Expanded Record

Overview

An expanded record opens as a modal over the grid. The fields are on the left and the comments thread on the right, so you can edit a record and discuss it in the same place.

The header switches the modal between three layouts: Fields, File Preview and Discussion. Refer to Record view modes.

Expanding a Record

To expand a record in a grid view, hover over the index column (the first column) and click the expand icon.

Edit record

The Fields tab shows all fields of the record in one column. Each field has a label and the editor for its type.

1. Click a field to edit it. When you have unsaved changes, the Save button in the header becomes active.
2. Hidden fields go into a Show hidden fields toggle at the bottom of the list. This helps when most fields are hidden in the grid.
3. To move through records without closing the modal, use the Previous / Next buttons in the header.
4. NocoDB keeps edits to links (link / unlink) and to Smart Text fields with your field-value edits. It saves them all together when you click Save. Nothing is saved before you save the record. If you close the modal with unsaved edits, NocoDB asks you to save or discard them. (When you edit links inline in the grid, the change still applies immediately.)

Record header

The header at the top of the modal has all record-level controls:

The pane on the right has its own dropdown. It switches between the comments thread and the revision history, filters the thread (All comments, Record comments, Comments on attachments, Comments with attachments) and toggles resolved comments. The notification bell sits beside it.

Record Audit

The Revision History tab shows every change to the record. It shows who made each change and when.

1. At the top of the right pane, open the dropdown and select Revision history. The audit trail replaces the comments thread, newest first.

Record Comment

The pane on the right of an expanded record holds the comments thread, so you can discuss a record while you edit it. You can also get notifications for updates, so everyone knows about changes in real time.

Add Comment

1. Open a record. The thread is on the right, with the composer at the bottom.
2. Type a comment.
3. Press Enter. NocoDB posts the comment.

Edit Comment

Hover over a comment that you posted. The ... options menu shows on the right. It has Edit, Copy URL, and Delete.

To edit:

1. Click Edit from the menu.
2. Update the text.
3. Click Save, or press Enter. NocoDB saves the change.

Copy URL copies a direct link to the comment. The link opens the record and scrolls the thread to this comment. Delete removes the comment after you confirm.

Resolve Comment ☁

To mark a thread as resolved, hover over a comment and click the green tick icon. A resolved comment shows a tooltip with the user who resolved it (for example, Resolved by Amelia Johnson). To unresolve the thread, click the tick again.

Attach Files to a Comment ☁

You can attach files to a comment, such as screenshots, documents, or other context for your message.

1. In the comment composer, click the Attach File (paperclip) icon and select files. You can also paste an image from your clipboard, or drag files onto the composer. The files show in a strip above the composer. Each file shows a thumbnail or file-type icon and its size.
2. To remove a file before you send, click the remove icon on the file.
3. Post the comment. NocoDB uploads and attaches the files.

NocoDB serves comment attachments through an authenticated link. Only members who can read the comments of the record can see them.

Annotate an Image ☁

Use image annotations to attach a comment to an exact point or region on an image attachment. Your feedback then points to exactly what you mean.

To add an annotation:

1. Open an image attachment in the full-screen carousel.
2. Click one time to put a pin on a point, or drag to draw a rectangle around a region. A comment box opens.
3. Type your comment in the box.
4. Post the comment.

Each annotation has a letter (A, B, C, ...) in the order that you created it on that image. The pin or rectangle stays on the same spot at all zoom levels. Your replies stay in a thread under the original annotation.

Annotations are ordinary comments. They also show in the Comments tab of the record, with a thumbnail and the file name. To open the carousel again at that region, click View on an annotation comment.

You can edit or delete an annotation comment like any other comment. You set the region when you create the annotation. You cannot move or resize the region after that.

Annotations apply to image attachments only.

Comment Notifications

Use the bell at the top of the comments pane to select when you get notifications about comments on the record:

When you post a comment, NocoDB subscribes you to all comments on that record. This does not happen if you selected mentions-only. The setting is per record.

Record Actions

To use per-record actions, open the More options (...) menu in the header.

Copy Record URL

The header has a Copy record URL button beside Save record. It copies a direct link to this record. The link takes other authorized users straight to the same record, with the modal open.

Send Record ☁

Select Send record to email the record to one or more workspace members. You can:

• Select the recipients.
• Change the subject and the message (optional).
• Send a copy to yourself (optional).

Duplicate record

Select Duplicate record to make a copy of the current record. The copy opens in the modal as an unsaved new record. Edit the fields and click Save to save it.

Delete record

Select Delete record, and then confirm. NocoDB deletes the record.

Compact view

Select Compact view to tighten the field list. Each field becomes a label and plain text instead of a label and a bordered input, the rows sit closer together, and an empty field shows --. Use it to read a long record without scrolling as far. A check mark shows beside the entry while compact view is on, and selecting it again restores the full layout.

Reload record

Select Reload record to fetch the record again from the server, which is useful when someone else has changed it. This entry is in Community Edition only.

Record view modes

The three icons in the header set the layout of the modal:

Each mode helps you focus on one task.

Field Mode

Field Mode is the default layout. The main area shows all fields of the record, each with its label and editor. The pane on the right holds the comments thread, and its dropdown switches to the revision history, so you can see activity while you edit.

File Preview Mode ☁

File Preview Mode shows attachments in the center of the screen. Use it for records with many images or documents.

1. Configure attachment field: by default, the first attachment field shows. If the record has more than one attachment field, select the field in the dropdown at the top left of the preview panel.
2. Navigate through files: by default, the first attachment shows. The thumbnails on the left show every file of the record. Click a thumbnail to open the file.
3. Add files: to upload new attachments from the preview, click Add file(s) at the bottom of the thumbnail list.

Supported files

File Preview Mode supports these media types:

PDF

Image Files

.jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif, .svg, .bmp, .ico, .webp, .avif, .heif, .heifs, .heic, .heic-sequence

Audio Files

.mp3, .flac, .wav, .m4a

Video Files

.webm, .mpg, .mp2, .mpeg, .ogg, .mp4, .m4v, .avi, .wmv, .mov, .qt, .flv, .mkv, .3gp, .3g2, .vob, .ts, .mp4a

Discussion mode ☁

Discussion Mode puts the conversation in the center of the screen. The full comment thread and the revision history fill the main area. A short, read-only summary of the field values is on the right, so you can see the context while you discuss.

Switching between modes

1. Open a record.
2. In the header, click the icon for the mode you want.
3. The record stays open and on the same record as you change between layouts.

Closing the record takes you back to the grid.