Adding columns to a sheet that feeds info to other sheets

MGreenPKWY

I have a master sheet that houses quite a bit of info pertaining to projects. I have been asked to add new columns to the sheet however, this sheet feeds an "intake sheet" which feeds into other project specific sheets. If I add columns to the master sheet, I believe this will mess up the current information in the intake sheet that is coming from the master sheet and bring back the wrong information. Is this correct? If so, short of adding columns to the end of the sheet, how can I fix this and avoid this in the future?

Paul Newcome

Not with a VLOOKUP but INDEX/MATCH provides a lot more flexibility in the source data.

Paul Newcome

It depends on how things are being brought into the other sheet(s). Things like VLOOKUP most likely would be broken unless you insert new columns on the far right of the sheet, but cell links and most other formulas should be ok generally speaking.

MGreenPKWY

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/413804#Comment_413804

Can I not set the parameters with the column names as opposed to column number?

Paul Newcome

Not with a VLOOKUP but INDEX/MATCH provides a lot more flexibility in the source data.

MGreenPKWY

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/414772#Comment_414772

ahhhh.... ok gotcha. I'll look into that then. thank you!