Any recommendations for conversation export with a project to Excel

Mary Corvalan

Hello,

I am exporting a project that has a WBS column and would like to include the conversation. This currently exports to a separate tab in Excel but there is a disconnect between the reference conversation line item and the first tab where the row information exports. It typically shows one row off from the actual reference. For example, Tab one has row information on line item 2, but the conversation reference on the next tab show line item 1. This confuses the recipient of the exported sheet. Any recommendations for how I could have the conversation reference the actual WBS item or at least the right row information line item?

Thanks! Mary

Brian_Richardson

I'd include a Row Number column in your sheet. The row numbers in Excel are shifted because Smartsheet Row 1 is the start of data, but Excel Row 1 is the headers.

You can add a Row Number column to your data sheet by adding two columns:

• Add an Autonumber column to the sheet called Auto. If you already have an Autonumber column, that's fine that will work too.
• Add a Text/number column to the sheet called Row Number. In a cell on that column enter the following formula and then right click and Convert to Column Formula. =MATCH(Auto:Auto,Auto@row)

When you save the sheet, you'll see the Autonumber populate and the Row Number column will show the actual row number.

I'd also put the Row Number column to the far left. Now when you export your sheet, the Row Number will show up for people to reference when looking at comments.

There's not a way to include the WBS column in the chat tab as a reference, unfortunately.

Pauline J

Is it too late to ask a question about the same issue?

I have hundreds of sheets (structured and formatted alike.) I create a report that pulls certain sheets into the report. I want to display ALL of the conversations (some have multiple entries), not just the latest comment. I can export to PDF and the process allows me to select the row numbers, so that the conversation entries/comments can be mapped back to the row. But I need to export to Excel — and there is no option for the row numbers. I really do not want to edit alol of those sheets to add an autonumber. Is there ANY way to get those report row numbers to populate to Excel for the rows, and not just the comments in the other tab?

Michelle Choate 2

Hey @Pauline J - Unfortunately without creating a bridge that updates all of the comments into a cell for you, there is not an easy way to do this. One option for getting the Row # to go to multiple sheets is to create a TEST row, then send that row to all of the sheets. It will create the column for you (that is if all of the columns are the same in the other sheets. This does take time, it just might be faster than opening each sheet to create the new column.

Pauline J

Hi @Michelle Choate 2 — thank you so much for responding. I wasn't hopeful that there would be a good option; but your idea is interesting, I'll give it a try!