Auto Fill a Contact Column

Jana Blakeman
Jana Blakeman ✭✭
edited 12/09/19 in Smartsheet Basics

I need to have a contract cell automatically fill with the contact cell above it.  The column type is contact list and I want the user to be able to select the contact in the first row and have the rest of the rows automatically fill with that contact.

Comments

  • Chris McKay
    Chris McKay ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi Jana,

    Bad news. Unfortunately, Contact formatted columns do not support formulas.

    If you can get away with not having the contact directly above the cells you wish to populate in the rows below, then you can use the following formula:

    =IF(NOT(ISBLANK($[Contact Column]$1)),$[Contact Column]$1,"")

    You are including a $ in the cell reference so it becomes an absolute reference. This means it will not change (e.g. [Contact Column]2, [Contact Column]3 etc.) when the formula is copied to other cells.

    Now drag the handle in the bottom right of this cell all the way down the column as far as your data goes. Any new rows will now inherit the formula and will change automatically if the value in [Contact Column]1 is changed

    Bear in mind though, that the results in your data rows will not be Contacts, only the contact name, and you will need to find something else to put in the remaining rows of your [Contact Column] so it doesn't look weird. Find something that doesn't need to be calculated using a formula and you'll be fine.

    Kind regards,

    Chris McKay

  • This is another feature that needs to be added/fixed.  Give the contact columns the ability to use formulas.  This seems pretty basic.

  • Andrée Starå
    Andrée Starå ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi everyone,

    It's released now! laugh

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

    Have a fantastic day!

    Best,

    Andrée Starå

    Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

    SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER

    Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

    W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35

    Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.