Convert text '=Count([Field ID]:[Field ID]) to formula

MelodyD

Is this possible?

Brett Wyrick

Hey Melody, a screenshot may be helpful here. Not sure exactly what you're trying to accomplish.

Is

'=Count([Field ID]:[Field ID])

a value in an existing cell on your sheet? And you're wanting to get it converted to a formula somehow?

MelodyD

adding ' before an = sign converts a formula to text, I want to reverse this.

MelodyD

It looks like "=" cannot be converted back to = (begin formula) once it is in text format with the ' in front of it. Smartsheet sees only two things, numbers and text, there is no general formatting or =Format() function to general.

Andrée Starå

Hi @MelodyD

I hope you're well and safe!

I think I might have a workaround to make the formula work again.

I'll get back to the post.

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 or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

MelodyD

@Andrée Starå you will be a life saver!

Brett Wyrick

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/310714#Comment_310714

@Andrée Starå The suspense is killing me. What are you cooking up for this one?

MelodyD

I'm still at the edge of my seat

johngraham78

@Andrée Starå I came across this thread and it's exactly what I'm trying to do. Did you ever figure out a way to convert text into a formula?

Inside a field called [Start Date], I have a formula that says [End Date]8. However, I want to control the row, in this case the '8', via another cell.

Index won't work as it creates a circular reference.

Does that make sense?

Paul Newcome

@Andrée Starå I'd love to see if you've come up with anything too. I haven't quite figured it out other than manual copy/paste or manually removing the apostrophe. I wonder if the API can handle that?