Alert on broken links between cells

jjustice

Anyone know if it's possible to perform a workflow/alert when a link between smartsheets has been broken?  The app obviously knows this has occurred because of the red arrow the cell has, but I can't find a way to alert on this (seems like a really good condition to alert on).

If not, FEATURE REQUEST

alex44

This is not a direct answer but perhaps a preventative measure if it fits your situation...

Instead of using cell linking to another sheet, I generally just use "Reference Another Sheet" feature. This works like a formula and helps avoid cell link breakage. In order to reference another cell without using a formula, you need to first enter a function (e.g. SUM) and then delete it. 

Someone may have a better answer about a workflow/alert, but in case this "reference another sheet" approach may apply to your situation, my steps are below. Best, Alex

1. In the cell where you want to link to another sheet, type these 5 digits: =SUM(
2. Once those 5 digits are entered, a dialog box will appear. In that dialog box, click on the link “Reference Another Sheet.”
3. Navigate to the sheet and cell you want to reference; in the Sheet Reference Name field, enter [your cell reference name] then click Insert Reference
4. In the field, the value will now look like this:  =SUM({[your cell reference name]}).
5. From that formula, delete SUM and ( and ) so that the value just looks like this ={[your cell reference name]}
6. Click enter and now this cell is looking at the original cell.

 

(PS - I had done another post on the Community asking if this could be done without doing a function like SUM first, and was told that that functionality doesn't exist yet.)

Paul Newcome

How does this operate any differently from a cell link other than the extra steps?

Paul Newcome

The only way to trigger an alert from a link break is to have it trigger some sort of error. You can then use an ISERROR function to check a box which would trigger the alert.

 

But you are correct. This is definitely a very good feature request. Feel free to submit a Product Enhancement Request.

jjustice

This is a great tip!  It does provide a way to "solve" the problem, but introduces others (i.e. you can't direct link into whichever cell your linking which is super valuable feature with the cell linking).  I have found some uses for your formula hack though!

I submitted Product Request per link from Paul below.

Davejavu

Our cell linking went bezerk about two weeks ago. I put in a ticket with Smartsheet support (2 weeks, no response). Our main sheet (we call it a dashboard), links to secondary sheets with a lot of detail. The links are now scrambled - jobs link to random jobs and the whole thing is a mess. Has anyone seen this before?

Andrée Starå

Hi Dave,

There were some issues a couple weeks back I think.

I'll see if I can find the information and get back to the post.

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Andrée Starå

@Davejavu Here's the post with information about an issue in December.

Could that be the issue?

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/64783/incoming-links-not-updating-repeatedly