Expanded Record

Overview

By default, the expanded record opens as a side panel to the right of the grid. You can see the grid data while you edit a record, read comments, or look at the revision history.

When you need the full editing area, open fullscreen mode from the side panel. Fullscreen mode also has the file preview and discussion 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.

The panel opens from the right. To resize it, drag the handle on its left edge. NocoDB keeps the width across sessions.

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 panel, 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 panel with unsaved edits, NocoDB asks you to save or discard them. (When you edit links inline in the grid, the change still applies immediately.)

Side Panel Header

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

Record Audit

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

1. In the header switch, click the Revision History icon. The audit trail opens in the panel body, newest first.

Record Comment

The Comments tab shows the comments thread of the record in the panel. You can discuss the record and still see the grid. You can also get notifications for updates, so everyone knows about changes in real time.

Add Comment

1. In the header switch, click the Comments icon. The thread opens in the panel body. The composer is 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 in the side panel header 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

Select Copy Record URL to copy a direct link to this record. The link takes other authorized users directly to the same record, with the panel 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 panel 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.

Record view modes

When you open a record in fullscreen, the view mode selector replaces the segmented switch of the side panel. It has three layouts for different tasks:

Each mode helps you focus on one task.

Field Mode

Field Mode is the default fullscreen layout. The main area shows all fields of the record, each with its label and editor. The drawer on the right has the Comments and Revision History tabs, 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 side panel header, click Enter fullscreen. The view mode selector shows.
3. Click the icons to change between the Field, File Preview, and Discussion layouts.
4. Click Exit fullscreen to go back to the side panel. You stay on the same record.

If you close the record in fullscreen, you go back to the grid.

Preferences

The Expanded record side panel experimental feature turns on the side panel by default. To use the legacy centered modal, turn off this feature in Account settings → Experimental features. This change applies only to your account. Your teammates keep the layout that they have turned on.