Writeback features in Astrato help users convert analytic apps into data apps, where they can perform interactive actions such as adding context to apps, creating new data assets, and enriching existing data assets.

The new update action allows users to update existing records in the tables. It simplifies complex what-if scenario editing, adjusting targets, and more.

Writeback in Astrato has two modes: appending new rows (covered in Write-back 101 and the Atomic Input Form articles), and updating existing rows — which is what this Update Action does. Every update is identified by Key Columns you designate, so the right record is updated and only the cells you mark as Editable can be changed.

Before an update action can be performed, A table visualization in Astrato is needed. The table visualization should include all the columns required for the update. There are two types of columns:

Example: a sales planning dashboard shows a table of quarterly targets per region. The "Region" and "Quarter" columns are marked as Key Columns; the "Target" column is marked Editable. A regional manager opens the dashboard, edits next quarter's target directly in the cell, and the Update Action writes the new value to the underlying warehouse table — keyed on Region + Quarter, so the right row is updated. Adjusting targets and running what-if scenarios happens inside the dashboard instead of in a separate spreadsheet.

The writeback update action is where the definitions that need to be updated are set.
The trigger for an update is a change in the feedback_editing table.

These are the settings in the action block

What's the difference between the Update Action and standard write-back? Standard write-back appends a new row to a warehouse table. The Update Action modifies an existing row — it's keyed to a specific record using the Key Columns you designate, and changes only the cells you've marked as Editable. Use write-back when you're capturing something new (a comment, a new submission). Use the Update Action when you're changing something that already exists (a target, a status, a forecast figure).

How does Astrato know which row to update?

The Key Columns. You designate one or more columns as keys (via the three-dot menu on the field chip → "Mark as key column"). The combination of values in those key columns has to be unique for each row in your table. When a user edits an Editable cell, Astrato matches the row by its key values and updates only that record.

What happens if I have multiple users editing the same table?

Each edit is its own Update Action call against the warehouse, keyed by Key Columns and the cell that changed. You can include optional Updated by and Updated at columns in your table — these track who made each change and when, giving you an audit trail for collaborative editing.

Can the Update Action update multiple columns at once?

Yes. Astrato automatically picks up which cells in a row were edited (the Columns setting in the Update Action Block), passes the new values, and updates them together against the keyed row.