Automated Workflow Not Running When Box is Checked

In my sheet, when certain conditions are met, the [H-Status (Different from Status)] box (middle of screenshot) is checked, indicating that now that those conditions are met, the [Status] of the project can change via an automated workflow. Those conditions are handled on this same sheet.

The column [H-Status (Based on Approvals)], column 3 in the screenshot, displays what the status should be based on approvals in this sheet. [H-Status (Adj for Docs)] is what the status should be based on meeting certain conditions.

If the value in [H-Status (Based on Approvals)] and [H-Status (Adj for Docs)] are the same (e.g., "Active", "Active") and that value is different than the current Status, then the [H-Status (Different from Status)] box is checked, which triggers the automated workflow to change the value in [Status] to match what is in [H-Status (Adj for Docs)].

This works perfectly fine when all of this happens within this sheet.

Now, I've added a new condition that is met on another sheet (via an approval). The [H-Change of Scope (Check)] is checked using a cell-reference formula (far left). If the request for a Change of Scope is approved in the other sheet, the box is checked in this sheet.

I've modified the formula in the [H-Status (Different from Status)] column to automatically be checked if [H-Change of Scope (Check)] is checked, and I've modified the two columns [H-Status (Based on Approvals)] and [H-Status (Adj for Docs)] to display "Change of Scope", which is based on the request from the other sheet.

This all works fine (as you can see in the screenshot); however, even though [H-Status (Adj for Docs)] is checked (since there is "Change of Scope" in both of the columns, the automated workflow isn't running. [Status] still says "Active", not "Change of Scope".

The only condition for the automated workflow is that the value of [H-Status (Adj for Docs)] changes to checked. This happens when a Change of Scope request is submitted in the other sheet (and [H-Change of Scope (Check)] via a cell reference formula). But for some reason it isn't triggering the automated workflow.

I've waited for an hour, knowing sometimes there are delays with automated workflows, and still nothing has happened.

Any reason why this situation is different?

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SSFeatures

Hi @aschneiderheinze1025,

I found this thread where Genevieve (Smartsheet Employee) mentions that actions that modify a sheet cannot be triggered by inbound cell-links or cross sheet references.

This could explain why the automation isn't working correctly.

One option would be to switch it to a Time Based workflow, that runs once per day. It's definitely not ideal.

I hope this helps though!

aschneiderheinze1025

Thanks @SSFeatures. The automation is triggered actually by a checkbox that is checked when cells in the sheet change not by the checkbox that is changed via the cell-reference formula.

Checkbox #1 is checked via a cell-reference when a form submission is approved in another sheet.

The two "new status" columns are updated when Checkbox #1 is checked.

Checkbox #2 is checked because the two "new status' columns updated.

It's when Checkbox #2 is checked that the automated workflow is triggered.

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