How to Create Lookup Columns in Coda

Learn how to create lookup columns in Coda to connect tables, reference related rows, and build dynamic relational data structures across docs.

Quick answer

To create a lookup column, open your table, click the plus icon to add a new column, then set its type to Lookup. Choose the table you want to reference, decide whether to allow single or multiple selections, and save—Coda will then pull matching rows as selectable references.

Steps at a glance

  1. Open the table and click the plus icon to add a column
  2. Set the column type to Lookup
  3. Select the source table you want to reference
  4. Choose single or multiple selection for matches
  5. Pick which column to display from the referenced table
  6. Save the column and test it by selecting a row
  7. Reference the lookup in formulas for cross-table data

Summary

Lookup columns let you connect one Coda table to another by pulling in rows as references rather than duplicating data. This turns separate tables into a relational system, similar to how spreadsheets use VLOOKUP but with live, two-way linked data instead of static copies.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Open the table where you want the lookup

    Navigate to the table that needs to reference another table's data. If you haven't built your tables yet, review how to /guides/coda/create-a-table and /guides/coda/add-columns-to-a-table before setting up relationships between them.

  2. Step 2

    Add a new column

    Scroll to the right edge of your table and click the plus (+) icon to insert a new column. Give it a clear name like 'Client' or 'Assigned Project' so its purpose is obvious to anyone viewing the table.

  3. Step 3

    Set the column type to Lookup

    Click the column header, select 'Column type' from the dropdown menu, and choose 'Lookup' from the list of types. Coda will prompt you to pick which table this column should pull data from.

  4. Step 4

    Choose the source table

    Select the table you want to reference from the list of tables in your doc, or from another doc if you've set up cross-doc access. This creates the live connection between the two tables so rows stay in sync.

  5. Step 5

    Configure selection and display settings

    Decide whether the column should allow a single match or multiple matches per row, then choose which column from the source table to display (such as a name or title column). You can adjust these settings anytime by clicking the column header again.

  6. Step 6

    Test the lookup and add formulas if needed

    Click into a cell in your new column and select a matching row from the referenced table to confirm the connection works. For deeper calculations, combine lookups with formulas as described in /guides/coda/create-basic-formulas to pull specific values like dates or totals from the linked row.

  7. Step 7

    Refine the view as your data grows

    Once your lookup column is active, consider sorting or filtering the table to keep related records easy to scan. Pair this with /guides/coda/create-views if you want different team members to see the linked data in different layouts.

Why this matters

You're tracking projects in one table and clients in another, and you need every project to reference its client without retyping details. Lookup columns link the tables so updates in one place automatically reflect everywhere, keeping your doc accurate without manual cross-checking.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can a lookup column reference a table in a different Coda doc?

    Yes, as long as you've set up cross-doc references between the two docs. Once connected, the lookup column works the same way as it would with a table in the same doc.

  • What's the difference between a lookup column and a relation?

    In Coda, 'lookup' is the column type name, and it functions as the relation itself—there's no separate relation object. Selecting Lookup as the column type is how you create a relational link between two tables.

  • Can one row have multiple lookup matches?

    Yes, you can enable multiple selections in the column settings, allowing a single row to reference several rows from the source table, which is useful for tasks tied to multiple assignees or projects.

Related guides

Continue with more step-by-step guides for getting work done.

Create interactive demos like this one — free, no coding required.

Start for free →