Automatic numbering for Work Breakdown Structure

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Hello ,

Does " Automatic numbering for Work Breakdown Structure " exist in SMARTSHEET ? It's been a couple of days now that I am searching for .

Can someone help me ?

Paul Newcome

You should be able to copy cells. If you copy a cell from row 1, you can paste that formula into your sheet. This will allow you to change the column names to whatever is on your own sheet and make any other adjustments as needed.

Alex Fedotov

I started using Smartsheet and evaluating its capabilities only a week ago, but from the very start faced that nasty limitation. After spending some time, I managed to come up with a solution that supports an unlimited level of nesting. Hope it will be helpful for those hitting this page 😁

Create the following columns and formulas:

1. Row number
   1. Requires a "Row ID" autoincrement column starting with 1
   2. Formula -  - MATCH([Row ID]@row, [Row ID]:[Row ID], 0)
2. Level
   1. Formula - COUNT(ANCESTORS())
3. WBS Code
4. Child index
   1. Formula - COUNTIFS(Level:Level, Level@row, [Row number]:[Row number], AND(@cell <= [Row number]@row, @cell > [Parent row number]@row))
5. Parent row number
   1. Formula - IF(ISBLANK(PARENT([Row number]@row)), 0, MATCH(PARENT([Row number]@row), [Row number]:[Row number], 0))
   2. Formula - IF(ISBLANK(PARENT()), 1, PARENT() + "." + [Child index]@row)

    

Gunn_Jack

Hey Alain,

You can have an automated reference column (select 'Auto Number / System' when adding a column) which allows you to set the format of the numbering however it is incremental. I.e. you can have 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc but it wont notice or be changeable to 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc for your next work package.

I've also done a search on the templates for WBS and Work Breakdown Structure, which provide no returns which leads me to suspect that currently, it is not something you can do through SS (unless you manually assigned the number system).

Hope that answers your query,

Cheers,

Jack

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Thanks JACK ,

It is a great shortcoming to fix .

Regards .

Paul Newcome

I have some examples published elsewhere here in the Community. I will search for them and get back to you once I find something.

How many different levels of hierarchy will you be using?

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Hi PAUL ,

I am reading currently your last example . I am having big headaches lol .

I am using five levels of hierarchy to plan my project .

How can you help me ?

Paul Newcome

Can you include a link to the post/example so that I can see what you are starting with? That way I can better figure out how to help tweak things to fit your needs.

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Nice PAUL ,

Please find the link of the example below :

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/194161#Comment_194161

I do not mind sharing my project sheet too . Tell me If you want .

Paul Newcome

What part exactly are you struggling with?

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Hi PAUL ,

I can't copy rows from your sheet , since it is " view only " mode .

Regards .

Paul Newcome

You should be able to copy cells. If you copy a cell from row 1, you can paste that formula into your sheet. This will allow you to change the column names to whatever is on your own sheet and make any other adjustments as needed.

ALAIN-STEPHANE

Thanks PAUL !

Check below the result when I follow your instructions .

Great workaround !

Congratulations and thank you very much 👌

Regards .

Paul Newcome

Happy to help! 👍️

Steve Fogel

Will this allow accurate sorting on WBS or just help in automating the numbering. Can't create a report from your sheet.

thanks

Paul Newcome

To sort, you will want to ensure that the top row stays at the top. The absolute references to row 1 mean that row 1 needs to stay in place. Everything else can be sorted, and the formulas will remain intact.

I am not sure why you need to create a report from my sheet? It is a published view so that everyone can see how it works without having to give individual permissions.

Doug Oates

Alex Fedotov

I started using Smartsheet and evaluating its capabilities only a week ago, but from the very start faced that nasty limitation. After spending some time, I managed to come up with a solution that supports an unlimited level of nesting. Hope it will be helpful for those hitting this page 😁

Create the following columns and formulas:

1. Row number
   1. Requires a "Row ID" autoincrement column starting with 1
   2. Formula -  - MATCH([Row ID]@row, [Row ID]:[Row ID], 0)
2. Level
   1. Formula - COUNT(ANCESTORS())
3. WBS Code
4. Child index
   1. Formula - COUNTIFS(Level:Level, Level@row, [Row number]:[Row number], AND(@cell <= [Row number]@row, @cell > [Parent row number]@row))
5. Parent row number
   1. Formula - IF(ISBLANK(PARENT([Row number]@row)), 0, MATCH(PARENT([Row number]@row), [Row number]:[Row number], 0))
   2. Formula - IF(ISBLANK(PARENT()), 1, PARENT() + "." + [Child index]@row)