Return a task name that corresponds to the row in the predecessor column

SonjaDLB

Hi there -

I'm trying to get the text of the Task Name to show up in a column called "Pre-Reqs" that corresponds to the row number in the Predecessor column. I created a Row ID column, bc there's no easy way to reference rows. I've tried lookup and if statements and can't get it to work. Please help!

SonjaDLB

This is the closest I've gotten, but do I have to do this for every ROW? That seems impossible.... or nearly. There has to be a better way!

=IF(Predecessors@row = "10", [Task Name]10)

Paul Newcome

Here is a thread with some notes on the SUCCESSORS function.

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/84257/successors-testing

SonjaDLB

Hi Paul -

Thanks for the reply, though unfortunately this doesn't seem to quite answer my question...

I want to share the TEXT of the TASK that is the row of the predecessor. IE I have a task that is linked by the predecessor column. That column says 10. I'd like another column to share, automatically, the text based on the cell that says the preceding task is row 10. So I can easily know the tasks I need to get done before I can start on this particular task. Does that make sense?

If your solution works for that and I'm not picking it up, please share any more insight you may have.

Thanks!!

Paul Newcome

Apologies. I just posted this update in that thread to try to keep everything together:

"To pull the task name(s) of the actual predecessors, we would use the above instructions on generating the row number on the sheet. Next we would insert a multi-select dropdown column and enter

=SUBSTITUTE(Predecessors@row, ", ", CHAR(10))

Doing this allows us to "parse" those predecessors out into individual numbers as opposed to a text string. Finally we would use formula such as this to pull a listing of all of the predecessors:

=JOIN(COLLECT([Task Name]:[Task Name], Row:Row, HAS(Pred@row, @cell)), CHAR(10))"

NQUIN

I got #UNPARSEABLE error. How do I fix this?

Paul Newcome

@NQUIN Exactly what is the formula you are using that is throwing the error?

AA_Amanda Warmack_1

@NQUIN were you able to solve getting the predecessor name to display in another column?

KLoom

This isn't working for me:

=JOIN(COLLECT([Task Name]:[Task Name], Row:Row, HAS(Pred@row, @cell)), CHAR(10))"

What is Pred in your formula? The Predecessors column or the helper? Neither is working for me.

aedavis46

Hi I combined above approaches and my own coding and have found a way to show predecessors as names and not numbers utilizing a successors columm. Logic included below.

1. Create “Successors” column
   1. =JOIN(SUCCESSORS([Task Name]@row), ",")
2. Create column called "auto"
   1. # start with 1
3. Create row column called “Search”
   1. =MATCH(Auto@row, Auto:Auto, 0)
4. “Successorshelper” (multi drop down)
   1. =SUBSTITUTE(JOIN(SUCCESSORS([Task Name]@row), ","), ",", CHAR(10))
5. Successors Name
   1. =JOIN(COLLECT([Task Name]:[Task Name], Search:Search, HAS(Successorshelper@row, @cell)), CHAR(10))
6. Predecessor Name
   1. =JOIN(COLLECT([Task Name]:[Task Name], Successors:Successors, CONTAINS("," + Search@row + ",", "," + @cell + ",")), CHAR(10))