bi directional linking

29

is it possible to setup cells on 2 different sheets to update each other? (either cell updated will relect on the other)

Travis

Thanks for the question! There is not a way to create a bi directional linking between sheets but I will submit this enhancement request to our product team and it will be considered for future development. 

Jim Hook

It sounds like doing this would create a circular reference...

Patrick Lawler

This exact problem can be solved using Azuqua, an integration partner of Smartsheet. I work for Azuqua and setting up two sheets (or even cells) to update one another is one of many scenarios that we enable inside of Smartsheet.

 

Using Azuqua you can set up a monitor for a change either to a row, column, discussion or new row added to a sheet. Based on the change to the cell in question you can update the corresponding cell on the second sheet. Additionally, you can set up a second monitor on for the second sheet to do the same action when an update is made there.

 

With Azuqua you also have the ability to build in simple logic to prevent the circular reference risk mentioned on this discussion.

 

If you want to learn more please visit our app listing at Smartsheet here:

https://www.smartsheet.com/apps/azuqua

 

Please feel free to follow up with any questions.

-Patrick

William Warsinski

It would be nice if this was possible without an extra addon.

 

I like to create "report like" smartsheets but using cell linking instead because you have much more flexibility in the layout of the sheet - the downside is that cell-linking is one-way whereas reports are "2-way". Doesn't seem like this would be hard to implement, all you would have to allow is for the linked cell to update the cell it is linking to.

 

Maybe a new Report like sheet that has greater flexiblity should be added to allow for better custimization of a sheet and allow for the same bi directional linking that reports already support.

 

To Jim's comment - It does at first sound like a circular reference but i don't think it would be a problem. You could make one cell a "master" and the other a "slave".

So if you have Sheet A & Sheet B where a cell in sheet B links to a cell in sheet A - the cell in sheet A would be the master but you could update it from Sheet B. Sheet B just displays what's in sheet A (The same way a report works) Alternatively, if you link a cell in Sheet A to a cell in Sheet B, then Sheet B would contain the "master" cell.

 

I think the original poster's use of "bi directional linking" is asking for the wrong thing and that simply allowing for cell links to update the cell it is linking would be sufficient and much easier.

JessLM

This would be a great feature to have.  Here's a use case I have: I have a project master list that gets some information right now from the individual project plan sheets.  I want these sheets to stay consistent with each other, but I don't always want to have to go to the project plan to make changes (but sometimes I do).  For example, in a meeting with all project managers, it would be nice to be able to update the project status from a single sheet and then have those changes reflected in the project plans as well.

sdkotes12901

Add my vote to JessLM's

R.Silber

I could really use this too!!