VLookups in a Contact field

mandy.rhuebottom36326

I would love to be able to have one table with contacts (i.e. administrative support personnel) and use a Vlookup function to insert the correct contact into a row on another table.  We have a lot of turnover in those positions, so it would be nice to be able to update the separate Administrative table and then let it update my contacts for each row in my other table.    Everytime I try this, I get an error right after I link to the other table and it won't even let me finish the Vlookup formula.  Does anyone know of a way to make a Vlookup work in a contact field.   I want to keep the column set as a contact field so that I can set automatic alerts and update requests to the contact in that column.  Thoughts or ideas?

Mike Wilday

Sorry, but the Contact column type does NOT accept formulas in any shape or size. I would recommend submitting this as a product enhancement request.

angela.lindstrom

New Smartsheet user here. Ran into same challenge when trying to "auto-assign" users for request intake. Luckily it's only a 3-person intake team with 1:1 Request Type to Assigned To name.

As a workaround for the lack of VLOOKUP support for contact type column, I created 3 separate intake forms for each Request Type. I embedded hidden fields for Request Type, and Assigned To with default values for each filled in. That way these fields are filled in the background without the form user knowing. 

Although painful to maintain when there are new intake users, this is less painful than creating a separate intake sheet for each Request Type.

steve.robinette75436

This is just a shame you cannot have formulas to perform vlookups for contact information.  The alerts require a contact column so you cannot change the alert notification to a standard text column here.  Disappointing.

Mike Wilday

Please submit an enhancement request! 

Mike

Ran into the same issue with vlookup and contacts - this is  a necessity to save on maintenance in a lare organization

Mike Wilday

Please submit an enhancement request! 

Andrée Starå

Hi everyone,

It's released now! 

https://community.smartsheet.com/announcement/announcing-formula-support-contact-columns

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting