How to re-establish Project Intake Formula links with Project Metadata

VanissaSparks

I downloaded the Project Management template and after trying to import projects in the Project Intake Sheet from Excel the Project Plan metadata links are not working. What is the formula to re-establish the Index formulas or link the Project Metadata fields back into a large number of projects?

Genevieve P.

No problem! Were you able to successfully create the cell links?

Genevieve P.

Hi @VanissaSparks

Are you referring to the Project Intake Sheet in the Project Management Office template set?

If so, the "Start Date" and "End Date" cells are actually directly linked to the Project Metadata sheet through a Cell Link, not through a formula. See Step 5 of the Template Set instructions, here, under "Set Up & Customize".

Cheers,

Genevieve

VanissaSparks

Thank you for responding @Genevieve P. and yes I'm referring to the Project Intake Sheet from the Project Management Office Template set. I did copy and paste the yellow cells from the respective Project Metadata cells into the Project Intake sheet. The issue I'm seeing is that the values are not auto updating when I make a change at the Project Plan or the Project Metadata level. I reviewed the hyperlink logic on the Project Template file for Project Metadata and I'm attaching the difference I'm seeing in the below print screens for Start Date and End Date.

I noticed that for End Date there is a Link for In From and Out To vs. just a Link In for Start Date. Is this accurate? How can I setup a Link Out To for the Start Date that will feed into the Project Intake Sheet similar to the End Date? I've seen others users post that an Index formula was required to make this work. However, I'm just trying to fix the broken links so my 50 projects can get auto updates based on the Project Plan without having to recreate everything.

Also, why would the End Date logic show an unknown sheet similar to the print screen from my previous comment from the Project Intake Sheet? Could there a disconnect in the linkage causing the auto update from working? If so, within the Project Intake Sheet how can I get to the formula page to correct or remove the unknown sheets that should no longer be linked?

I appreciate your time and assistance.

Thanks again,

Vanissa

Genevieve P.

Hi @VanissaSparks

Copying/Pasting the cells will only paste the data in one time, which is why it's not updating.

You could copy and paste into the cells if you used Paste Special, then selected "Links to copied cells" from the pop-up window, but this option will only appear if you navigate between the sheets in the same browser tab (see: Use Paste Special)

Instead, you'll want to create a Cell Link. In the Project Intake sheet:

• Highlight the cells, or click-shift-click on the cells
• Right click and select the "Link from Cell in Other Sheet" option

See: Cell Links: Consolidate or Maintain Consistency of Data

This will bring you to a pop-out window that allows you to find the sheet you want to link in from. In this window, find the Metadata sheet.

Creating this link in the Intake Sheet will show you a grey "Link Out" arrow in the Metadata sheet, because now that information is being pulled out of that sheet into the Intake sheet.

An "Unknown Sheet" is one that is either Deleted or that you do not have Sharing Permissions on, so you can't see the sheet name. You can delete out that link from this cell, but keep in mind if it's being used on someone else's sheet, this will break the connection. See: Edit or Remove Links

Cheers,

Genevieve

VanissaSparks

Thanks for your help, @Genevieve P.

Genevieve P.

No problem! Were you able to successfully create the cell links?