Restrictions on "Clear Cells" automation?

Eric Hall

I want to set up a rule to have a cell contents cleared when the completed date is filled in another cell. I have used similar automation in the past, but when I try this time is does not give me the column of the cell I want to clear as an option to choose when setting up the rule. Are there restrictions on the cell type or properties for this automation?

In this case, I want the "Days Until Due" column to clear once the "Completed Date" column is not blank

Is it because of the formula in the "Days Until Due" column? Or is there some other very simple explanation that I am missing. I also tried the "change Cells" automation to have it change the Days Until Due to 0 but that didn't work either.

I can present the data in a report and have it ignore the "Days until Due" if "Completed Date" is not blank, but I was hoping to do it in the original Gantt

Paul Newcome

It is because you have a column formula in that column. You will need to adjust the formula instead. My usual is just adding an IF statement to the beginning of the existing formula to say to run the existing formula only if the other cell is blank.

=existing_formula

changes to

=IF([Column Name]@row = "", existing_formula)

NicoLHC

@Eric Hall which formula and workflows you use now?

Eric Hall

The formula in the "Days Until Due" columns is

NicoLHC

@Eric Hall did you try to use a if formula ?

Paul Newcome

It is because you have a column formula in that column. You will need to adjust the formula instead. My usual is just adding an IF statement to the beginning of the existing formula to say to run the existing formula only if the other cell is blank.

=existing_formula

changes to

=IF([Column Name]@row = "", existing_formula)

Eric Hall

That's perfect, thanks Paul!

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️