Quick Base FAQs

Quick Base is a powerful in-memory database with extensive native features, a built-in integration tool and robust APIs. If you are familiar with database development, but new to Quick Base, there’s a few things to know up front that will help you avoid confusion. 

As with any software, Quick Base has its own unique characteristics you’ll discover as you build your solution. Check out the Resources for all the support and assistance available to you throughout the Hackathon. 

Q: What database system does Quick Base run on? MS-SQL? Oracle? How do I write queries for Quick Base applications?

A: The Quick Base platform runs on a proprietary database engine which is optimized for performance and complexity. You do not need to write any SQL queries to build a Quick Base application. Instead, you can use our point-and-click report builder to slice and dice your data any way you want.

Q: How do relationships / database joins work in Quick Base? 

A: In Quick Base, we would call a 1-to-many relationship a parent-to-child relationship. The key field on your parent table acts as the primary key. The child records are keyed to the parent using a reference field, which acts like a foreign key would in other database systems. Related records communicate with each other in Quick Base using lookup and summary fields. Lookup fields are virtual fields which pull a piece of info from the parent record and display it on the related child records. Summary fields aggregate data from child records and display them on the parent record. NOTE: Reference fields may only link to a key field and cannot link to other unique fields. Key fields and reference fields must equal each other exactly and be the same field type for the relationship to work correctly. 

Q: How can I calculate data between different fields on the same record? Between fields across records?

A: Use formula fields to perform calculations on data within a single record. If you need to make calculations across records, you can create a relationship and use a summary field to perform the calculation (combine text, sum, avg, etc.).

Q: How can I deploy a Quick Base app once I’ve finished designing it?

A: Quick Base applications are automatically deployed live as you build them, so you can simply start inviting other users as soon as you want to start testing or using your app. Subsequent schema changes to your app are also published automatically. Quick Base also offers a sandbox to test changes before publishing them. The sandbox is helpful for larger or more complex applications, or applications which must follow stricter regulatory guidelines.