Formulas In Templates Reference to another Sheet

Bill Herrmann

Is there a way to save a sheet as a template that has formula references to another sheet and be able to easily change the reference when using the template? I have a summary and detail sheet that I want to create a template for future use. The summary references the detail. I'd like the Summary sheet to maintain links to the detail. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance. Bill

Andrée Starå

Hi Bill,

Probably yes, if I understand you correctly. In many of my client solutions, I set up a Master and a Project template kit. When we make a copy of the Project Template, it retains the links to the master.

EDIT: The template kit can consist of sheets, reports, and dashboards.

Make sense?

Can you describe your process in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Paul Newcome

Another option would be to put both sheets in a folder (not templates but sheets) and then save the folder as new. Links will be updated to point to the newly created sheets.

Bill Herrmann

Thank you Andree, that makes sense. I think I will use the copy folder method as my solution.

Bill Herrmann

Perfect, thank you Paul.

Andrée Starå

Excellent!

Happy to help!

Paul Newcome

Happy to help! 

Ella

Paul, great idea!

The only issue I see is if you have an Auto Numbering column in the sheets. You won't be able to start from 1 in the new folder. 

Paul Newcome

I never use the auto-numbering columns, so I wasn't aware of that. That's definitely good to know. Thanks!

Andrée Starå

Hi Ella,

Yes, it won't be automatic, but it's easy to delete and then start from the beginning or to continue from another one if needed.

Best,

Andrée

 

Ella

Hi Andree, thanks. I have tried deleting the column and start from the beginning, but I have not managed to get it to work. Have you done this successfully? 

Andrée Starå

Hi Ella,

Happy to help!

Yes, I have. You must only remember to save after you've deleted the content.

Did that fix it?

Ella

Hi Andree,

Just tested it again, it did not work. It starts from where the numbering was before the deletion of the content. 

Here is what I am doing:

- Save as new

- Delete all of the sheet content

- Delete the Auto-Numbering column

- Save

- Add a new Auto-Numbering column

 

Andrée Starå

Ok.

You'll have to delete the contents in the Auto-Numbering column, not the actual column.

Did that work?

Ella

No. :-( The only way I can delete the cell content is by deleting the row. 

Andrée Starå

Try changing the auto-numbering column to a text/numbers column and delete the content and save.

Change it back to an auto-numbering column and save.

Did that work?

If not, I'll have to go back and see so that it's not me remembering wrong.