A default record details page in Lark Base lists every field in one long column. That works until a table holds more information than one column can present clearly. Customizing the layout lets you group related fields, split them into tabs, and control exactly what someone sees when they open a record.
Note: If advanced permissions are off, anyone with edit or manage permission for the base can customize any table’s record details page. If advanced permissions are on, only someone with manage permission for that specific table can.
Opening the Customize Layout Pane
Open the base, click into the table, hover over any cell in the leftmost field, and click the Open icon that appears.
In the record details page that opens, click Customize at the top.
Note: Fields, field order, and field groups you set here also apply to the new record submission page. The custom layout becomes the default view whenever that record’s details page is opened afterwards.
Configuring Page Settings
With the Customize layout pane open, Page settings appear on the right.
Three preset styles give you a quick starting layout. Switching between them only changes how fields are arranged, not their content or configuration, and you can keep customizing afterwards regardless of which one you pick.
- Default: Displays all fields in a single column. Suits tables with a small amount of information.
- Columns: Displays fields across multiple columns. Suits a moderate amount of information that benefits from a more readable layout.
- Groups: Automatically groups fields for display. Suits tables with a large amount of information that needs a more structured layout.
From the same panel, you can choose which field is used as the page title and its text size; turn button fields on or off individually or all at once using the Action button toggle and the eye icon beside each one, or add a new button with New Button; set the button size; and turn on Hide fields by view so fields follow the visibility settings of whichever view they belong to. To undo everything and start over, click the ··· icon in the upper-right corner of the pane and select Reset Layout.
Adding Tab Pages
A tab page lets you split a record’s information into multiple tabs that someone switches between, rather than scrolling through everything at once. Click Add Block in the lower-left corner and select Tab Page to add one, then select it to configure its title, tabs, and appearance from the right-side panel.
A tab can be an empty new tab, an existing one-way or two-way link field, a workflow field, an unmodifiable modification-history log, or an extension such as DocuGenius, Link Preview, or Download Files. Once a tab is open, click Add Block inside it to add fields or layout blocks, and drag items in or out of the tab as needed.
Adding Layout Blocks
Layout blocks are the containers that hold fields on a details page or within a tab. Horizontal blocks lay fields out side by side; vertical blocks stack them, optionally across multiple columns. Select a tab (or click a blank area of the page itself), click Add Block, then choose Horizontal Layout or Vertical Layout.
Each layout block has its own style settings: a title and title visibility, content alignment (Default or Auto-fit for horizontal blocks; Single, Double, Triple, or Auto-fit for vertical ones), whether to show field titles and icons, field alignment (left-right or top-down), and the block’s background colour and border.
Working with Fields
Every field on the page must live inside a layout block; adding one directly to the page or a tab automatically wraps it in a new block. Click Add Block, then choose an existing field or New Field to add one at the selected location. A new field created this way is also added to the underlying table.
Select any field to edit it, adjust its font size if it’s a text field, drag it to reposition it, or remove it entirely from the ··· icon beside it.
Click Done in the upper-right corner once you’re finished, for the changes to take effect.
Reusing the Layout in Base Apps
Opening a record’s details page from a list block inside a Base app syncs in that table’s custom layout automatically, as a one-time snapshot rather than a live link. Customizing the details page from inside the app itself, instead, only affects that block and never writes back to the source table. So build the layout once on the source table if you want it to carry across every app or block that uses that data, or customize it directly inside a specific app or block if you want that one to look different from the rest.
Note: You need manage permission for the Base app to customize a details page from inside it.
Practical Use Cases for SMEs and Startups
- Sales and CRM records: Group customer info, deal info, and activity history into separate tabs so reps see what’s relevant without scrolling past everything else.
- Project tracking: Use a Columns or Groups style to fit budget, timeline, and status fields into a page that’s readable at a glance.
- Support or ticketing tables: Add a History tab and a Download Files extension tab so past context and attachments are one click away.
- Standardised reporting: Design a layout once on a master table, then reuse that style everywhere the data shows up in a Base app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does customizing the layout change what data is stored in the table?
No. Layout changes affect how fields are displayed and arranged. Switching styles or moving blocks doesn’t touch field content or configuration.
Can I undo my layout changes and go back to the default?
Yes. Open the ··· menu in the upper-right corner of the Customize layout pane and select Reset Layout.
Do my custom fields and groups also apply to the record submission form?
Yes. The fields, order, and groupings set on the record details page carry over to the new record submission page as well.
Will changes I make inside a Base app affect the source table?
Only if you customize the source table itself. Changes made directly to a details page inside a Base app’s list block stay local to that block and don’t sync back.
Who is allowed to customize a record details page?
Anyone with edit or manage permission for the base, if advanced permissions are off. If advanced permissions are on, only someone with manage permission for that specific table.
A Details Page Built Around the Work
The default layout is a fine starting point, but a table that’s actually used every day deserves a details page shaped around how people read it, not just the order fields happened to be created in.
Ready to Power Your Business with Lark?
Lark Base is just one part of an all-in-one platform that brings messaging, meetings, documents, approvals, and automations together for your entire team.
As the Platinum Partner for Lark in Malaysia, Exabytes offers tailored Lark plans, hands-on onboarding, and dedicated local support to help your team build tools that fit the way they actually work.
