Automatically copy cells from one sheet to another

Trying to use VLookup to automatically copy cell data from one sheet to another. I tried to create a function that searches for "Project Name" and "Comments" columns in a sheet titled "Projects" and copies "Comments" to a sheet titled "Campaigns", where the Project Names are exactly the same in both sheets. Can't quite figure out what is needed to get this to flow correctly to another sheet.

Best Answers

  • Genevieve P.
    Genevieve P. Employee
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Rick Byers

    I would recommend using an INDEX(MATCH combination here instead of a VLOOKUP. This reduces the number of cells that are referenced in a formula (making it faster to load) and also references each column individually so you can adjust column locations without breaking the formula.

    Here's the structure:

    =INDEX({Column to return}, MATCH("Matching Value", {Column with value to match}, 0))

    So in your case, something like this:

    =INDEX({Comments Column}, MATCH([Project Name]@row, {Project Name Column}, 0))

    Here's more information: Formula combinations for cross sheet references

    Let me know if that worked for you!

    Cheers,

    Genevieve

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  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Hi Genevieve,

    I am getting an error message: #NO MATCH with the following formula:

    =INDEX({Marketing Project List - test Range 2}, MATCH([Project Name]@row, {Marketing Project List - test Range 1}, 0))

    Sheet name I am referencing to pull cell data: "Marketing Project List - test"

    "Range 2" = Comments Column

    "Range 1" = Project Name Column

    I also tried adding another sheet reference just after "MATCH(" referencing the Project Name Column, but that didn't work as well. Thoughts on what I should try next? Thanks!

  • Genevieve P.
    Genevieve P. Employee
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Rick Byers

    That looks correct to me! 🙂

    The No Match is telling us that it can't find a match between your two Project Columns. In your screen captures, one sheet says "Project Name 1", whereas the other sheet says "Project 1". Have you updated them to have matching names, or does one still say "Name" in the middle?

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Answers

  • Andrée Starå
    Andrée Starå ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi @Rick Byers

    I hope you're well and safe!

    Can you share some screenshots and the formula you're trying to use? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help.

    I hope that helps!

    Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!

    Best,

    Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭

    Hi Andree,

    I have tried using VLookup to do what I need here, but I am not an expert when it comes to this function. I am attaching a few screenshots. Marketing Project List sheet is the originating sheet from which I want to pull "Funnel Target" and "Comments" and automatically populate in the Campaign Calendar sheet. Here's my attempt at the formula, which obviously doesn't work:

    =VLOOKUP({Marketing Project List - test Range 1}, "Project 1", {Marketing Project List - test Range 2}, "comment 1")

    The data in each of the cells for "Project Name", "Funnel Target" and "Comments will always be variable. Please let me know what else I can share with you to figure this out. Thanks for your help!

  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭

    @andree@workbold.com

    Hi Andree,

    I have tried using VLookup to do what I need here, but I am not an expert when it comes to this function. I am attaching a few screenshots. Marketing Project List sheet is the originating sheet from which I want to pull "Funnel Target" and "Comments" and automatically populate in the Campaign Calendar sheet. Here's my attempt at the formula, which obviously doesn't work:

    =VLOOKUP({Marketing Project List - test Range 1}, "Project 1", {Marketing Project List - test Range 2}, "comment 1")

    Campaign Calendar.png

    Uploaded Sep 25, 202389.09 KB

    Marketing Project List.png

    Uploaded Sep 25, 2023112.39 KB

    The data in each of the cells for "Project Name", "Funnel Target" and "Comments will always be variable. Please let me know what else I can share with you to figure this out. Thanks for your help!

  • Genevieve P.
    Genevieve P. Employee
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Rick Byers

    I would recommend using an INDEX(MATCH combination here instead of a VLOOKUP. This reduces the number of cells that are referenced in a formula (making it faster to load) and also references each column individually so you can adjust column locations without breaking the formula.

    Here's the structure:

    =INDEX({Column to return}, MATCH("Matching Value", {Column with value to match}, 0))

    So in your case, something like this:

    =INDEX({Comments Column}, MATCH([Project Name]@row, {Project Name Column}, 0))

    Here's more information: Formula combinations for cross sheet references

    Let me know if that worked for you!

    Cheers,

    Genevieve

    Join us for Jumpstart 2025 with Community on 23 January (in two time zones)! 🎉 Register here.

  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭

    Hi Genevieve,

    Thanks for the formula, I'll give it a try!

  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Hi Genevieve,

    I am getting an error message: #NO MATCH with the following formula:

    =INDEX({Marketing Project List - test Range 2}, MATCH([Project Name]@row, {Marketing Project List - test Range 1}, 0))

    Sheet name I am referencing to pull cell data: "Marketing Project List - test"

    "Range 2" = Comments Column

    "Range 1" = Project Name Column

    I also tried adding another sheet reference just after "MATCH(" referencing the Project Name Column, but that didn't work as well. Thoughts on what I should try next? Thanks!

  • Genevieve P.
    Genevieve P. Employee
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Rick Byers

    That looks correct to me! 🙂

    The No Match is telling us that it can't find a match between your two Project Columns. In your screen captures, one sheet says "Project Name 1", whereas the other sheet says "Project 1". Have you updated them to have matching names, or does one still say "Name" in the middle?

    Join us for Jumpstart 2025 with Community on 23 January (in two time zones)! 🎉 Register here.

  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭

    Genevieve,

    That was the issue... once I changed the Project Names the same in both sheets, I was able to get this to work! Thanks for your help!

  • Darla Brown
    Darla Brown Overachievers

    Hi @Rick Byers ,

    A tip I use - mainly because I don't like the #NO MATCH return - is to add IFERROR to the formula. It would look like this:

    =IFERROR(INDEX({Marketing Project List - test Range 2}, MATCH([Project Name]@row, {Marketing Project List - test Range 1}, 0)),"")

    Then if there's no match would leave the cell blank.

    😊

    Darla Brown

    What you meditate on, you empower!

    Overachiever - Core Product Certified - Mobilizer - EAP

  • Rick Byers
    Rick Byers ✭✭✭✭

    Thank you Darla. Nice touch!

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