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Dynamic Cell linking empty fields

I'm trying to use cell linking but it won't let me link a cell that doesn't have data in it yet.

My plan is to have it link to a cell that will have data put in it gathered from a form.

The end result is that I'll have two sheets. The first sheet is populated with data gathered from the form, and then the second sheet will have fields linked to the results to display the data differently. The issue is that I can't cell link unless there is data in there...So maybe cell linking isn't the right thing to use.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Greg

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Paul Newcome

You are going to want to use cross sheet formulas, but I would need more details regarding your setup and processes to be able to help towards a more specific solution.

Will you have a column on the source sheet that contains unique data per row?

Are you able to provide screenshots with "dummy data" that shows both the source and target sheets and how you want data to be pulled?

Greg Hjertager

Ok so here is some dummy data.

First Sheet is where the data is dumped from the form.

Second Sheet is how I want it displayed.

What I'm trying to do is make it so that as more data is added via form that it is updated on the Second sheet automatically in column 3 and so on down the line.

First Sheet.PNG

Second sheet.PNG

Paul Newcome

So you want to go from horizontal across a row to vertical down a column? How many entries are you anticipating?

Greg Hjertager

Well kind of yeah. What I want to do is to have a way to take the data from the "First Sheet" and put it elsewhere so that its more human readable.

My main question is around the nuts and bolts of how to pull strings from one area as soon as they're entered and place them somewhere else.

Paul Newcome

You would need to use formulas with cross sheet references. To build the formulas, you would need at least one row of data so that the reference sheet is not "empty". Once you build your formulas, you can delete the "dummy data" and then your formulas should pull as new data is entered.

Greg Hjertager

That's clever. Thank you very much. That helps out a lot!

Paul Newcome

Happy to help!

👍️

If you would like more detailed help setting it up, feel free to let me know. Otherwise, please don't forget to mark the most appropriate response(s) as "helpful" so that others searching for a similar solution can know that one may be found here.

Andrée Starå

@Greg Hjertager

Hi Greg,

I'd recommend using VLOOKUP or a combination of INDEX/MATCH.

For your use-case, I'd go with VLOOKUP if there isn't any sensitive information in the range(s).

INDEX

MATCH

VLOOKUP

Would that work?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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