Auto copy cell content to another sheet

Anthony R

I am creating a training tracker which is modular based so separate sheets for each module which will then in turn contain the course, dates etc. Is there a way that I can auto populate the details of new names that I add into sheet 1 into sheet 2,3 and 4? Cell linking does not work so feels link a column formula is needed but cannot seem to find a cross sheet formula that will work. So copy names from sheet 1 to identical columns in sheets 2, 3 and 4

Andrée Starå

Hi @Anthony R

I hope you're well and safe!

You could use cross-sheet formulas combined with either a VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH structure to connect the sheets, and when you update the source sheet, it will reflect on the destination sheet.

Another option would be to use so-called helper sheets. In short, copy the row to a helper sheet and then use my method described previously to get the values you need to another helper sheet and then copy/move the row from that sheet to the main destination sheet.

Would any of those options work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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dave619

@Andrée Starå Hello - I've seen your response many times as a solution for this. Can you please explain how to do this? I have the source sheet (sheet 1) where I only need specific data(columns) from each row copied to another sheet. This source sheet is constantly being updated with new rows being created (via Smartsheet form). And every time a row is added, I only need certain info from that row to be copied to another sheet (sheet 2).

Will your solution work for this? The easiest workaround I thought of was use the copy row automation and then hide the columns I don't need in the destination sheet (sheet 2). Perhaps your way is cleaner.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Paul Newcome

The copy row and hiding unnecessary columns is actually going to end up being the most efficient method. Is there a reason you need these on other sheets as opposed to creating reports?

johngraham78

I have the need for this same functionality. Copying rows and hiding is impractical as my main sheet A is getting large (and slow), and a colleague wants to track a separate process on a secondary sheet B, containing only 8 columns. For that to happen, and for VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH to work, there would need to be a common cell in both sheets.

Is the a function to put in sheet B that references all values in a certain column in sheet A? Then Index/match would work perfectly.

Andrée Starå

Hi @johngraham78

I hope you're well and safe!

You could use cross-sheet formulas combined with either a VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH structure to connect the sheets, and when you update the source sheet, it will reflect on the destination sheet.

Another option would be to use so-called helper sheets. In short, copy the row to a helper sheet and then use my method described previously to get the values you need to another helper sheet and then copy/move the row from that sheet to the main destination sheet.

To connect them row by row, you'd use an Autonumber Column in the Source sheet and add a so-called helper column to manually add the row id on as many rows as you think you need in the Destination sheet.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

✅Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up, Awesome, or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

johngraham78

Hi @Andrée Starå , thanks for the input. Sheet A will have an autonumber, and so I'm leaning on having the same thing in sheet B. The only issue is that sheet B will have many more rows than needed, but a report can easily condense that.

The easiest solution would be if smartsheet supported the copying of certain fields/columns from one sheet to another.

Andrée Starå

@johngraham78

Excellent!

Happy to help!

Also, I agree that it would be amazing to have that feature.

Please submit this as a Product Feedback or Idea (If it hasn't been added already) when you have a moment.