Some jobs in Lark Base are tedious rather than difficult.
Replacing the same phrase across hundreds of records, stripping out duplicates, splitting one messy text column into three.
Extensions handle exactly this kind of work, and there are enough of them that the answer to “is there something that does this” is usually yes.
If you write code, you can build your own as well.
What Extensions Can Do
The marketplace covers a wide spread of jobs. A sample of what is available:
- Find and replace text across tables and fields.
- Delete duplicate records.
- Import and export Excel files.
- Merge data from several tables into one.
- Preview webpage content from a field in the base.
- Translate a text field and write the translation into another field.
- Convert URLs or text into QR codes and upload them to Base as attachments.
- Split one text field into multiple fields.
- Randomly extract data from text, person, created by, single option or formula fields. Set the sample size and the results are written to a table, which suits lotteries, personnel selection, number assignment and picking random tickets for quality inspection.
How to Find and Add an Extension
Open the base and click the Base extensions icon in the upper-right corner. A pane opens on the right with recommended extensions. Click Explore Extensions at the bottom to search the full catalogue.
The catalogue is browsable by category, covering batch processing, content conversion, data extraction, attachment management, text management, filter and lookup, table management, chart creation, import and export, and AI.
Note: The same extension cannot be added more than once in a single base.
Worked Example: Find and Replace
Find and Replace is a good one to start with, since it does something a plain Base cannot.
- Click the Base extensions icon, then Explore Extensions, and search for the find and replace extension. Hover over it and click Use.
- Configure the extension:
- Search mode: Simple, regular expression, or dictionary.
- Table and fields: Choose which tables and fields to search.
- Text to find and replace: Enter your search term and its replacement, following the rules of the mode you picked.
- Click Find. Results appear at the bottom, grouped by field, with a before and after column.
- Replace individual matches one at a time, or use Replace all.
Tip: Click Find and read the results before reaching for Replace all. The preview shows exactly which records will change, and a bulk replace across the wrong field is tedious to unpick.
Building a Custom Extension
If nothing in the catalogue fits, you can add your own.
- Click the Base extensions icon and select Customize at the bottom of the pane.
- Click New Extension, enter a name and the service URL where the extension is hosted, then click Confirm.
- Find it again under Base extensions then Customize. Hover over it and click the ··· More icon to edit, publish or delete it.
Important: A custom extension is private to you by default. Nobody else can use it until you click Publish to apply for it to be made available to all users.
The Customize panel also carries links to the developer guide, source code and authorisation code, which is where to start if you are building rather than just installing.
Who Can Add Extensions
This depends on whether advanced permissions are switched on for the base.
| Advanced permissions | Who can add extensions |
|---|---|
| Off | Users with edit or manage permission for the table |
| On | Users with manage permission for the table only |
Note: If a colleague reports that the extension pane is read-only for them, this is usually why. Turning on advanced permissions quietly narrows who can install anything.
Practical Use Cases for SMEs and Startups
- Rebranding a product name: Find and replace across every table in one pass rather than editing records by hand.
- Cleaning an imported list: Delete duplicate records after a CSV import, then split a combined name or address column into separate fields.
- Consolidating regional data: Merge several branch tables into one for reporting.
- Event and asset labelling: Generate QR codes from URLs or reference numbers and store them as attachments on the record.
- Quality sampling: Pull a random set of records for inspection, with the sample written back to a table so the selection is auditable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where do I find extensions in Lark Base?
Click the Base extensions icon in the upper-right corner of the base. Recommended extensions appear in a pane on the right, and Explore Extensions at the bottom opens the full searchable catalogue.
Can I add the same extension twice in one base?
No. Each extension can only be added once per base.
Who can install extensions in a base?
With advanced permissions off, anyone with edit or manage permission for the table. With advanced permissions on, only users with manage permission for the table.
Can I build my own Lark Base extension?
Yes. Go to Base extensions then Customize, click New Extension, and supply a name and the service URL where your extension is hosted. The Customize panel links to the developer guide and source code.
Can other people use a custom extension I create?
Not initially. Custom extensions are private to their creator. To make one available to everyone you need to click Publish and apply for it to be published.
Is there a safe way to test a bulk replace before committing?
Yes. Click Find first and review the search results, which show the before and after values for each match. You can then replace matches individually instead of using Replace all.
What kinds of extension are available?
Categories include batch processing, content conversion, data extraction, attachment management, text management, filter and lookup, table management, chart creation, import and export, and AI.
Let the Extension Do the Boring Part
Extensions are the difference between a base you maintain and a base that maintains itself. Before you spend an afternoon editing records by hand, spend two minutes in the catalogue. The job you are about to do manually has usually been solved already, and if it has not, the option to build it yourself is right there.
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