Trying to apply filtering on fields from linked tables or a seeking a workaround.

I’m trying to determine whether Baserow can support the core functionality of my application before I invest in building something more sophisticated. If I can’t get this basic concept working without complex coding or integrations, then Baserow may not be the right fit.

Imagine I’m building a matchmaking dating app. There are three types of users: Seekers, Matchmakers, and Target Dates. The goal is for Seekers to request dates with Target Dates, and for Matchmakers to facilitate those introductions.

Each request from a Seeker is called a Match Request. However, we only want to show Match Requests to Matchmakers who are likely to know the Target Date—so the introduction feels more personal and meaningful.

To simplify, let’s assume that if a Matchmaker and a Target Date share the same zip code, there’s a higher chance they know each other. Therefore, Match Requests should only be shown to Matchmakers who live in the same zip code as the Target Date.

There’s also a broader filter: all users belong to a small, unique religious community. Since everyone in the app is already part of this group, we don’t need to account for that filter in the logic—it’s a given.

Step 1 - Build two tables:
a. People - with fields: Name, Email, Role (one of the three roles - Multiple select: SEEKER, TARGET DATE, MATCHMAKER), and ZIP_Code.
b. Match Request - with links to the People table, and a “Status” field with a NEW option, as well as an “Assigned Matchmaker” field.
(Note: There’s also a Match table after a Match Request has been successful, but that’s easy to think up.)

Step 2 - Build simple app
a. Present table of potential Match Requests, for Matchmakers to pick from and be matchmakers for. Presented to logged in Matchmaker where (filtered)
i. Match Requests have Status = NEW. and
ii. Assigned Matchmaker = EMPTY. and
iii. Logged.In.User.Matchmaker.ZIP_Code = Target.Date.ZIP_Code

I’m getting tripped up on iii. The filtering does not seem to be able to reach into the People table to grab ZIP Code via the linked Match Request record. Please help!!

I’m open to other ways to do this.

Thanks!
Tony

TL;DR: I think you need this feature to do it properly with Baserow Allow to reference data source in another data source (#3711) · Issues · Baserow / baserow · GitLab

When this feature is implemented you can request the “People” row of the currently loggued in user (using the user id to filter the table for instance) then use one of the field this data source (Zip_code for instance) to filter the second data source.

In the meantime I see two solutions: you can use an external automation tool to populate a field of the People table that contains potential “matches” and use this field to filter your data.

Or

DISCLAIMER: this is just a temporary solution as it’s not secure to use page parameters to filter data

You can add a redirect on login that target a page with query parameters that are the filters you want to use for you data source (The zip code here for instance)

Let me know if it helps.