simonw · simonw · Jul 3, 2026 · Jun 26, 2026 · Jun 26, 2026 · Jun 26, 2026
diff --git a/datasette/static/app.css b/datasette/static/app.css
diff --git a/datasette/static/edit-tools.js b/datasette/static/edit-tools.js
diff --git a/datasette/views/database.py b/datasette/views/database.py
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ class DatabaseContext(Context):
     database_color: str = field(metadata={"help": "The color assigned to the database"})
     database_page_data: dict = field(
         metadata={
-            "help": 'JSON data used by JavaScript on the database page. Currently ``{}`` or ``{"createTable": {...}}`` where ``createTable`` includes ``path``, ``foreignKeyTargetsPath``, ``databaseName``, ``columnTypes``, ``defaultExpressions`` and optional ``customColumnTypes``.'
+            "help": 'JSON data used by JavaScript on the database page. Currently ``{}`` or ``{"createTable": {...}}`` where ``createTable`` includes ``path``, ``foreignKeyTargetsPath``, ``databaseName``, ``columnTypes``, ``defaultExpressions``, ``canInsertRows`` and optional ``customColumnTypes``.'
         }
     )
     database_actions: callable = field(

diff --git a/datasette/views/table.py b/datasette/views/table.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class TableContext(Context):
     )
     table_insert_ui: dict = field(
         metadata={
-            "help": "Information needed to enable the row insertion UI, or ``None`` if row insertion is not available to the current actor. When present it has ``path``, ``tableName``, ``columns`` and ``primaryKeys`` keys; each column includes ``name``, ``sqlite_type``, ``notnull``, ``default``, ``has_default``, ``is_pk``, ``value_kind`` and ``column_type`` keys."
+            "help": "Information needed to enable the row insertion UI, or ``None`` if row insertion is not available to the current actor. When present it has ``path``, ``tableName``, ``columns``, ``bulkColumns``, ``primaryKeys`` and ``maxInsertRows`` keys, plus optional ``upsertPath`` if the current actor has permission to update rows. ``columns`` lists columns for the single-row insert form, while ``bulkColumns`` lists columns for the bulk insert form. Each column includes ``name``, ``sqlite_type``, ``notnull``, ``default``, ``has_default``, ``is_pk``, ``is_auto_pk``, ``value_kind`` and ``column_type`` keys."
         }
     )
     table_alter_ui: dict = field(
@@ -480,8 +480,15 @@ async def _table_insert_ui(
     ):
         return None
 
+    can_update = await datasette.allowed(
+        action="update-row",
+        resource=TableResource(database=database_name, table=table_name),
+        actor=request.actor,
+    )
+
     column_types_map = await datasette.get_column_types(database_name, table_name)
     columns = []
+    bulk_columns = []
     column_details = await db.table_column_details(table_name)
     for column in column_details:
         if column.hidden:
@@ -492,32 +499,40 @@ async def _table_insert_ui(
             and len(pks) == 1
             and SQLiteType.from_declared_type(column.type) == SQLiteType.INTEGER
         )
+        column_type = column_types_map.get(column.name)
+        column_data = {
+            "name": column.name,
+            "sqlite_type": _column_sqlite_type_for_insert_form(column),
+            "notnull": column.notnull,
+            "default": column.default_value,
+            "has_default": column.default_value is not None,
+            "is_pk": is_pk,
+            "is_auto_pk": is_auto_pk,
+            "value_kind": _column_value_kind_for_insert_form(column),
+            "column_type": (
+                {"type": column_type.name, "config": column_type.config}
+                if column_type is not None
+                else None
+            ),
+        }
+        bulk_columns.append(column_data)
         if is_auto_pk:
             continue
-        column_type = column_types_map.get(column.name)
-        columns.append(
-            {
-                "name": column.name,
-                "sqlite_type": _column_sqlite_type_for_insert_form(column),
-                "notnull": column.notnull,
-                "default": column.default_value,
-                "has_default": column.default_value is not None,
-                "is_pk": is_pk,
-                "value_kind": _column_value_kind_for_insert_form(column),
-                "column_type": (
-                    {"type": column_type.name, "config": column_type.config}
-                    if column_type is not None
-                    else None
-                ),
-            }
-        )
+        columns.append(column_data)
 
-    return {
+    data = {
         "path": "{}/-/insert".format(datasette.urls.table(database_name, table_name)),
         "tableName": table_name,
         "columns": columns,
+        "bulkColumns": bulk_columns,
         "primaryKeys": pks,
+        "maxInsertRows": datasette.setting("max_insert_rows"),
     }
+    if can_update:
+        data["upsertPath"] = "{}/-/upsert".format(
+            datasette.urls.table(database_name, table_name)
+        )
+    return data
 
 
 async def _table_alter_ui(

diff --git a/datasette/views/table_create_alter.py b/datasette/views/table_create_alter.py
@@ -267,6 +267,11 @@ async def _create_table_ui_context(
         "databaseName": database_name,
         "columnTypes": CREATE_TABLE_COLUMN_TYPES,
         "defaultExpressions": default_expression_options(),
+        "canInsertRows": await datasette.allowed(
+            action="insert-row",
+            resource=DatabaseResource(database=database_name),
+            actor=request.actor,
+        ),
     }
     can_set_column_type = await datasette.allowed(
         action="set-column-type",

diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+.. _unreleased:
+
+Unreleased
+----------
+
+- Table pages now offer an "Insert multiple rows" mode in the row insertion dialog. This accepts pasted TSV, CSV or JSON, previews the parsed rows before inserting them, validates unknown columns as data is pasted and displays omitted auto integer primary keys as ``auto`` in the preview. (:pr:`2813`)
+- The bulk insert UI can skip rows with existing primary keys, or update existing rows and insert new rows using the existing ``/<database>/<table>/-/upsert`` API when the actor has both :ref:`insert-row <actions_insert_row>` and :ref:`update-row <actions_update_row>` permissions. (:pr:`2813`)
+- The "Create table" dialog now includes a "Create table from data" mode. Paste TSV, CSV or JSON rows to preview inferred columns and types, choose the table name and primary key, then create the table and insert those rows in one step. (:pr:`2813`)
+
 .. _v1_0_a35:
 
 1.0a35 (2026-06-23)

diff --git a/docs/template_context.rst b/docs/template_context.rst
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ The page listing the tables, views and queries in a database, e.g. /fixtures. Re
     The color assigned to the database
 
 ``database_page_data`` - ``dict``
-    JSON data used by JavaScript on the database page. Currently ``{}`` or ``{"createTable": {...}}`` where ``createTable`` includes ``path``, ``foreignKeyTargetsPath``, ``databaseName``, ``columnTypes``, ``defaultExpressions`` and optional ``customColumnTypes``.
+    JSON data used by JavaScript on the database page. Currently ``{}`` or ``{"createTable": {...}}`` where ``createTable`` includes ``path``, ``foreignKeyTargetsPath``, ``databaseName``, ``columnTypes``, ``defaultExpressions``, ``canInsertRows`` and optional ``customColumnTypes``.
 
 ``editable`` - ``bool``
     Boolean indicating if the database is editable
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ Many of these keys are shared with the :ref:`JSON API <json_api>` for this page.
     SQL definition for this table
 
 ``table_insert_ui`` - ``dict``
-    Information needed to enable the row insertion UI, or ``None`` if row insertion is not available to the current actor. When present it has ``path``, ``tableName``, ``columns`` and ``primaryKeys`` keys; each column includes ``name``, ``sqlite_type``, ``notnull``, ``default``, ``has_default``, ``is_pk``, ``value_kind`` and ``column_type`` keys.
+    Information needed to enable the row insertion UI, or ``None`` if row insertion is not available to the current actor. When present it has ``path``, ``tableName``, ``columns``, ``bulkColumns``, ``primaryKeys`` and ``maxInsertRows`` keys, plus optional ``upsertPath`` if the current actor has permission to update rows. ``columns`` lists columns for the single-row insert form, while ``bulkColumns`` lists columns for the bulk insert form. Each column includes ``name``, ``sqlite_type``, ``notnull``, ``default``, ``has_default``, ``is_pk``, ``is_auto_pk``, ``value_kind`` and ``column_type`` keys.
 
 ``table_page_data`` - ``dict``
     JSON data used by JavaScript on the table page. Includes ``database``, ``table`` and ``tableUrl``, plus optional ``foreignKeys`` mapping column names to autocomplete URLs, optional ``insertRow`` data and optional ``alterTable`` data.