Automation triggered copy one cell to another on same sheet

OrenW

Hi ,

I would like to be able to "check" a box in col A which will trigger a copy of the content in col B to Col C (but not change value as long as the checkbox is checked)

I want to use this to flag a specific line/task as one which is due data is important for me so I want to copy it to a column "important dates" but the copy should only happen when I check the box (if original data changes the content in the destination should not change)

Ex:

A B C

O 1/1/22

If I check Col A I want the date from B to be copied to C

A B C

X 1/1/22 1/1/22

If now someone changes col B it will no be "mirrored" to col C

X 5/1/22 1/1/22

I assume it is needed to be in an automation flow but cant find how to do it .

Thanks

Paul Newcome

You would have to do this manually.

Paul Newcome

You would have to do this manually.

Andrée Starå

Hi @OrenW

I hope you're well and safe!

Unfortunately, it's not possible now to copy automatically copy values between cells, but it's an excellent idea!

Please submit this as a Product Feedback or Idea (If it hasn't been added already) when you have a moment.

Here's a possible workaround or workarounds

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

OrenW

Hi Andree ,

Thanks for your suggestion but I feel it is a complicated work around .

The way I am currently dealing with it is manually coping the "Due date" of an important mile stone to a column "Track MS" and then have a visual flag column indicate if the date has passed (red) and I created automation to alert the relevant stake holder.

Andrée Starå

@OrenW

Happy to help!

Have you looked at the Baseline feature? That might help.

Talia

@OrenW Did you figure out how to do this? I am needing to do the same thing but can't figure it out.

OrenW

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/344458#Comment_344458

Sorry , The only way I found was doing it through a second sheet as a temporary data holder .

I did not want to do it this way (too complicated to maintain) .

I decided to do it manually for now .

Claire oliver

another way that is less than ideal, but works is at the cell you want the data copied to

= [Nameofcellyouwantcopied]@row

and then drag the formula down as far as you want, or might want it to go. You don't want to do a column formula because then you can't write over it if needed (an enhancement is needed there too).

Matocanovic

Hi @OrenW

If I got the correct understanding of what were you looking for, I think I have a solution. You can use (IF) to test if the check box is checked, if yes then the next column will show the same than the previews column. Follow the formula.

=IF([Column2]@row = 1, [Column3]@row, "")

Column2 is the Checkbox Column, If = 1 (checked)

Column3 is the column that has the date

The formula is placed in the Column4, if checked, equal to column3, if not, ""( blank)

Anytime you change the date in the cell of Column3, automatically, column4 will show that.

This formula serves for any type of data, you only need to define the same type for both columns.

I hope I could help.

Happy holidays.

Sergio Matocanovic

OrenW

Hi Matocanovic,

Thanks for your reply .

This is not exactly what I wanted to do as it will continually keep col 4 the vaue of col 3 as long as the checkbox is "on" .

The goal of my request was to check a box called "Copy this due Date to be tracked" thus creating a "baseline" of a date I will track for changes (ie - if column 3 will change in the future - I can get an automated alert) .

I am assuming this needs to be done via automation but could not find a way to do it .

I currently just manually copy the date for important tasks I want to get notified for .

BR

Oren

Matocanovic

@OrenW now I could understand what you need.

I'll try to find a way to do that, If I find something that really help you I'll reply you back here.

Talk to you later.

Have an amazing 2023.

Sergio Matocanovic.

GarrettH

I want to do something similar, but I want to funnel data from multiple (five) columns into one column.

A bit of background: I have a form that asks users to chose one or more of five Categories from a dropdown. Each of these Categories has an associated Subcategory list of 10 options (total of 50). Because Smartsheet can't support a waterfall-like presentation where we can associate Subcategories with their corresponding Category, I had to create five Subcategory dropdown columns in order to build in logic in the form. So, if a user selects Categories A and C, then the Subcategories for A and C are revealed in the form. This feeds into the sheet and populates the Subcategory A and C columns. I want to hide those five Subcategory columns in the sheet and create an automation where the data from the Subcategory columns gets placed into ONE column.

So, if a user selects Categories A and C, and then Subcategories A3, A6, and C1, C10, I want A3, A6, C1, and C10 to all get copied into ONE column. How do I accomplish this, please?

Paul Newcome

@GarrettH You would use a formula. Assuming all of the sub-category columns are next to each other, you would use something along the lines of

=JOIN(COLLECT([Subcategory A]@row:[Subcategory E]@row, [Subcategory A]@row:[Subcategory E]@row, @cell <> ""), CHAR(10))