Add a Formula to a Cell Using Automations

Doug Harmonson

Is it possible to add a formula to a cell using an automation? I attempted to do this using the Change cell value action, but it only adds the formula as text. The sheet does not recognize it as a formula even though I did start it with an "=".

I'm trying to populate the value of a cell with data from a cell in the same row of another column based on the selection from a dropdown in still another cell in the same row. The problem I have is that there will be more than 60 potential columns from which I may need to populate. This would make for a very long, and difficult to maintain, nested IF statement, so I'd prefer to avoid this route if possible.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Andrée Starå

Hi @Doug Harmonson

I hope you're well and safe!

This might help!

Please have a look at my post below with a method I developed.

More info: 

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/68589/lock-or-store-date-value-solution-without-using-zapier

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

Doug Harmonson

Thanks Andree. I'm already using a copy row automation later in the process. It's actually on those sheets in which the row is copied that I need to copy the cell. It's because there are so many columns in my sheets I may need to copy from that I'm trying to find a simpler way to manage. Having said that, your solution gave me an idea as to how I may be able to manage this. I will let you know. Thanks again for the quick and helpful response.

Andrée Starå

@Doug Harmonson

Excellent!

You're more than welcome!

This might help!

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.

✅Remember! 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!