Do formulas not work in automation?

Album

I'm trying to make new rows copy the cell in a column under a parent but this doesn't seem to function. Am I missing something?

When I run this, it posts '=Parent() which doesn't help me.

Ken Armstrong

Hey, You can't have it populate a formula unfortunately.

Andrée Starå

Hi @Album

I hope you're well and safe!

Yes, Ken is correct, but it's a great idea!

That would be a great addition to Smartsheet features.

Please submit this as a Product Feedback or Idea (If it hasn't been added already) when you have a moment.

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

✅Please support the Community by marking the post(s) that helped or answered your question or solved your problem with the accepted answer/helpful, Insightful/Vote Up/Awesome. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Album

Hmm, I'm really trying to keep my co-workers from having to see formulas and potentially breaking them. We're in construction and I want to build systems that do all the work behind the scenes and don't scare people with "code stuff". I added this to the suggestion box. We have a job cost to date sheet that our operations guy has to open the hidden helper columns on sometimes and my co-workers freak out and just leave the sheet, which is probably best so he can complete his work. I can name many more luddite evoking examples but I'll spare you.

Andrée Starå

@Album

Great that you've submitted the idea.

If possible, I'd recommend converting the formulas to column formulas; in doing that, they can't edit/break them.

Make sense?

Would that work/help?

✅Remember! Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up/Awesome or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Album

Very possible, my hope was to hide it entirely behind a feature they don't even know exists but I'll give it the Ole college try... as they don't know that feature exists either. Thanks for keeping me on the positive side of the universe.

Andrée Starå

@Album

You're more than welcome!

Yes, try it. It's a fantastic feature!

✅Remember! Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up/Awesome or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!