feat(tables): add reference columns

[j15z]

Summary

Tables can now store row IDs in a Reference column configured against another table in the same workspace. The type is preserved through table contracts and write paths, while the grid provides sidebar configuration, row-ID copying, and direct navigation to the referenced table.

Stack

This is the foundation layer of the Reference-row stack. #7106 adds inline referenced-row inspection on top of it.

Type of Change

• Bug fix
• New feature
• Breaking change
• Documentation
• Other: ___________

Testing

• bun run type-check
• bun run check:api-validation
• Focused table contract, column metadata, registry, service, and grid tests

Reviewers should focus on Reference metadata ownership, column conversion behavior, and the create/edit sidebar flow.

Checklist

• Code follows project style guidelines
• Self-reviewed my changes
• Tests added/updated and passing
• No new warnings introduced
• I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms outlined in the Contributor License Agreement (CLA)

Screenshots/Videos

Not attached. The create, configure, rename, copy-row-ID, and reference-navigation flows were exercised locally.

Post-Deploy Monitoring & Validation

• Create and edit Reference columns against several workspace tables.
• Confirm stored row IDs remain unvalidated strings and survive reloads and column renames.
• Watch table contract-validation and row-write errors for Reference metadata regressions.

[vercel]

The latest updates on your projects. Learn more about Vercel for GitHub.

1 Skipped Deployment

Project	Deployment	Actions	Updated (UTC)
docs	Skipped		Aug 26, 2026 5:17pm

[greptile-apps]

Greptile Summary

This PR adds Reference table columns across contracts, persistence, conversion, Copilot tooling, undo metadata, and the table editor. It also adds row-ID copying and revises column-header selection, configuration, and inline rename behavior.

• Registers Reference as a string-backed column type with same-workspace active-target validation.
• Adds Reference creation, editing, navigation, import, API, and Copilot support.
• Generalizes type-specific metadata snapshots used when undoing column deletion.
• Adds column-header interaction and row-context-menu improvements with accompanying tests.

Confidence Score: 3/5

The PR should not merge until reference-target archival is coordinated and failed inline renames stop leaving invalid undo history.

A referenced table can be archived after validation, leaving persisted navigation to an inaccessible target, and a rejected rename retains an undo action despite the mutation rollback.

Files Needing Attention: apps/sim/lib/table/column-types/registry.server.ts, apps/sim/lib/table/service.ts, apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/tables/[tableId]/components/table-grid/table-grid.tsx

Important Files Changed

Filename	Overview
apps/sim/lib/table/column-types/registry.server.ts	Adds active same-workspace target validation, but the resulting invariant is not maintained when a referenced target is archived.
apps/sim/lib/table/columns/service.ts	Adds Reference metadata validation and schema-only target updates with transactional persistence.
apps/sim/lib/table/orchestration/columns.ts	Routes Reference conversions and target-only updates through the appropriate typed mutation paths.
apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/tables.ts	Extends internal table contracts with bounded Reference target IDs and type-specific cross-field validation.
apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/v2/tables.ts	Adds Reference metadata to strict public create and update schemas.
apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/tables/[tableId]/components/table-grid/table-grid.tsx	Adds Reference navigation and inline rename behavior, but failed renames leave unapplied actions in undo history.
apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/tables/[tableId]/components/column-config-sidebar/column-config-sidebar.tsx	Adds target-table selection for Reference columns and moves renaming out of the configuration sidebar.
apps/sim/hooks/use-table-undo.ts	Generalizes deleted-column restoration to preserve all registered type metadata.

Flowchart

%%{init: {'theme': 'neutral'}}%%
flowchart LR
  A[Create or update Reference column] --> B[Validate active target in workspace]
  B --> C[Persist referenceTableId]
  C --> D[Render Reference column action]
  D --> E[Navigate to target table]
  C --> F[Target table archived]
  F --> G[Source reference remains unchanged]
  G --> H[Navigation cannot load archived target]

Loading

_{Reviews (1): Last reviewed commit: "improvement(tables): rename columns on d..." | Re-trigger Greptile}

[greptile-apps]

Archival breaks reference targets

When a referenced table is archived, the source column retains its referenceTableId even though target validation requires an active table, causing the new navigation action to open a target that the normal table loader excludes.

[greptile-apps]

Failed renames pollute undo

When the server rejects a column rename, this callback leaves the preemptively pushed rename-column action in history even though the optimistic cache update is rolled back, causing a later undo or redo to consume and replay a rename that never succeeded.

Knowledge Base Used: Web application and product surfaces

[cubic-dev-ai]

No issues found across 42 files

Confidence score: 5/5

• Automated review surfaced no issues in the provided summaries.
• No files require special attention.

<sub>Tip: cubic can generate docs of your entire codebase and keep them up to date. Try it here.

Re-trigger cubic</sub>