# Expanded Record

> Part of the NocoDB documentation (Product docs > Tables > Records). Index of all pages: https://nocodb.com/llms.txt. Any docs page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL.

URL: https://nocodb.com/docs/product/tables/records/expand-record
Last updated: 2026-09-25

Learn how to expand a record & work with it in NocoDB.

<AskNocoAI>
  <Prompt>
    Summarise this record
  </Prompt>

  <Prompt>
    What looks incomplete or inconsistent in this record?
  </Prompt>

  <Prompt>
    Show me the records linked to this one
  </Prompt>

  <Prompt>
    Update [Status] on this record to [In Review]
  </Prompt>
</AskNocoAI>

## Overview

The expanded record opens by default as a **side panel** to the right of the grid, so you can keep the underlying data in view while editing a record, reading comments, or scanning revision history. From the side panel you can also enter **fullscreen mode** when you need the full editing surface, with file preview and discussion modes available in that layout.

<img alt="Expanded record side panel" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="info">
  The side panel is the default layout on desktop across all editions. On public/shared views expanded records open as a centered modal, and on mobile they open as a full-screen drawer.
</Callout>

## Expanding a Record

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

<img alt="Expand record icon on grid" src={__img1} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="tip">
  Shortcut: press 

  `Space`

   on any selected cell to expand the associated record.
</Callout>

The panel slides in from the right and is resizable via the handle on its left edge. The width is remembered across sessions.

### Edit record

The Fields tab lists every field of the record in a single column. Each field is labelled and rendered with the editor that matches its type.

1. Click any field to edit it. The **Save** button in the header activates once there are pending changes.
2. Hidden fields collapse into a **Show hidden fields** toggle at the bottom of the list, useful when most fields are usually hidden from the grid.
3. Use the **Previous / Next** buttons in the header to walk through records without closing the panel.
4. Edits to **links** (link / unlink) and to **Smart Text** fields are buffered along with field-value edits and committed together when you click **Save**, so nothing is persisted until you save the record. Closing the panel with pending edits prompts you to save or discard them. (Inline link editing directly from the grid still applies immediately.)

## Side Panel Header

The header at the top of the side panel groups all record-level controls:

<img src="/img/v2/records/expand-record-side-panel-header.png" alt="Side panel header" style={{ width: "70%" }} />

| Control                                  | Behaviour                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Record title**                         | Shows the display value of the open record. Reads `New Record` when creating a new entry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Save**                                 | Saves edits or creates the record when in new-record mode.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **Previous / Next**                      | Step to the previous or next record in the current view, respecting filters, sorts, and grouping.                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| **Fields / Comments / Revision history** | Feed selector that swaps the panel body between the field list, comments thread, and revision history. The comments entries also filter the thread: **All comments**, **Record comments**, **Comments on attachments**, and **Comments with attachments**, plus a toggle to show or hide resolved comments. |
| **Comment notifications bell**           | Controls whether you are notified for every comment on this record or only for @mentions. See [Comment Notifications](#comment-notifications).                                                                                                                                                              |
| **More options (`...`)**                 | Per-record actions: Copy Record URL, Send Record ☁, Duplicate record, Delete record. See [Record Actions](#record-actions).                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Enter / Exit fullscreen**              | Toggles the fullscreen layout described below.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **Close**                                | Closes the panel.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

## Record Audit

The Revision History tab shows every change made to the record, including who made the change and when.

1. Click the **Revision History** icon in the header switch.
2. The audit trail loads in the panel body, ordered newest first.

<img alt="Side panel with Revision History tab" src={__img2} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="info">
  * Revision history is read-only — you cannot edit or delete entries.
  * The amount of history retained depends on your workspace plan.
</Callout>

## Record Comment

The Comments tab opens the record's comments thread inside the panel, so you can discuss the record while keeping the grid visible. You can also receive [notifications](/docs/product/collaboration/notifications) for updates, ensuring everyone stays informed in real time.

<Callout type="info">
  @mentions and the comment-resolve workflow are available on 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   (Plus plan and above) and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

### Add Comment

1. Click the **Comments** icon in the header switch.
2. The thread loads in the panel body, with the composer pinned to the bottom.
3. Type a comment and press `Enter` to post.

<img alt="Side panel with Comments tab" src={__img3} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="note">
  A single comment can be up to 10,000 characters long.
</Callout>

### Edit Comment

Hover any comment you posted to reveal the **`...`** options menu on the right, then choose **Edit**, **Copy URL**, or **Delete**.

<img alt="Comment options menu" src={__img4} placeholder="blur" />

To edit:

1. Click **Edit** from the menu.
2. Update the text.
3. Click **Save**, or press `Enter`, to commit the change.

**Copy URL** copies a deep link to the comment that opens the record and scrolls the thread directly to this entry. **Delete** removes the comment after confirmation.

<Callout type="note">
  You can only edit or delete your own comments. Comment edits are recorded in the revision history.
</Callout>

### Resolve Comment ☁

<Callout type="info">
  Resolving comments is available on 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   (Plus plan and above) and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

Hover a comment and click the **green tick** icon to mark the thread as resolved. Resolved comments display a tooltip showing who resolved them (e.g. `Resolved by Amelia Johnson`). Click the tick again to unresolve.

<img alt="Resolved comment tooltip" src={__img5} placeholder="blur" />

### Attach Files to a Comment ☁

<Callout type="info">
  Comment attachments are available on 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   (Plus plan and above) and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

You can attach files to a comment to share screenshots, documents, or other context alongside your message.

1. In the comment composer, click the **Attach File** (paperclip) icon to pick files. You can also paste an image from your clipboard or drag and drop files onto the composer.
2. Selected files appear as a strip above the composer, each showing a thumbnail or file-type icon and its size. Click the remove icon on a file to drop it before sending.
3. Post the comment to upload and attach the files.

Comment attachments are served through an authenticated link and are only visible to members who can read the record's comments.

<img alt="Comment with an attachment and a pending file in the composer" src={__img6} placeholder="blur" />

### Annotate an Image ☁

<Callout type="info">
  Image annotations are available on all 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   plans and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

Image annotations let you anchor a comment to an exact point or region on an image attachment, so feedback points to precisely what you mean.

To add an annotation:

1. Open an image attachment in the full-screen carousel.
2. Click once to drop a pin on a point, or drag to draw a rectangle around a region.
3. Type your comment in the box that appears and post it.

<img alt="Dropping a pin annotation on an image" src={__img7} placeholder="blur" />

Each annotation is labelled with a letter (A, B, C, ...) in the order it was created on that image, and the pin or rectangle stays anchored to the same spot at any zoom level. Replies you add stay threaded under the original annotation.

<img alt="Replying to a rectangle annotation thread" src={__img8} placeholder="blur" />

Annotations are ordinary comments, so they also appear in the record's **Comments** tab with a thumbnail and the file name. Click **View** on an annotation comment to reopen the carousel focused on that region. You can edit or delete an annotation comment like any other comment; the anchored region itself is set when you create the annotation and cannot be moved or resized afterwards.

<img alt="Annotation comments in the record's Comments tab" src={__img9} placeholder="blur" />

Annotations apply to image attachments only.

### Comment Notifications

Use the **bell** in the side panel header to choose how you are notified about comments on the record:

* **Notify me only for @mentions** (default): you are notified only when someone mentions you in a comment.
* **Notify me about all comments**: every new comment on this record sends you an in-app [notification](/docs/product/collaboration/notifications).

<img alt="Comment notification bell with its two options" src={__img10} placeholder="blur" />

Posting a comment automatically subscribes you to all comments on that record, unless you have explicitly chosen mentions-only. The preference is per record.

## Record Actions

Open the **More options (`...`)** menu in the header to access per-record actions.

<img alt="More options menu in the side panel" src={__img11} placeholder="blur" />

### Copy Record URL

Select **Copy Record URL** to copy a direct link to this record. Opening the link takes other authorised users straight to the same record, with the panel pre-opened.

### Send Record ☁

<Callout type="info">
  Sending a record by email is available on all 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   plans and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

Select **Send record** to email the record to one or more workspace members. You can pick recipients, optionally override the subject and message, and choose whether to send a copy to yourself.

### Duplicate record

Select **Duplicate record** to create a copy of the current record. The duplicate opens in the panel as an unsaved new record; edit the fields and click **Save** to persist it.

### Delete record

Select **Delete record** and confirm the prompt to delete the record.

<img alt="Delete confirmation" src={__img12} placeholder="blur" />

## Record view modes

When you open a record in fullscreen, the side panel's segmented switch is replaced by the **view mode selector**, which exposes three layouts tailored to different tasks:

* **Field Mode** for structured data entry and editing
* **File Preview Mode** for visually inspecting attachments
* **Discussion Mode** for seamless collaboration and context-rich conversations

Each mode is purpose-built to help you focus on what matters most, ensuring your workflows remain efficient, intuitive, and collaborative.

### Field Mode

Field Mode is the default fullscreen layout — every field of the record is listed with its label and editor in the main area. The right-side drawer carries the **Comments** and **Revision History** tabs so you can review activity while editing.

<img alt="Field Mode" src={__img13} placeholder="blur" />

### File Preview Mode  ☁

<Callout type="info">
  File Preview Mode is available on all 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   plans and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

File Preview Mode prioritises visual file content by displaying attachments front and center. It's perfect for image-heavy or document-centric records.

<img alt="File Preview Mode" src={__img14} placeholder="blur" />

1. **Configure attachment field** — by default the first attachment field is shown. If the record has multiple attachment fields, pick which one to display from the dropdown in the top-left of the preview panel.
2. **Navigate through files** — the first attachment is shown by default. The thumbnails on the left list every file on the record; click a thumbnail to open it.
3. **Add files** — click **Add file(s)** at the bottom of the thumbnail list to upload new attachments directly from the preview.

#### Supported files

File Preview Mode supports a wide range of 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  ☁

<Callout type="info">
  Discussion Mode is available on all 

  **NocoDB Cloud**

   plans and licensed self-hosted deployments (Business plan and above).
</Callout>

Discussion Mode brings the conversation to the centre of the screen. The full comment thread and revision history fill the main area, with a compact, read-only summary of the record's field values pinned to the right so context stays in view while you discuss.

<img alt="Discussion Mode" src={__img15} placeholder="blur" />

### Switching between modes

Open a record and click **Enter fullscreen** in the side panel header to reveal the view mode selector. Click the icons to toggle between Field, File Preview, and Discussion layouts. Click **Exit fullscreen** to return to the side panel without losing your place; closing the record from fullscreen returns you to the grid.

## Preferences

The side panel is enabled by default through the **Expanded record side panel** experimental feature. If you prefer the legacy centered modal, you can switch it off from **Account settings → Experimental features**. Disabling the flag affects only your account; teammates continue to see whichever layout they have enabled.

---

## Related pages

- [Create Record](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/tables/records/create-record.md): Learn how to create a record in NocoDB.
- [Actions on Record](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/tables/records/actions-on-record.md): Learn how to perform actions (edit, duplicate, delete, etc) on a record in NocoDB.
- [Record Templates](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/tables/records/record-templates.md): Learn how to create and use record templates in NocoDB to quickly add records with pre-filled values.
- [Date Dependencies](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/tables/records/date-dependency.md): Define which records are dependent on others. When you reschedule a record, dependent records are automatically rescheduled.