Dashboard Widgets Not Linking After API Copy (copy-folder api) – Sequence Issue?

Sachin Kumbar

Hi Smartsheet Community,

I’m having an issue with a dashboard after copying a folder via POST /folders/{folderId}/copy. The dashboard’s chart widgets show errors: "Unable to display chart. The source sheet or report either can't be accessed or has been deleted." I suspect the reports/sheets aren’t copied before the dashboard, causing the references to break.

Question: Does the copy sequence matter? Should I copy reports/sheets first, then the dashboard, to ensure widget references remap correctly? How can I do this with the API?

Tried:

• Copying the folder in one go, but the in dashboards few reports are pointed correctly, and few are missing data sources

Goal: I want the dashboard to automatically link to the new copies of its data sources without manual re-linking. Any advice?

Thanks!

Georgie

Hi @Sachin Kumbar,

I believe this is related to a bug currently being investigated - it follows that copying a folder via the API would result in the same behaviour as copying within app. I have commented on your similar post here. 

Please follow @Isaac Jose ’s advice on this related thread of submitting a support case about this issue and refer to the above linked Community post (as well as this one) along with parent case #08376858. The Support team will then be able to confirm if the behaviour you’re seeing is related, and they can track all related cases and investigate further.

Thanks,

Georgie

Sachin Kumbar

Thanks for Quick Response @Georgie
Actually we identified case when we're facing the issue:

In the parent template, within the dashboard widget's data source settings:

• If all columns from the report are selected → ✅ The widget works as expected after copying.
• If specific columns are manually selected → ❌ The widget fails to display data post-copy (shows "Unable to display chart – source sheet or report can't be accessed or has been deleted").

Parent:
Working:

Not Working

When we Create New Instance:

Has anyone else faced similar behavior?
Any workarounds or best practices to handle this scenario?

Could you please check this @Isaac Jose
We’d appreciate any insights or guidance

Thanks :)

Georgie

Hi @Sachin Kumbar,

Thanks for the additional information!

I was able to confirm that the behaviour you’re seeing (chart widgets breaking when folders are copied when the source is a summary report and specific fields are selected for the chart to use) is the exact behaviour that was identified and investigated as a recent bug. I can confirm this issue has now been resolved, and so you should no longer be seeing this behaviour.

If you continue to see this behaviour, please reach out to our Support team with screenshots of the broken charts and details of the dashboard and source report so that the team can investigate.

Thanks,

Georgie