Issues with Numbering Children (Child 1, Child 2, etc.)

Lucia Herfer

Hi!

I am trying to implement a column formula in Smartsheet that assigns an ordinal number to each of the children in a sheet. For example, the first child would get a "1", the second child a "2", and so on. I've tried several options, and the one I liked the most is the following:

1. Create an auxiliary column with a "1" each time a child is found.
2. Create a column that sums the entire auxiliary column up to the current row, using this formula:
   =SUMIF([Row]:[Row], <[Row]@row, [Aux]:[Aux]).

The issue with this formula is that Smartsheet tells me there are too many calculations in the sheet and it cannot save it. I tried limiting it with a first IF, but it still doesn't work.

Do you have any suggestions for achieving this while keeping the main objective, which is to be able to use it as a column formula?

Thank you in advance for your help!

jmyzk_cloudsmart_jp

Hi @Lucia Herfer

You can use the same technique used in the WBS template.

https://app.smartsheet.com/r/template-gallery/templates/dd318ca6-b1ec-4e1e-b31d-c8b0b3dc3a40/Project-with-Work-Breakdown-Schedule-(WBS)

[Parent] =PARENT([Primary Column]@row)
[Children Number] =MATCH([Row ID]@row, COLLECT([Row ID]:[Row ID], Parent:Parent, Parent@row))
[Parent - Children Number] =Parent@row + "-" + [Children Number]@row

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=06b2141be7cf42f88433eb145b90dbe7