Share data between tables

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read

    • Share data between tables to avoid data duplication.

    Before you begin

    Role required: admin, sn_app_eng_studio.user, or delegated developer

    Select the following link to download the material needed for this step in the app creation tutorial.

    App creation tutorial airport spreadsheet

    About this task

    The final phase in building the data model for the employee travel request application is to link the travel request table to a separate table that stores airport data. Doing so enables employees to choose which airports they want to use when they complete employee travel requests.

    Phase 1

    Completed icon

    Create a data table

    Phase 2

    Completed icon

    Configure a data table

    Phase 3

    In progress icon

    Share data between tables

    Storing data in multiple tables enables you to keep your data organized and modular. When you want to share data between tables you can create reference fields, which pull records from one table into another without duplicating the data.

    Download the airport spreadsheet and follow along with the tutorial to create references fields between the employee travel request and airport tables.

    Table 1. Video sections
    Timestamp Section
    0:03 Create a table to store the data that you want to reference.
    0:26 Configure the table.
    1:05 Open your existing table.
    1:13 Add new fields to the existing table.
    1:19 Set the field type to Reference and select the table that you want to pull data from.
    1:36 Save your changes.
    1:38 Add the new reference fields to your table in Form view.
    1:59 Customize the form layout.
    2:10 Save your changes.

    Procedure

    1. Create a new table to store airport information.
      In our tutorial, we create a new table from a spreadsheet that stores airport information. To follow along with the tutorial, download the airport spreadsheet. Then use the procedures in Import a spreadsheet and Create new table from spreadsheet import to create a new table from the airport spreadsheet.
    2. Customize the table so that it displays the information that you want to reference.
      1. Select the airport table from your application dashboard in App Engine Studio.
      2. On the table landing page, select the More actions icon () next to Data in the top ribbon, then select Fields.
        Choose theFields data view to add and configure fields in your table.
      3. On the Fields page, in the Name field, toggle on the Display switch () to enable other tables to reference airport names.
        Important:
        You can select only one field to be referenced by other tables. If you attempt to select multiple fields, Table Builder keeps only one of your selections when you save your changes.
      4. Select Save.
    3. Navigate to your application dashboard in App Engine Studio.
    4. Select the employee travel request table, where you’ll create the reference fields that pull data from the airport table.
    5. On the table landing page, select the More actions icon () next to Data, then select Fields.
    6. Create the reference fields.
      In our tutorial, we create two reference fields to collect airport choices for employee travel requests.
      1. On the Fields page, select + Add a field in the table.
      2. In the Column label field, enter Travel From.
        The Column name field auto-populates based on the label that you entered.
      3. In the Type column, select Reference, then select the airport table from the list.
        In our tutorial, we create another reference field to capture where the employee is traveling to. We label this field Travel To.
    7. Select Save.
    8. Add the reference fields to the form view of the table.
      1. Select Forms in the top ribbon.
      2. Enter the label of the reference field in the Search bar.
        In our tutorial, the reference fields are labeled Travel From and Travel To.
        You can search for fields to add to your table in the search bar in the Add form elements panel.
      3. Drag the reference fields from the Add form elements panel to the Default view panel.
    9. Optional: Repeat the process in steps 6–8 to add as many reference fields as you need.
    10. Select Save.

    Result

    The data model for the employee travel request application is complete.

    What to do next

    Continue building the employee travel request application by proceeding to the next step in the app creation tutorial: Creating user experiences.