Can I use DataMesh so I can update in either sheet?

ro.fei

I'm very familiar with Smartsheet but far less so with DataMesh so I'm just looking for confirmation on whether what I'm looking for is possible

We have 2 sheets, Intake A & Intake B. At a certain point, we copy the row from Intake A to Intake B to create/track a different project. Because of that, Intake B has all the same columns as Intake A, plus extra columns just for that sheet.

Most of the fields copied over from Intake A shouldn't change after copying it to Intake B, but sometimes they do & if it's not updated in both places the data is inconsistent. Both sheets can receive updates, so there's no default sheet that's more accurate, the accurate value is the one that was entered the most recently. This is especially true for 2 fields that are changed more frequently in both sheets (Status & Stage).

Would we be able to use DataMesh so if a value is changed in either sheet it'll update in the other? Or can I only make it work 1 way (i.e., If Intake A is changed it'll update Intake B but it can't go the other way)? I've never set up any DataMesh Configs so just trying to understand the boundaries/limitations to be aware of. Thanks in advance!!

mcarlson

DataMesh in Smartsheet is primarily designed for one-way data synchronization rather than bi-directional updates, which means you can configure it to pull data from one source sheet to another but not to allow updates to flow both ways.

Here’s how it would work given your scenario:

• One-Way Sync: You can set up DataMesh so that changes in Intake A reflect in Intake B (or vice versa), but it will not allow updates from Intake B to automatically sync back to Intake A.
• Limitations for Your Scenario: Since you need bi-directional syncing to ensure data consistency (especially for frequently updated fields like Status and Stage), DataMesh alone won’t meet this need.

Workarounds to Consider:

1. Cell Linking for Key Fields:
   • For your frequently updated fields (e.g., Status and Stage), consider using cell linking manually between the two sheets to keep them consistent. While this is not ideal for large data sets, it can help maintain accuracy for critical fields.
2. Cross-Sheet Automation via a Third-Party Integration:
   • If your organization allows for third-party integrations, consider using tools like Zapier or Power Automate to automate the data sync between the two sheets. These tools can be configured to detect changes in either sheet and update the other, effectively achieving bi-directional syncing.
3. Regular Manual Reconciliation:
   • Set up a Smartsheet Report that flags discrepancies between Intake A and Intake B on key fields (like Status and Stage). This report can be reviewed regularly, and changes can be updated manually as needed.

For now, if you need bi-directional updates, DataMesh alone won’t fulfill this requirement. Combining DataMesh with cell linking or a third-party integration will help you manage the synchronization of key data across both sheets.

Please reach out if you need help!!