Adding external data periodically

Our external vendor sends timesheet data on their resources on a weekly basis to us. They send these as Excel files. Now, I want to consolidate them into a SmartSheet so I can create many reports for management. I tried using Data Uploader, but it needs a key column with unique data for every record in the source file to be added into the target sheet. The timesheets I get from the vendor do not have any such unique key.

The columns in the source file are:

Start date of week

End date of week

Name of resource

Name/Type of work done

Hours clocked

Is there a way to accomplish this task on a regular basis? I am looking for avoiding any manual data entry.

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Andrée Starå

Hi @SSK_REGN

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

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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SSK_REGN

Here's the screen shot of the sheet I have.

I get an excel sheet now from vendor showing the above data on a weekly basis. They can send an equivalent CSV as well. I want to add these data directly into one single Smartsheet automatically every time a new file comes from the vendor.

Andrée Starå

@SSK_REGN

Thanks!

Can you share an example of the CSV as well?

SSK_REGN

Sorry, I don't have the CSV, but it looks exactly the same as the table in the screenshot.

To re-iterate, what I am looking for is a way to automatically insert/add all the rows into an existing SmartSheet, which already has similar data, without any manual steps involved.

Cindy Schick

Could you use the DataUploader but set a schedule to run on attachment?

SSK_REGN

Cindy,

As i indicated in my original post, I can't use Data Uploader since it needs a key column with unique data for every record in the source file to be added into the target sheet. The timesheets I get from the vendor do not have any such unique key.

SSK_REGN

Hello,

Anyone has any solutions/suggestion to my request? I am a bit surprised that no one else encountered this business issue at all. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Andrée Starå

@SSK_REGN

Maybe it could work to use a 3rd party solution like Zapier or similar, or maybe the Smartsheet API.

Would any of those be an option?

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