Automation Not Triggering When Checkbox is Checked via Formula
Hi Smartsheet Community,
I'm running into an issue with an automation that doesn't seem to be triggering as expected, and I’d appreciate any guidance.
Setup:
I have a sheet where a checkbox column is controlled by a formula. The formula is referencing two separate sheets and is used to identify duplicated names. When a duplicate is found, the checkbox is checked automatically by the formula.
Goal of the Automation:
Once the checkbox is checked, the row should be automatically moved to a different sheet.
The Issue:
- The formula is working as intended — it's checking the box correctly and in a timely manner.
- However, the automation to move the row when the box is checked is not triggering.
- There are clearly rows where the checkbox is checked, but when reviewing the automation's activity log, it shows no recent triggers in the past several days, even though qualifying rows are present.
What I've Tried:
- Confirmed the formula is updating and checking the box as expected.
- Reviewed the automation settings and confirmed the trigger is based on when the checkbox column changes to checked.
- Verified that the target sheet for the row move exists and is shared with all necessary permissions.
Is this a known limitation where automations don’t trigger when a checkbox is updated via formula instead of manually? If so, are there any workarounds you recommend (e.g., helper columns or time-based workflows)?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Answers
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Please see this discussion
https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/106204/automation-not-triggering-off-of-a-formula-cell
Without seeing your formula and sheet, I suspect that is what you are running into.
Hudson
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You cannot trigger an automation based on a formula with cross sheet references. You will need to set up the trigger to run on a regular frequency such as daily or hourly and then set a condition of the box being checked.
