Table of Contents
Introduction
Airtable is a powerful database platform that allows users to create customized databases called “bases”. These bases can be shared and collaborated on with other users. One useful feature in Airtable is the ability to post public comments on records within a shared base.
Public comments allow anyone with access to the base to provide feedback, ask questions, or add additional information to records. Comments can enhance collaboration and make bases more useful.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about posting public comments in Airtable bases, including:
Prerequisites for Public Commenting
Before you can start posting public comments, there are a few requirements:
- Shared Base – Comments can only be posted in a base that has been shared publicly or with specific collaborators. Private bases do not allow public commenting.
- Comment Permissions – The base owner must enable commenting for editors/commenters in the share settings.
- User Verification – Commenters need a verified email address associated with their Airtable account.
As long as those prerequisites are met, any collaborator can start posting comments in the base.
How to Post Comments
Posting comments in an Airtable base is simple:
- Open the Record – Navigate to the page for the record you want to comment on and expand the record details.
- Find Comment Box – Scroll down to the bottom of the expanded record details. The comment box will be under the activity feed.
- Type Comment – Write your comment in the text box. You can @mention collaborators to notify them.
- Post Comment – Click the “Comment” button to post it.
The comment will now be visible in the activity feed for that record.
Additional Comment Tips
- Use markdown formatting like bold, italic, or code blocks
- Delete comments with the trash icon
- Disable commenting per record from the 3-dot menu
- Turn off notifications per comment with the bell icon
Replying to Comments
To directly reply to another comment:
- Find Comment – Locate the comment you want to reply to in the activity feed.
- Click Reply – Select the reply icon next to the comment text.
- Type Reply – Write your reply in the field that appears.
- Post Reply – Click the “Reply” button to post it indented under the original.
Public comment threads allow collaborators to have conversations and clarify information about records.
Managing and Moderating Comments
As a base owner, you have a few options to manage public comments:
- Edit/Delete Comments – Modify or remove problematic comments
- Disable Commenting – Turn off commenting for the entire base
- Restrict Users – Limit commenting to certain permission levels
Moderating comments allows you to keep the discussion on-topic and constructive.
Use Cases for Public Commenting
There are many potential uses cases for the public commenting feature in Airtable bases:
1. Internal Feedback
- Project Management – Team members can discuss tasks and blockers
- Asset Reviews – Annotate images, videos, documents
- Issue/Bug Tracking – Users can clarify problems or contribute debugging info
2. External Feedback
- Client Reviews – Share work and gather client annotations
- Guest Books – Visitors can leave comments for events or locations
- Public Suggestion Boxes – Crowdsource ideas from external audiences
3. Enhanced Data Collection
- Research Studies – Participants can leave additional notes
- Interviews/Surveys – Allow open-ended responses and discussions
- Contests/Promotions – Let users ask questions or make picks
The options are endless! Enable public commenting to boost engagement and feedback.
Conclusion
- Airtable’s public commenting empowers collaboration through conversations on records
- Prerequisites include shared bases, commenting permissions, and verified users
- Post comments from expanded record details and carry discussions via replies
- Moderate comments to keep your base focused and constructive
- Use cases range from internal teamwork to external crowdsourcing
Adding comment streams directly on records takes Airtable bases to the next level. Turn on this feature to increase user participation and make your bases more dynamic.
