How To Import Data into Airtable When a Record is Updated

In this guide, we'll import data to Airtable whenever a record is updated, using the Data Fetcher extension. This allows us to have up-to-date data in our Airtable base at all times.

We'll import currency conversion data whenever a record is updated, but you can use the same approach to import stock prices, crypto prices, enrich leads or any other data using one of Data Fetcher's Airtable integrations.

This tutorial is 100% no-code. Let's get started!

Create Rates Table

Create a new table in your Airtable base called 'Rates'. Add a Single select field with the name 'Currency'.

Add the names of any currencies you wish to convert into the 'Currency' field. This needs to be the standard currency abbreviation, e.g. BRL, GBP, EUR & CAD.

Add Data Fetcher Extension

Next, add Data Fetcher to your base from the Airtable marketplace. This free extension enables you to import many different types of data into Airtable.

After you have added the Data Fetcher to your Airtable base, you'll need to create a free Data Fetcher account. You can also sign in to your existing account using the 'Have an account?' button on the bottom left of the Data Fetcher screen.

You can also sign up to Data Fetcher with your Google account by selecting 'Continue with Google'. 

Import Exchange Rate Data to Airtable

Select 'Create your first request' from the Data Fetcher home screen. Data Fetcher requests are used to import and send data. You can create multiple saved requests within one installation of Data Fetcher in an Airtable base.

On the create request screen, select 'exchangerate.host' for Application.

For Endpoint choose 'Convert from one currency to another'.

Give your request a name such as 'Import currency data' and click 'Save & Continue'.

Add a reference to your output table by clicking on the + button on the right-hand side of the From currency field and selecting your 'Rates' table and 'Currency' field.

Click 'Confirm'.

For To currency select the currency you wish to convert into. For this example, we are using USD.

The Response field mapping modal will now open. This is how you configure how the fields from exchangerate.host will map to fields in your output table. 

For each imported field, you can either map it to an existing field in your output table or create a new one. You can also set the field type for each new field.

Click filter all to remove any pre-selected fields, then use the Find field search bar to easily locate the fields you want to import.

For this example, we are going to import the Result field and map this to a new field with type Currency. Click on the field type dropdown to change it from a number field to a currency field. Then click 'Save & Run'.

You will now see a new field in your output table called 'Result' which has been populated with the exchange rates in USD for the specified currencies.

Import Data into Airtable When a Record is Updated

We can import data whenever a record is updated using Data Fetcher's Trigger feature.

Triggers are a paid Data Fetcher feature, so you will need to upgrade your account. To do this, in Data Fetcher, scroll to the Schedule | Trigger | Webhook URL tabs and click 'Upgrade'.

Select a plan from the options and enter your payment details to upgrade.

Return to Data Fetcher and click 'I've done this'.

Next, select the 'Trigger' tab and click '+ Authorize' underneath.

Accept the prompt 'I understand, let's Authorize'.

Click '+ Add a base'.

By selecting 'All current and future bases in all current and future workspaces', we'll avoid the need to re-authorize access for individual bases in the future.

Click on 'Grant access'.

Back in Data Fetcher, ensure the Trigger tab is still selected. Select the trigger type of Record updated.

Select a Table to watch for changes - this should be the 'Rates' table you have been using for the rest of this tutorial. You can optionally select a View to watch as well, if you only watch to watch a certain view. Or, leave this set to 'None' to watch all records in your 'Rates' table.

Finally, select the fields to watch for changes. For this example, we'll select just the 'Currency' field, so that whenever it is updated, we fetch the latest exchange rate for that currency.

Finally, click 'Save' in the bottom-right hand corner. Whenever a record is updated in our Rates table, the latest currency data will be imported and the record will be updated!