Intermittent #Invalid Operation error

RBro79
RBro79 ✭✭✭✭
edited 03/24/25 in Formulas and Functions

I have a sheet that uses a formula to join the text from 3 columns into one so it will display easily on a dashboard. This has been in use for almost two years.

Suddenly, it has been giving #Invalid Operation errors on the columns that it is joining. The fix is to open the sheet and edit any cell—related to the columns involved or not—and save it. That fixes the sheet for a while. It eventually reverts back to the error message.

Any ideas why this might be happening? It has automations that run every hour and either check or uncheck a box in a column unrelated to the ones causing the error. I haven’t been able to confirm if the automation coincides with the error showing up.

Answers

  • kowal
    kowal Overachievers Alumni

    hi @RBro79,

    i can see quiet many posts recently saying about the formulas that were working for years are suddenly showing errors. I think smartsheet is doing some changes in the background that is affecting those.

    I would ask directly smartsheet what they are doing.

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  • TVang
    TVang ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RBro79, I've noticed that as well, especially where the TODAY() function is used. I avoid using TODAY().

    On sheets what need the current date for calculations, I have:

    • A helper, date column, curDATE .
    • A workflow that runs at 12:00 AM and records a date into curDATE .

    The formulas use curDATE@row instead of TODAY().

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