What are the options for handling a 60-item questionnaire with 8 nested child questionnaires?

Chiu Bar

Hello everyone,

Initially, I was assigned to work on a 37-item questionnaire (form) that included 6 nested child questionnaires, resulting in a total of 222 columns.

However, as the questionnaire has expanded, the number of items has grown significantly and is now approaching Smartsheet’s column limit.

Considering that we intend to retain Smartsheet’s automation capabilities, what are the possible options to accommodate the growing questionnaire?

Greatly appreciate for any helpful insights - we're subscribed to Enterprise plan, should that matter.


Thank you!

Anjanesh_Vaidya

Hi Chiu Bar,

You’re absolutely right to plan ahead, Smartsheet’s maximum column limit (400 columns per sheet) can quickly become a challenge for large forms or surveys, especially when nested logic or child questionnaires are involved.

Since you also want to retain automation, here is your practical option:

Split the questionnaire into multiple linked sheets

• Divide your 222+ columns into logical sections (e.g., Part A, Part B, etc.).
• Use a unique identifier (like Respondent ID or Submission ID) to connect rows across sheets.
• Use cross-sheet formulas (INDEX/MATCH, VLOOKUP) to consolidate data in a master sheet if needed.
• Each sheet can have its own form, respondents can be redirected to the next form automatically (via confirmation message or workflow email).

I hope this helps.

Thank you!