Create a request

Requests are the core of Data Fetcher - they're saved instructions that tell Data Fetcher how to connect your Airtable base with external applications and APIs. Every time you run a request, it imports fresh data into your base or exports data to external systems.

Choose your integration approach

Data Fetcher offers two ways to connect with external services:

Pre-built integrations - Ready-to-use connections for popular platforms like Facebook Ads, OpenAI, Google Analytics, Stripe, and many others. Our Airtable integrations handle the technical setup for you, so you can focus on configuring what data to import.

Custom requests - Connect to any REST or GraphQL API, or import from remote JSON, CSV, or XML files. Perfect when you need to integrate with specialized APIs or services that don't have pre-built integrations.

Before you begin

Make sure Data Fetcher is set up in your base:

1. Add Data Fetcher to your Airtable base and sign up for a free account.

2. On the Data Fetcher home screen, click Create your first request.

How to create a request

Choose your application

1. On the create request screen, select the Application you want to connect to:

   • Choose Custom to create a custom request for any API

   • Select a pre-built integration from the list of available applications

Set up authentication

1. Complete the Authorization step by connecting your account or entering required credentials:

   • Pre-built integrations often use OAuth to connect your existing accounts

   • Custom requests typically require API keys or other authentication methods

   • Some public APIs don't require any authorization

   Pro tip: You can store API keys and other reusable values as variables in your workspace to use across multiple requests.

Configure the connection

1. If applicable, select an Endpoint from the available options. This step varies by application - some have multiple endpoints while others have just one.

2. Enter a descriptive name for your request in the input field at the top of the screen.

3. Click Save & Continue in the bottom right corner.

Complete the setup

1. Fill in any required (*) configuration options for your chosen application and endpoint. These options control what specific data gets imported. Advanced option: You can use values from your Airtable tables in requests, including running separate requests for each record in a table or view.

2. Select your Output Table and View where the imported data should go. By default, this uses your current table and view.

Configure field mapping and run

Set up data mapping

1. Click Save & Run in the bottom right corner.

The Response Field Mapping window opens, where you control how data from the external application maps to your Airtable fields. You only need to configure this once unless you change your data transformation settings.

For each field:

• Select or deselect by clicking the field name - only selected fields will be imported

• Map to existing fields by choosing an existing column in your table

• Create new fields by specifying field names and types

Import your data

1. Once you're satisfied with the field mapping, click Save & Run in the bottom right corner.

Your request will execute and import data into your Airtable base according to your configuration.

Manage your requests

Run again: Click Run anytime to import fresh data manually.

Automate imports: Set up automatic data imports that work even when you're not logged in:

• Schedule requests to run at regular intervals
• Add triggers to run when your base data changes
• Use webhook URLs to trigger from external systems

Data handling: Check out our guides on Write modes and Update based on field(s) to understand how new data merges with existing records in your output table.

Your requests are now ready to keep your Airtable data synchronized with external applications and APIs.