[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":262},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes":3,"surround":253},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"date":231,"description":232,"extension":233,"head":234,"meta":235,"navigation":241,"path":242,"schemaOrg":234,"screenshot":243,"screenshotMargin":244,"seo":245,"sitemap":246,"stem":247,"tags":248,"__hash__":252},"updates\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes.md","Shorten record names into consistent codes",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":222},"minimark",[9,13,18,51,65,69,97,101,169,173,196,200,213],[10,11,12],"p",{},"A long name is clear on a record, but awkward in a reference, a file name or a tight column. When people shorten names by hand, two colleagues rarely pick the same letters, and the short form is left behind when the name changes. Kinabase can now shorten text for you, the same way every time.",[14,15,17],"h2",{"id":16},"whats-new","What's new:",[10,19,20,24,25,28,29,33,34,38,39,42,43,46,47,50],{},[21,22,23],"strong",{},"Computed (Text)"," fields have a new ",[21,26,27],{},"Abbreviation"," formula in the formula browser, written as ",[30,31,32],"code",{},"ABBREVIATE(text, how many)",". It turns text into a short code in capitals, using the same letter rules as an identifier abbreviation - so ",[35,36,37],"em",{},"Acme Construction Ltd"," kept to 3 characters becomes ",[21,40,41],{},"ACL",", and ",[35,44,45],{},"North Field Depot"," becomes ",[21,48,49],{},"NFD",".",[10,52,53,54,57,58,46,61,64],{},"The code favours the start of each word and any capitals already in a word, leaves out punctuation and turns accents into plain letters. Add ",[30,55,56],{},"true"," as a third part to keep digits too, so ",[35,59,60],{},"Unit 7",[21,62,63],{},"U7",". The code updates whenever the name changes.",[14,66,68],{"id":67},"why-it-matters","Why it matters:",[70,71,72,79,85,91],"ul",{},[73,74,75,78],"li",{},[21,76,77],{},"Keep codes consistent"," as the same name always gives the same code.",[73,80,81,84],{},[21,82,83],{},"Stay in step with your IDs"," as abbreviations follow the same rules as identifier abbreviations.",[73,86,87,90],{},[21,88,89],{},"Save space"," in columns, labels, email subjects and file names.",[73,92,93,96],{},[21,94,95],{},"Never update codes by hand"," because the code follows the name when it changes.",[14,98,100],{"id":99},"how-it-works","How it works:",[102,103,104,110,127,148,159],"ol",{},[73,105,106,107,50],{},"Open the collection, click the options menu (⋯) and select ",[21,108,109],{},"Configure",[73,111,112,113,116,117,120,121,124,125,50],{},"Under ",[21,114,115],{},"Setup",", open ",[21,118,119],{},"Fields",", click ",[21,122,123],{},"Add field",", enter a name and set the type to ",[21,126,23],{},[73,128,129,130,133,134,137,138,141,142,144,145,50],{},"Click ",[21,131,132],{},"fx"," beside ",[21,135,136],{},"Template",", select ",[21,139,140],{},"Text",", then ",[21,143,27],{},", and click ",[21,146,147],{},"Insert",[73,149,150,151,154,155,158],{},"Replace ",[30,152,153],{},"text"," with the field to shorten, such as ",[30,156,157],{},"$NAME",", and set how many characters to keep.",[73,160,161,162,165,166,50],{},"Check the result under ",[21,163,164],{},"Preview",", then click ",[21,167,168],{},"Add",[14,170,172],{"id":171},"when-to-use-it","When to use it:",[70,174,175,184,190],{},[73,176,177,180,181,183],{},[21,178,179],{},"Logistics companies"," can give every depot a short code, such as ",[35,182,49],{}," for North Field Depot, to use on labels and in route sheets.",[73,185,186,189],{},[21,187,188],{},"Architecture practices"," can build drawing references from the client's name, so every file from the same client starts with the same letters.",[73,191,192,195],{},[21,193,194],{},"Training providers"," can show a compact course code next to long course titles in their schedule views.",[14,197,199],{"id":198},"get-started","Get started",[10,201,202,203,206,207,209,210,212],{},"Open ",[21,204,205],{},"Configure → Fields"," on a collection, add a ",[21,208,23],{}," field, and insert ",[21,211,27],{}," from the formula browser.",[10,214,215,216,221],{},"If you have questions or feedback, we would love to hear from you. Email ",[217,218,220],"a",{"href":219},"mailto:support@kinabase.com","support@kinabase.com"," — we're listening.",{"title":223,"searchDepth":224,"depth":224,"links":225},"",2,[226,227,228,229,230],{"id":16,"depth":224,"text":17},{"id":67,"depth":224,"text":68},{"id":99,"depth":224,"text":100},{"id":171,"depth":224,"text":172},{"id":198,"depth":224,"text":199},"2026-10-07","Turn a long name into a short code in capitals with the new Abbreviation formula in a computed text field, using the same letter rules as an identifier abbreviation.","md",null,{"readingTime":236},{"text":237,"minutes":238,"time":239,"words":240},"2 min read",1.79,107400,358,true,"\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes.png",false,{"title":5,"description":232},{"loc":242},"updates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes",[249,250,251],"Computed Field","Field","Expression","MZfqtueJk2yalFHu1bIpqS4u9bPLjHLUcB5An2YQPpI",[254,258],{"title":255,"path":256,"stem":257,"children":-1},"Reference a linked record's fields in automations","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations","updates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations",{"title":259,"path":260,"stem":261,"children":-1},"Set the title people see when they fill in a form","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-12-set-the-title-people-see-when-they-fill-in-a-form","updates\u002F2026-10-12-set-the-title-people-see-when-they-fill-in-a-form",1792601124722]