Column Copying

Dion Garcia

Hi,

I have a need to add columns to all of my active project Smartsheets and then I need to create a webform on each of these sheets.  Based on other posts I've seen, I cannot copy these columns from one Smartsheet to another so I need to manually add them, correct? Also, there is no way I can copy a webform from one sheet to another, is there?

Thanks and apologies for what is probably a question asked many times before.  Just wondering if there's an update since earlier posts that I found on the topic.

Thanks

Dion

Mike Wilday

We have had to add columns manually to each of our sheets. Anything we do in one has to be replicated in others manually. This would be a great feature. Please request it using the "Submit Product Enhancement Request" link in the Quick Links menu on the right side of the community site. 

I also found that if your sheets exist already, then an update in one webform required me to duplicate it manually in another. 

If you have no data in your sheets yet, you could create everything in a single sheet, and "Save as new". Your webform will be duplicated as well as your additional columns. If you already have data and have shared it with everyone, it's probably fastest to just duplicate the changes manually.

Dion Garcia

Thanks, Mike!  Your suggestions mirror my thinking on this.  I will absolutely submit it as a product enhancement request.

Fortunately, I don't have a huge number of sheets that need to be updated...I'd say less than two dozen.  The time will add up though.

Richard Rymill SBP

Dion

I have some good news for you. 

In order to add the missing columns to your existing sheets, all you need to do is from your original sheet with all the new columns in, add one row of data to it. Save it then "Copy Row to another sheet". do this one at a time for each of your 12 sheets and all the New Columns will be added. Then just delete the copied Row and you have saved yourself some time and more importantly, all your columns will be exactly the same names, no typo's or miss spellings. Run a test on one first and you will see the benefit!  

For the Webforms

If the columns are listed left to right in the order or question/answer, recreating the Form will be easier, but really, all this would have been easier if just One sheet had been used to replicate all the others. But Hey Ho, life is a journey and you will know next time! 

Hope that helps?

RichardR

 

Mike Wilday

Richard, what an awesome solution. Thank you for sharing! I will definitely use this moving forward! I agree with you on the replication aspect. We have been using that method for some time, because maintaining consistency is a burden if you don't start with your final product in mind. Careful planning went into the most recent project I worked on for that very reason. 15 sheets later, I am so glad that I started with the end in mind. 

Richard Rymill SBP

Mike

Glad we were able to help. 

Regards

RichardR 

Dion Garcia

That column solution works like a charm, RichardR! Many thanks!