Step-by-Step Setup

1. Add a new field in Airtable

In your Products table:

• Create a field called Product Description Rich Text

→ Field type: Long text, enable rich text formatting.

2. Set Up the Automation

Go to Automations > Create new automation.

Trigger:

• Trigger type: When a record is updated
• Table: Products
• Field: Product Description Rich Text

Action:

• Action type: Run a script

In the script editor:

1. Click “+ Add input variable”

• • Name it: recordId
  • Select value:

👉 Step 1: When record is updated > Record ID

2. Paste the following script:

• Use the following script (you can copy and paste it):

// Markdown to HTML converter (improved version with proper <ul><li> handling)

function markdownToHtml(md) {

    if (!md) return "";



    let lines = md.split('\n');

    let htmlLines = [];

    let inList = false;



    for (let line of lines) {

        let trimmed = line.trim();



        // List item

        if (/^[-+*] /.test(trimmed)) {

            if (!inList) {

                htmlLines.push('<ul>');

                inList = true;

            }

            htmlLines.push(`<li>${trimmed.slice(2).trim()}</li>`);

        } else {

            if (inList) {

                htmlLines.push('</ul>');

                inList = false;

            }



            // Titles

            if (/^###### /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h6>${trimmed.slice(7).trim()}</h6>`);

            else if (/^##### /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h5>${trimmed.slice(6).trim()}</h5>`);

            else if (/^#### /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h4>${trimmed.slice(5).trim()}</h4>`);

            else if (/^### /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h3>${trimmed.slice(4).trim()}</h3>`);

            else if (/^## /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h2>${trimmed.slice(3).trim()}</h2>`);

            else if (/^# /.test(trimmed)) htmlLines.push(`<h1>${trimmed.slice(2).trim()}</h1>`);

            else {

                // Inline formatting

                let processed = trimmed

                    .replace(/\*\*\*(.*?)\*\*\*/gim, '<strong><em>$1</em></strong>')

                    .replace(/\*\*(.*?)\*\*/gim, '<strong>$1</strong>')

                    .replace(/\*(.*?)\*/gim, '<em>$1</em>')

                    .replace(/\[(.?)\]\((.?)\)/gim, "<a href='$2' target='_blank'>$1</a>");



                // Line breaks

                htmlLines.push(processed === '' ? '<br><br>' : `${processed}<br>)`;

            }

        }

    }



    if (inList) htmlLines.push('</ul>');



    return htmlLines.join('\n');

}



// --- Airtable automation logic ---

let table = base.getTable("Products");

let inputConfig = input.config();

let recordId = inputConfig.recordId;



let record = await table.selectRecordAsync(recordId);

let markdown = record.getCellValue("Product Description Rich Text");



if (markdown) {

    let html = markdownToHtml(markdown);



    await table.updateRecordAsync(recordId, {

        "Product description in HTML": html

    });

}

Test the Setup

1. Fill in a product description using rich formatting in the Product Description Rich Text field.
2. Wait a moment (or manually run the automation).
3. Check that the Product description in HTML field now contains the HTML version, ready for Shopify!

Bonus Tips

• You can reuse this setup for any field where rich text → HTML is needed, not just product descriptions.
• You can do this the other way around so HTML is converted to → rich text in the new added column.
• If you need image support or more advanced markdown (like tables or code blocks), consider using Make.com or a custom webhook with marked.js.

Updated on: 17/06/2025