Select which columns to copy or move from one sheet to another

JBG

As part of the automation it is possible to copy or move a row from a source sheet to a destinatio0n sheet. At this point all columns are copied/moved, and if a column do not exist it will be created in the source sheet.

The request for this improvement, is to allow the admin or owner of a sheet to select which columns needs to be copied or moved. This will allow for having sheets with more detailed and sensitive information, whilst a second sheet is used for sharing with customers, employees, etc. but only containing information to be shared.

Waleed

many times we prefere to copy/move selective columns ( within the row) either direct or automated , biut unforunately the platform force me to share the whole row with all columns including those columns with info that i do not wish to share .

Please consider the feeature to direct or autmated copy/move selective columns not all row

Thank you

Andrée Starå

Hi @Waleed

I hope you're well and safe!

Great idea! That would be a great addition to Smartsheet features.

Here's a possible workaround or workarounds

You could use cross-sheet formulas combined with either a VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH structure to connect the sheets, and when you update the source sheet, it will reflect on the destination sheet.

Another option would be to use so-called helper sheets. In short, copy the row to a helper sheet and then use my method described previously to get the values you need to another helper sheet, and then copy/move the row from that sheet to the main destination sheet.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Samuel Mueller

This would be a valuable feature. I have sent numerous enhancement requests for this idea. And Andree that's a great workaround I do this often, but it doesn't give you the option to move a row and send the comments, attachments etc, (so still manual). It would also be nice to be able to move attachments when a row is copied too.

Waleed

@Andrée Starå

I did not understand the workaround mentioned

As for helper sheet its the same issue as smart sheet will copy all colums in source sheet to helper sheet

Unless you meant to copy/paste data manually which usless as in this case to same time and to copy / paste it directly to destination sheet

Plus, its complecated process i need to send desired columns to destination sheet on specific action like assigned to a person/user

Tracey Tume

Hi

It would be great to copy rows/lines from sheet to sheet but with selected columns only.

I set up an automated copy and it doesn't work due to an automated number column in the souce sheet. SO frustrating as that column isn't need in the destination sheet so if I could deselect the unnecessary columns it would work.

Thanks

Tracey T

Andrée Starå

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/338613#Comment_338613

@Waleed

Yes, it's a little complicated, but it works.

In short, this is how it works.

1. Add a so-called helper sheet to which you copy the rows.
2. Add another helper sheet where you'd use cross-sheet formulas (VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH) to collect only the necessary columns.
3. Copy the rows from that sheet to the Destination sheet.

Make sense?

Samuel Mueller

I'd like to be able to copy certain columns between sheets without adding columns that don't exist on the target sheet. Sometimes I only need a few column data points to copy to another sheet, rather than every column that exists on the source sheet. For me dynamic view would not be an option.

Cleversheet

Yes, Copy [entire] Row is a big sledge hammer where sometimes I just need a little Copy [selected columns from] Row ball-peen hammer. Certain actions/workflow could be taken in the target sheet—which can then take on a life of its own—where the full content from the source sheet is superfluous or could expose confidential content.

tchoy

I would like an enhancement to automation that we can select certain columns to copy to another sheet. We only want to see the selected columns in the destination sheet.

Lauren Ford

It would also be incredible if the data could copy into a new sheet that has existing data. For example, selected columns on sheet 1 copy over between (or at the end of) existing columns/data on sheet 2. That way information that may be collected in two different places can be merged together more seamlessly.

stephfarish

YES would also love this feature. I would like to be able to set up automation where if I click a box, it will copy only specific columns to a new sheet. Its very cumbersome to have to have a helpersheet and then use index match. Would also be cool if the data would sync between the two sheets. So if you updated the sheet that the items copied to, it would feed the changes back to the first sheet.

Would come in really handy when i am tracking project tasks and linking them to a sperate meeting agenda sheet.

Molly Yang

Hi Product Team:

I have been copying rows in between two sheets (audit plan and audit summary), when the planned audit date is in the past, copy the row to audit summary sheet for the team to update the audit result; when the audit expiration date achieves, to copy the row back to audit plan sheet for the team to plan another audit before it's expired.

I don't need all the columns to be copied to the other sheets, it would be great if SMARTSHEET can create solution for me to only move the columns required. Currently, it's confusing for having too many unecessary columns and also I got to create automation to move the old data so that new data entries could be allowed. Not ideal!!!

Thanks.

Caleb S.

This would be very helpful! I am currently working on converting a huge file over from Excel to Smartsheet. Due to Smartsheet sheet size constraints I have to be creative with multiple sheets now. Allowing columns to copy over to another sheet without having to copy the entire row would help so much!

speterson_603

Rather than moving columns not necessary for another sheet, allow user to choose similar to how we select what someone sees in an update request or message.

EmmaHill

I am requesting the ability to create an automation where you can copy a single cell to a new sheet. Currently there is an automation to copy an entire row to another sheet however this is not helpful if the sheet structure is not the same.