Problem with the “Link to table” field when creating or updating a row in the Application Builder

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What do you need help with?

Hello everyone! I have the following situation:

I am building an application. When configuring the fields of the Create a row or Update a row event, I cannot assign a value to a column that is a Link to table.

Specifically, when trying to assign a UUID value to a Link to table field (table B: whose primary field is the same UUID) with the following configuration:

Create related field in linked table
Allow multiple relationships
Limit selection to view

The following message appears:

The “Create a row” action failed: One or more fields contain invalid values.

Value error for field “User”: Field of type formula is read only and should not be set manually.

Example:

  • The UUID (Table B) that I want to add to the Link to table (Table A).
  • In the Table B the primary field is: d1f53d34-6295-4c8c-a5bd-5a0319935fcb
  • Manually (directly in the table) the value can be added, but not from the application. Even copying a d1f53d34-6295-4c8c-a5bd-5a0319935fcb

Am I doing something wrong, or is this a limitation of Baserow?

I just realized my mistake. Formulas are indeed a limitation for this type of connection from the Application Builder, but the root cause of the error was that the UUID of Table B’s primary field was generated by a formula—it wasn’t a native UUID.

So the situation was:

  • Table A (primary field: plain UUID) → trying to add its value to the Link to table field that points to Table B (primary field: UUID generated by a formula).

However, here’s a simple and logical workaround to populate the Link to table field of Table A:

  • Table B (primary field: UUID generated by a formula) → add its value to the Link to table field that points to Table A (primary field: plain UUID).

In other words, instead of using a Create/Update Row event on Table A to set Table B primary field, perform the Create/Update Row on Table B using Table A primary field. This avoids the disallowed formula‑generated UUID.

Regards!