds in that workspace
  → Response.data.applicationRecordById[appId].name = base name
  → Public Meta API list_bases returns bases but NO workspace mapping
  → See reference.md → "Internal API — Workspace + Application Management"

I need to move a base between workspaces (e.g. relieve a workspace's automation-run quota)
  → Internal Web API: POST /v0.3/workspace/{srcWorkspaceId}/moveApplication
  → Headless replay fails — endpoint needs live secretSocketId + x-airtable-page-load-id from the SPA's active session
  → Use AppleScript → Chrome (Profile 4) → execute fetch() inside an open airtable.com tab. The browser supplies cookies + socket binding automatically.
  → Full pattern in reference.md → "Internal API — Workspace + Application Management" → "Move from headless"
  → Public REST API has no move endpoint

2. MCP (Preferred for Records)

MCP wraps the REST API with structured tools. Always prefer when available.

Tools

Detail Level Optimization

Tip: For large bases, use tableIdentifiersOnly first, then describe_table full on specific tables.

3. Omni AI

Airtable's built-in AI assistant (bottom-right of base UI). Can do things no API can.

Capabilities (from official Airtable docs)

AI-Generated Interface Elements

Beyond standard elements — Omni can generate custom bespoke elements: 3D viewers, heatmaps, relationship diagrams, geographic visualizations, infinite canvas tools.

Field Agents

AI-powered fields that auto-run when data changes — analyze documents, search the web, generate images, translate content, extract insights.

Access

• Via browser: open base → Omni chat (bottom-right)
• Via Chrome MCP / Claude Desktop: navigate to base → Omni chat → submit prompt
• Manual fallback: user pastes prompt, copies response back

Cost

App building: free. Data analysis questions: 10 credits per response. Model choice: OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, others.

When to use Omni over API

• Need to read field configurations that MCP doesn't return (formula text, rollup aggregation functions, lookup source details)
• Need to create or modify calculated fields
• Need to build or modify interfaces
• Need to set up automations

4. Public REST API

Base URL: https://api.airtable.com/v0/{baseId}/{tableIdOrName} Auth: Authorization: Bearer <PAT>

Only non-obvious specifics here:

Key Parameters (List Records)

fields[], filterByFormula, maxRecords, pageSize (max 100), sort[0][field], sort[0][direction], view, offset, returnFieldsByFieldId, recordMetadata[]=commentCount.

Pagination: Response includes offset if more records. No offset = last page.

Batch Limits

• Create/Update/Delete: max 10 records per request
• typecast: true — auto-creates select options, converts types. Without it, invalid values return 422.
• PATCH updates specified fields only. PUT clears everything not specified — almost always use PATCH.

Upsert

{
  "performUpsert": {"fieldsToMergeOn": ["Email"]},
  "records": [{"fields": {"Email": "user@example.com", "Name": "U