API adding blank row instead of data sent in the code

This is odd. I have a script that adds one row to top of a new/blank sheet for testing purposes. There are two fields and I have the column ID's as well as the sheet ID correct. When I run the script, I get a SUCCESS result. When I go to the sheet, it says it has been changed, and I need to refresh. But, there is no data. The row was added as I can now find its row ID. When I do another insert, the results come back with the sibling ID as well. Here is where it gets weird; when I filter non-blank cells for the one I sent over, I lose row 1 due to the filter, but the browser says "0 of 0 meet filter conditions." Lastly, the modified by and modified date are blank. It is not a formatting issue (color or otherwise). The field is truly blank. Thoughts? In the below script I am using a string for one columnID and one from the array just to make sure that wasn't the issue.

$apiToken = "BLAHBLAHBLAH"

$headers = @{ "Authorization" = "Bearer $apiToken" "Content-Type" = "application/json"}

$summarySheetId = "3293997325832068"$summaryColumnIds = @("5079686234460036", "576086607089540") # Update with actual column IDs for summary data

$cells = @( @{ "columnId" = "5079686234460036" "value" = "Limanni" }, @{ "columnId" = $summaryColumnIds[1] "value" = "SOW - Test" })

$row = @{ "toBottom" = $true "cells" = $cells}
$body = @{ "toBottom" = $true "rows" = @($row)

} | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 3

$updateUrl = "https://api.smartsheet.com/2.0/sheets/$summarySheetId/rows"

$response = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $updateUrl -Headers $headers -Body $body -Method Post

# Output the response for debugging

$response | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 3

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Michael.Limanni

Any thoughts? I did add ";" at the end of some of the lines where they might be missing. It didn't change the outcome. Same as I wrote earlier. Please offer any suggestions to help move this along…

Isaac A.

Hi @Michael.Limanni!

I recommend using Postman to test your API calls and see if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is with your script or with the API itself.

For your information, currently, Smartsheet Support does not handle SDK-related inquiries. If you’ve tested and found an issue with the SDK, please report it on the relevant GitHub page. You can access the links to these pages in our API documentation here: Smartsheet API Documentation.

Should you not get a response from the Community, consider checking out StackOverflow to connect with other developers for more help.

Cheers,

Isaac.

hsarpong

Good morning,

I am having the same exact problem. It happens when I send a POST request via Workato recipe. I also tested using Postman and it happens there as well. The below is what I tested via Postman. It returns success, but the rows are blank in the sheet.

{ "array": [ { "cells": [ { "columnId": "7289649201631108", "value": "251632" }, { "columnId": "6357263341277060", "value": "19520724" }, { "columnId": "1660149667417988", "value": "Active" } ], "toBottom": "true" }, { "cells": [ { "columnId": "7289649201631108", "value": "251634" }, { "columnId": "6357263341277060", "value": "19520726" }, { "columnId": "1660149667417988", "value": "Active" } ], "toBottom": "true" }, { "cells": [ { "columnId": "7289649201631108", "value": "251635" }, { "columnId": "6357263341277060", "value": "19520727" }, { "columnId": "1660149667417988", "value": "Active" } ], "toBottom": "true" } ]}

Michael.Limanni

Sounds like a bug to me. Any thoughts from the Smartsheet team?

Michael.Limanni

No. I have not gotten an answer to this issue. Definitely is a bug with Smartsheet API as several report the same problem using bespoke code.

Tim Buck II

@Isaac A. is it possible to get some guidance here?

I've noticed some similar themed posts outside of this thread as well — https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/133280/adding-a-row-via-api-using-curl-adds-blank-row?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=add+row

I always try to self serve rather than waste time with your support teams so it's frustrating that this issue doesn't have a public response with some guidance since it seems to occur for many users.

@Georgie any help you might be able to offer on past resolutions would be appreciated.

Tim Buck II

*deleted

ty for clarification @Marcela!

Marcela

Hello @Tim Buck II,

Your comment has not been hidden, it was split into its own separate post to ensure that it would not get lost in the thread.

You can find it here.

Cheers!
Marce

Marcela

Of course, @Tim Buck II! My pleasure!

Genevieve P.

Hi @Tim Buck II

I'd be happy to hop in here and help clarify. I understand that you are seeing blank rows being added to Smartsheet instead of the content specified in your API call.

The reason there is no direct resolution posted is because each issue has had a different solution depending on how their code was written:

Ser72 had some of the syntax wrong. It was corrected and the solution is posted on that same thread you linked, here.
RGS was using the 'rows' element when only 'cells' was needed (see here)
Another member removed the “array” keyword and ensured that the entire data was enclosed in square brackets [], instead of curly brackets {}
Someone else had the "rows" parameter, but it was not a valid parameter for their API call. In their scenario, the Row Object or Array of Row objects is defined first.

Why you & Michael may be seeing blank rows will depend on your unique, specific code.

If you have tried testing your scripts in Postman and can confirm you're following the Smartsheet API documentation, please do open a Support Ticket. While Support cannot create code for customers, they can sometimes help identify if the syntax is incorrect. You can also post in StackOverflow as Isaac mentioned, to ask for another set of eyes on your syntax if that helps.

Cheers,
Genevieve

Tim Buck II

Ty @Genevieve P.

I'm unclear if it's my syntax or if something else is failing.

import requests

access_token = 'XYZ'
sheet_id = 12345  # Replace with actual numeric ID
column_name = 'UID'       # Replace with the actual column name
uid_value = 'TEST-1234'   # Value you want to insert

headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {access_token}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

# Step 1: Get the column map for the sheet
def get_column_map(sheet_id):
    url = f'https://api.smartsheet.com/2.0/sheets/{sheet_id}'
    response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
    data = response.json()
    return {col['title']: col['id'] for col in data['columns']}

# Step 2: Add a new row with the UID value
def add_uid_row(sheet_id, column_name, uid_value):
    col_map = get_column_map(sheet_id)
    print(col_map)
    print(col_map[column_name])
    if column_name not in col_map:
        raise ValueError(f"Column '{column_name}' not found in sheet.")

    url = f'https://api.smartsheet.com/2.0/sheets/{sheet_id}/rows'
    body = {
        "toBottom": True,
        "rows": [
            {
                "cells": [
                    {
                        "columnId": col_map[column_name],
                        "value": str(uid_value)
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    }

    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=body)
    print(f"Status Code: {response.status_code}")
    print(response.json())

# 🔁 Run the test
add_uid_row(sheet_id, column_name, uid_value)

When I run the script the I receive Status Code: 200 {'message': 'SUCCESS',. I am provided the newly created row id as well.

The activity log also shows a "Row Inserted" event also.

However, the row is not there in the sheet. It is not a "scroll down" issue. It's not there. The system obviously believes the row has been created given the response and log, but the row never actually gets created and added to the sheet.

This behavior occurs in both running the script in Sypder and via Zapier code tool, the later of which is the intended mechanism for my workflow. I.e. Zapier webhook triggers, then runs the python code.

Thanks again for shedding light on the other issues noted and would appreciate your review & guidance on the above.

Genevieve P.

Hi @Tim Buck II

It does look like the row is successfully being created/added, but the Values in the cells are not being added at the same time.

Unfortunately I am not an expert and cannot debug code/syntax. I would recommend trying the following:

Post in StackOverflow to chat with other developers
Have you tried using an AI service to check syntax errors?

E.g. Gemini noted the following:

While you're converting uid_value to a string using str(uid_value), there might be specific column types in Smartsheet that expect data in a particular format (e.g., numbers, dates, dropdown values)
How to investigate: Check the column type of the 'UID' column in your Smartsheet. If it's something other than Text/Number, ensure the uid_value you're sending is in the expected format.

If nothing helps, please contact Support providing all this information, including a copy/paste of your code and screen recording

Thanks,
Genevieve

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