How to Automate Airtable Data Export

You can easily import data into your Airtable database from CSV and Excel files, as well as Google Sheets. Exporting data from Airtable to a CSV file is also simple and quick.?

However, for automated exports to spreadsheet apps, you'll need third-party tools. Keep reading to discover best practices for exporting Airtable data to various destinations.

We will start by exporting Airtable contact information to Google Sheets.

Export contact info from Airtable

Numerous no-code Airtable integration tools offer different functionalities for seamless data management. In this example, we will be using Coupler.io.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how it works.?

1. Extract Airtable data

• Sign in to your Coupler.io account. If you haven't registered yet, you can start with a free 14-day trial.
• Obtain a shared view link for your Airtable view and paste it into the “Shared URL” field.?
• To extract data from multiple Airtable views, click on “Add one more source” and set it up similarly. This feature allows you to include various Airtable views and merge data from other platforms.

2. Transform data

With Coupler.io, you can automate the export of Airtable data to your desired location and transform it in real time. The Transform module allows you to:

• Preview data
• Manage columns by hiding unnecessary ones, renaming and rearranging them, and modifying their data types
• Integrate calculable columns using supported calculation functions
• Apply data filters to extract only the essential data based on specific criteria.

3. Manage data

Start by linking your Google account. Then, select a spreadsheet and a specific sheet within your Google Drive where the Airtable data will be imported.

In the optional settings, you can customize options such as specifying the starting cell for the imported data, selecting the import mode, and enabling the last update column.

Once everything is set up, click “Finish and Proceed” to complete the importer configuration. You can now run the importer to transfer data from Airtable to Google Sheets. Additionally, you can schedule automated exports.

Coupler.io provides near real-time data updates, with scheduling options available as frequently as every 15 minutes. Enable the “Automatic data refresh” option and set your preferred export schedule.

Click “Save and Run” to start the process. After a successful import, you can view your Google Sheets spreadsheet with the Airtable data by clicking the “View Results” button.

Export Airtable base to a spreadsheet

An importer allows you to export a single view from Airtable. Therefore, if you need to export an entire Airtable database, you will need to create as many importers as there are views in your database. Fortunately, you can copy importers, so you don't have to create each one from scratch.

Additionally, you're not limited to Google Sheets as a destination. Coupler.io also enables you to connect Airtable to Excel, with a workflow that is largely the same.

Export a large base from Airtable to BigQuery

Exporting a large base from Airtable to a spreadsheet app isn't always practical. In such cases, Coupler.io offers BigQuery as an alternative destination with a dedicated Airtable to BigQuery integration. Remember to create an importer for each view in your database. You can replicate the first importer and modify it for each subsequent Airtable view.

Be sure to carefully set up the connection to your BigQuery account. This involves generating and uploading a Google Cloud JSON key from your device.

Next, input the name of your BigQuery dataset and specify the table where the Airtable data will be transferred. The remaining steps are similar to setting up an export to a spreadsheet destination.