Smartsheet Basics

Smartsheet Basics

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Lag between data in source and dashboard charts

Answers

  • ✭✭✭

    Hi,
    I have a similar problem but a much longer lag. I made a dashboard with several charts on it. Each chart is made from a report, which is sourced from a metrics sheet with not-so-complex formulas…Our employees enter data through forms, and the charts are generated automatically. The last piece of data is entered at 9 PM on a Sunday. I opened the dashboard, printed a PDF and shared it with my supervisors only to realize 3 out of 6 charts weren't up to date.

    Then I had to manually open all of the metrics sheets that weren't updating automatically, and only once I opened them did they refresh…Most of the data for those metrics sheets were entered hours before, only one piece of information was entered at 9 PM. I was doing this around 9:40 PM when it was refreshing in front of my eyes when I was opening the metrics sheets.

    Is this normal or do I have too many formulas going on?

    Thanks

  • Community Champion
    edited 02/05/25

    So what happens sometimes is that unless you open the sheet or have it make a call on the Smartsheet servers to update the information inside. I force this to happen is with an automation to record a date in a column called "Helper Date Column". I record an initial value in the column at the top.

    To create this workflow:

    1. Create a column called "Helper Date Column."
    2. Record an initial value at the top (today's date).
    3. Select Automation > Create workflow from scratch.
    4. Title your workflow (for example, "Daily Update").
    5. Set the trigger to When a date is reached.
    6. Click on Run Once and change this to Custom > Repeat every Day.
    7. Select an early morning time for the trigger (e.g. 2:00AM).
    8. Configure a condition block for where the new date column is in the past. 
    9. Set the Action block to Record a date in that new date column.

    This should successfully update the sheet daily and pull all of the updated information into the sheet, which in turn will update the reports and dashboard. Hope this helps!

    Michelle Choate

    michelle.choate@outlook.com

    Always happy to walk through any project you need help with! Book time with me here: https://calendly.com/michelle-choate

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