Added Columns

Wanda Jackson

Why do columns keep getting added automatically to my sheet? I keep deleting them, but they keep coming back at the end of my sheet.

Thanks.

Wanda J.

Paul Newcome

Have you checked the activity log?

Genevieve P.

Hi @Wanda Jackson

You mention that you manually copy/paste rows across sheets... could that be creating the new columns?

"If the source and destination sheets have different column names or types, data from the row you copied will be inserted into new columns to the right of the existing columns in the destination sheet. If this occurs, scroll all the way to the right to find the data, copy it, then paste it into the desired columns."

Even if your column has the same name, if the column type is different than the source sheet the pasted data will create a new column.

If this isn't the case, I think it would be helpful to see a screen capture of the sheet before the new columns appear, after the new columns appear, and a screen capture of the activity log. But please block out any sensitive data!

Cheers,

Genevieve

Paul Newcome

@Wanda Jackson Did you double check you column TYPEs as Genevieve suggested above?

@Genevieve P Do you know if outgoing cell links could cause the extra columns to be added? I wouldn't think so, but I haven't had a chance to test yet and wasn't sure if maybe you already knew or not.

Genevieve P.

Hmm, no, outbound cell-links shouldn't create columns. If this was the cause, it would be an issue our Support team would need to look into.

Paul Newcome

Have you checked the activity log?

Genevieve P.

Hi @Wanda Jackson

Do you have an automation which Moves or Copies rows from a different location on to this sheet? If so, these rows will auto-create new columns for their content to populate if they're not already on the destination sheet. (See: Automatically Move or Copy Rows Between Sheets)

Cheers,

Genevieve

Wanda Jackson

Hi Genevieve,

I have a disabled automation to move from this sheet to another sheet, but nothing is being moved or copied to this sheet via automation. I have copied from this sheet and moved to another one manually, so would this create the issue as well?

Wanda J.

Wanda Jackson

Hi Paul, I just checked my activity log and I've only made changes to cells, added attachments, changed column property, view sheet, cell linked to another sheet. Would Cell linking cause the issue?

Paul Newcome

Cell linking should not be adding any columns.

Do you have any move or copy row automations adding data to this sheet?

Is it the same number of columns every time?

How are the columns named?

Wanda Jackson

I do not have any move/copy row automations to this sheet. It's not the same number of columns each time and they seem to be duplicate columns of what I already have on the sheet. They are just not linked to anything like my other columns and they appear at the end of my sheet.

Column Names:

Total Events

Newly Added Event

Event Approved

Event Type

Jurisdiction

Genevieve P.

Hi @Wanda Jackson

You mention that you manually copy/paste rows across sheets... could that be creating the new columns?

"If the source and destination sheets have different column names or types, data from the row you copied will be inserted into new columns to the right of the existing columns in the destination sheet. If this occurs, scroll all the way to the right to find the data, copy it, then paste it into the desired columns."

Even if your column has the same name, if the column type is different than the source sheet the pasted data will create a new column.

If this isn't the case, I think it would be helpful to see a screen capture of the sheet before the new columns appear, after the new columns appear, and a screen capture of the activity log. But please block out any sensitive data!

Cheers,

Genevieve

Paul Newcome

When you say "linked"... What exactly do you mean? Are you using cell linking in the original columns and the columns that are added don't have cell links, or are you using formulas (possibly column formulas)?

Wanda Jackson

Hi Paul,

I have my main sheet linked out to a couple of other sheets, no forumulas are set up for this. when the columns are automatically added, they are not linked out to any other sheet.

Paul Newcome

@Wanda Jackson Did you double check you column TYPEs as Genevieve suggested above?

@Genevieve P Do you know if outgoing cell links could cause the extra columns to be added? I wouldn't think so, but I haven't had a chance to test yet and wasn't sure if maybe you already knew or not.

Genevieve P.

Hmm, no, outbound cell-links shouldn't create columns. If this was the cause, it would be an issue our Support team would need to look into.

Wanda Jackson

I did check the column type and it appears to be duplicate columns being added with the same column type that are being added back to the sheet.

Genevieve P.

Hi @Wanda Jackson

At this point it may be best to troubleshoot with the Support team in a private channel - this way you can share a screen recording of the columns appearing, or full screen captures of the sheet (before and after) noting the date and time that the columns appear, and providing them with the sheet ID or URL. Please also send them a screen capture of your Activity Log.

Thank you!

Genevieve