Can we do cell links with existing conditional formats?

Hasantha

I am trying to link a cell with the existing conditional formats. However, linking the cell only gives me the cell value. Is there any way to get the value with the conditional formatting?

** Column "Line 3" row2 cell need to be link to column 6 raw2

jmyzk_cloudsmart_jp

Hi @Hasantha

To answer your question about linking a cell while retaining its existing conditional formats in Smartsheet:

• Cell Links and Conditional Formatting: When you create a cell link from one sheet to another in Smartsheet, only the cell value is copied over; the conditional formatting does not transfer. This is because conditional formatting rules are specific to each sheet. So, if you link a cell from Sheet A to Sheet B, only the cell's value is linked, and any existing conditional formatting on Sheet B will apply to the linked cell, not the formatting from Sheet A.
  In the image below, the "HIGH" originally had no format when linked from Sheet A. I added a new conditional formatting rule to [Line 3] with a different background format.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=3dcb83ee323f4c30b9e4e4ba33940da0 (Link to published demo sheet)

• Workaround for Same Sheet: If you link cells within the same sheet (creating a reference back and forth)*, the situation remains the same: conditional formatting rules must be defined independently. You can create a cell link from cells in Sheet A to cells in Sheet B and back again in other cells in Sheet A, but the conditional formatting will not transfer automatically.
  In the image below, I added a new conditional formatting rule to the column [Column6]'s liked-in cells.
  • (*) It takes noticeable time for a change in A to be reflected back to A.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=6b29c997ca564cd1a7b55e6b5d5872a6 (Link to published demo sheet)

• Solution: To apply the same conditional formatting to a linked cell, you need to manually create a new conditional formatting rule on the destination sheet (or the destination cell in the same sheet). This will replicate the visual effect of the original formatting based on the same conditions.
• Smartsheet API Note: If you are looking to automate or programmatically change cell formatting, please note that the Smartsheet API does not currently support conditional formatting rules. You can change the format of cells programmatically by setting the cell.format value, but replicating conditional formatting rules themselves must be done manually as you can not get the conditional formatting rules by API.

In summary, to maintain the conditional formatting on linked cells, you will need to manually recreate the conditional formatting rules on the destination cells.

jmyzk_cloudsmart_jp

Hi @Hasantha

To answer your question about linking a cell while retaining its existing conditional formats in Smartsheet:

• Cell Links and Conditional Formatting: When you create a cell link from one sheet to another in Smartsheet, only the cell value is copied over; the conditional formatting does not transfer. This is because conditional formatting rules are specific to each sheet. So, if you link a cell from Sheet A to Sheet B, only the cell's value is linked, and any existing conditional formatting on Sheet B will apply to the linked cell, not the formatting from Sheet A.
  In the image below, the "HIGH" originally had no format when linked from Sheet A. I added a new conditional formatting rule to [Line 3] with a different background format.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=3dcb83ee323f4c30b9e4e4ba33940da0 (Link to published demo sheet)

• Workaround for Same Sheet: If you link cells within the same sheet (creating a reference back and forth)*, the situation remains the same: conditional formatting rules must be defined independently. You can create a cell link from cells in Sheet A to cells in Sheet B and back again in other cells in Sheet A, but the conditional formatting will not transfer automatically.
  In the image below, I added a new conditional formatting rule to the column [Column6]'s liked-in cells.
  • (*) It takes noticeable time for a change in A to be reflected back to A.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=6b29c997ca564cd1a7b55e6b5d5872a6 (Link to published demo sheet)

• Solution: To apply the same conditional formatting to a linked cell, you need to manually create a new conditional formatting rule on the destination sheet (or the destination cell in the same sheet). This will replicate the visual effect of the original formatting based on the same conditions.
• Smartsheet API Note: If you are looking to automate or programmatically change cell formatting, please note that the Smartsheet API does not currently support conditional formatting rules. You can change the format of cells programmatically by setting the cell.format value, but replicating conditional formatting rules themselves must be done manually as you can not get the conditional formatting rules by API.

In summary, to maintain the conditional formatting on linked cells, you will need to manually recreate the conditional formatting rules on the destination cells.