What is the best way to work back and forth with Excel?

Alicia D

I am trying to integrate smartsheets into our team, but some still have to use excel sheets to work with outside sources/ projects. I am trying to find a way to seamlessly have it so that my team mate can edit and excel sheet, import to smartsheet, then export from smartsheet into excel, and so on as the project progresses. Is there a way to link them automatically so that when you update one, the other automatically updates also? If not, I am currently running into the issue where every time I export an excel from smartsheet, it creates a new file instead of updating the original. Also, it reveals all of the hidden columns when import into smartsheet, and I don't want this. Any tips would be helpful!

Paul Newcome

Do you have access to the premium app Data Shuttle?

Andrée Starå

Hi @Alicia D

I hope you're well and safe!

The best solution depends on how the Excel sheets are structured. Is it one tab or multiple tabs? How advanced is the sheet?

Can you share some screenshots? (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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Alicia D

@Andrée Starå , it is pretty simple. Just one tab with some columns. Here is a screenshot of the header of the excel. I should note, this is the excel file that imported from a smartsheet. I like the way it is laid out, but there were some hidden columns in smartsheets that didn't open when brought to excel, but when I bring it from excel to smartsheets again, it opens the hidden columns

Andrée Starå

@Alicia D

Ok. Then I concur with Paul regarding Data Shuttle if you have access.

Another option would be to develop what I call an Import template. You would either copy-paste the information to it or import the Excel manually and then move the rows, but it only works if you want to add information, not sync. At least not if we don't update the structure.

Make sense?

Would that work/help?

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Alicia D

@Andrée Starå and @Paul Newcome , I don't have access to Data Shuttle, although it sounds like a great option. Is this just an upgrade to the plan?

I would be interested to learn more about the Import Template!

Andrée Starå

@Alicia D

Happy to help!

It's a Premium app that needs to be added to the main account.

Feel free to contact me (andree@workbold.com), and I'd be happy to help you get the pricing for the premium add-ons like Data Shuttle and more.

Regarding the import template.

Would you like to update the information or just add to it?

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Alicia D

For the import template, is it possible to update the information and also add to it? @Andrée Starå