SeaTable¶

In this article

• SeaTable. Main Features
• Deployment Features
• Getting Started after Deploying SeaTable
• First Login
• Main Sections of the SeaTable Interface
• Activating Additional Services
• Generating Security Keys
• Configuring Settings
• Launching Additional Services
• Verifying OnlyOffice Functionality
• Setting up n8n
• Managing Services
• Available Services after Configuration
• Ordering a server with SeaTable using the API

SeaTable. Main Features¶

• Universal databases: creation of structured tables with various data types (text, numbers, dates, files, links between records);
• Data collection forms: automatic creation of web forms for data entry with validation and design settings;
• Data views: multiple ways to display information (table, calendar, gallery, Kanban board, charts);
• Process automation: creating rules and scripts for automatic actions upon data changes;
• API and integrations: connecting to external services via REST API and ready integrations;
• Collaboration: flexible access control system, comments, notifications, and collaborative editing;
• Import and export: support for various file formats (Excel, CSV, JSON) for data exchange;
• Advanced analytics: creation of pivot tables, charts, and dashboards for data analysis;
• Plugins and extensions: ability to add additional functionality through plugins.

Deployment Features¶

• Containerized deployment - the platform is delivered with Docker and all necessary containers for full functionality.
• Basic containers (active by default):
  • seatable-server - main SeaTable Community Edition application;
  • caddy - web server with automatic SSL certificates (lucaslorentz/caddy-docker-proxy:2.9.2-alpine);
  • mariadb - MariaDB 11.4.3 database;
  • redis - Redis 7.2.7 caching system.
• Additional services (disabled by default):
  • OnlyOffice/Collabora - document editors for file editing;
  • n8n - workflow automation platform;
  • Python Pipeline - data processing tools;
  • Zabbix/Gatus - monitoring systems;
  • Restic - backup solution;
  • SeaDoc - advanced document editor;
  • Uptime Kuma - service availability monitoring.
• Key directories:
  • /opt/seatable-compose/ - main directory with Docker Compose configuration;
  • /opt/seatable-server/ - SeaTable server files;
  • Inside the container: /opt/seatable/ - root application directory with configuration files.
• Network architecture:
  • External ports: 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS);
  • Automatic SSL certificate acquisition via Let's Encrypt.

Getting Started after Deploying SeaTable¶

After payment, an email will be sent to the registered address indicating that the server is ready for use. It will include the VPS IP address as well as login and password for connection. Our company's clients manage equipment through the server management panel and API — Invapi.

Authorization data can be found in the Info >> Tags section of the server control panel or in the sent email:

• Link to access SeaTable web interface: in tag webpanel;
• Login and Password for server management: sent via email upon server delivery;
• Login for SeaTable web interface: in tag seatable_login;
• Password for SeaTable web interface: in tag seatable_password.

First Login¶

Accessing the Web Interface¶

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the link from tag webpanel;
2. On SeaTable's start page, enter your credentials:
   • Email: data from tag seatable_login;
   • Password: data from tag seatable_password;
3. Click the Log In button:

User Interface¶

After successful login, you will be directed to SeaTable's main interface:

Main sections of the workspace:

• Workspace - workspace with main sections:
  • Bases - your databases;
  • Activities - activity feed;
  • Common datasets - shared data sets;
  • Trash - deleted items bin.
• Help and resources - reference materials:
  • Manual - user guide.
• My bases - personal databases with options to:
  • Create a new base or folder;
  • Import data from files.
• Shared with me - databases shared by other users.

Main Sections of the SeaTable Interface¶

Creating the First Database¶

To create a new database:

1. In the My bases section, click Add a base or folder;
2. Choose one of the options:
   • Create a blank base - create an empty base;
   • Import from file - import data from a file (.xlsx, .csv, .dtable);
   • Create a folder - create a folder for organizing bases.

Configuring a New Base¶

When creating an empty base:

1. Base name - enter a clear project name;
2. Description - add a brief description of the base's purpose;
3. Icon and color - choose visual styling for quick identification;
4. Access settings - define who can view and edit the base.

Core Data Management Features¶

After creating a base, you have access to:

• Adding columns - various data types (text, numbers, dates, files, links);
• Creating views - table, calendar, gallery, Kanban;
• Configuring forms - for collecting user data;
• Automation - rules and scripts for data processing;
• Collaboration - inviting users and configuring access rights.

Activating Additional Services¶

By default, SeaTable is delivered with only basic configuration. To activate additional capabilities, follow these steps:

Connecting to the Server¶

Connect to the server via SSH using the credentials from the email:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Navigating to the Working Directory¶

cd /opt/seatable-compose/

Generating Security Keys¶

Before activating additional services, generate security keys:

echo "1. OnlyOffice JWT Secret:"
openssl rand -base64 32

echo "2. n8n Encryption Key:"
openssl rand -base64 32

echo "3. Postgres Password:"
openssl rand -base64 16

echo "4. Postgres Non-Root Password:"
openssl rand -base64 16

Configuring Settings¶

Viewing Current Configuration¶

cat .env

Editing the Configuration File¶

nano .env

In the .env file, find the COMPOSE_FILE line and update it to activate needed services:

COMPOSE_FILE='caddy.yml,seatable-server.yml,onlyoffice.yml,n8n.yml'

Adding Security Variables¶

Add your generated keys at the end of the .env file:

# OnlyOffice settings
ONLYOFFICE_JWT_SECRET=your_generated_key_1

# n8n settings  
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=your_generated_key_2
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your_generated_password_1
POSTGRES_NON_ROOT_PASSWORD=your_generated_password_2

Available Additional Services¶

Document Editors:

• onlyoffice.yml - Microsoft Office editor in browser;
• collabora.yml - LibreOffice-based document editor;

Automation and Integrations:

• n8n.yml - workflow automation platform;
• python-pipeline.yml - data processing tools with Python;

Monitoring and Administration:

• zabbix.yml - infrastructure monitoring system;
• gatus.yml - service status monitoring;
• uptime-kuma.yml - web service availability monitoring;

Additional Features:

• seadoc.yml - advanced document editor;
• tldraw.yml - tool for creating diagrams and schematics;
• restic.yml - automated backup solution;
• clamav.yml - antivirus file scanning.

Launching Additional Services¶

Saving Changes and Starting¶

After editing the .env file, save changes in the editor (Ctrl+X, then Y in nano) and execute:

docker compose up -d

Checking Container Status¶

docker ps

Successful startup will look something like this:

[+] Running 8/8
✓ Network backend-n8n-net     Created
✓ Container n8n-postgres      Healthy  
✓ Container mariadb           Healthy
✓ Container redis             Healthy
✓ Container onlyoffice        Started
✓ Container seatable-server   Running
✓ Container caddy             Started
✓ Container n8n               Started

Verifying OnlyOffice Functionality¶

Accessing OnlyOffice¶

After successful startup, OnlyOffice will be accessible at: https://your_domain:6233

You will see the OnlyOffice welcome page:

The page confirms:

• OnlyOffice Docs Community Edition is successfully installed;
• JWT enabled by default for security;
• Integration ready for use with SeaTable.

Setting up n8n¶

Accessing n8n¶

n8n will be accessible at: https://your_domain:6231

Initial Configuration¶

On first login, the owner account creation page will open:

Fill out the form with new data (this is an independent SeaTable account):

• Email: Enter email for n8n administrator;
• First Name: Administrator's first name;
• Last Name: Administrator's last name;
• Password: Create a password (minimum 8 characters, 1 digit, 1 uppercase letter).

After filling out, click Next to complete the setup.

Managing Services¶

Basic Administration Commands¶

Viewing container status:

docker ps

Checking configuration inside a container:

docker exec -it seatable-server ls -la /opt/seatable/conf/

Docker Compose Management¶

Management commands in the /opt/seatable-compose/ directory:

cd /opt/seatable-compose && docker compose restart

cd /opt/seatable-compose && docker compose ps

cd /opt/seatable-compose && docker compose logs -f seatable-server

Available Services after Configuration¶

After successful configuration, you will have access to:

• SeaTable - main interface: https://your_domain
• OnlyOffice - document editor: https://your_domain:6233
• n8n - automation: https://your_domain:6231

Ordering a server with SeaTable using the API¶

To install this software using the API, follow these instructions

Some of the content on this page was created or translated using AI.