Bridge Error: When field from the source sheet is blank

MCorbin

I've created a very simple workflow - copying data from one sheet to another when a row is added (just getting started). And I finally got the darn thing working - Yay!!

BUT: I just got this error - because the date in the source sheet is blank. How do I set it so that if that date is blank (or any field, for that matter), it just puts a blank in the cell in the destination sheet?

Genevieve P.

Hey @MCorbin

Were you able to sort this out?

In the Reference data in the workflow there's a section specifically on Options for empty data references that should help!

In the reference, add || to the end, then add a space. For example:

{{states.GetRow.smartsheet.get_row.row.cells.Licese.Approved.value|| }}

This will tell the reference that if the original cell is blank, look at the other side of the bars (||) and put that value instead. Since you add a space after the bars, then it should input a blank cell again.

Let me know if this works for you 🙂

Genevieve

Genevieve P.

Hey @MCorbin

Were you able to sort this out?

In the Reference data in the workflow there's a section specifically on Options for empty data references that should help!

In the reference, add || to the end, then add a space. For example:

{{states.GetRow.smartsheet.get_row.row.cells.Licese.Approved.value|| }}

This will tell the reference that if the original cell is blank, look at the other side of the bars (||) and put that value instead. Since you add a space after the bars, then it should input a blank cell again.

Let me know if this works for you 🙂

Genevieve

MCorbin

@Genevieve P. You are my hero!!!! Thank You!

(and now to start playing with junctions) :-D Stay tuned for more questions.... hahahaha!

Genevieve P.

Haha, happy I could help! 😊

Randy Naganuma

Hi @Genevieve P.. This does not seem to work when the it's a Contact List field. I receive this error:

workflow execution failed: Plugin Error INVALID_DATA : failed to execute extension module : Failed to call add rows : The value '' was not valid for the parameter type 'contact.email'.

Do you know what I can do to pass nothing when there's no value to pass?

Randy Naganuma

And strangely, when I try to pass an actual name, it doesn't allow me to pass it. The field in the "from" sheet and the field in the "to" sheet are both a Contact List field.

workflow execution failed: Plugin Error INVALID_DATA : failed to execute extension module : Failed to call add rows : The value 'Randy Naganuma' was not valid for the parameter type 'contact.email'.

Genevieve P.

Hi @Randy Naganuma

Is the Contact Column restricted to set contact values? It sounds like it cannot accept the blank value or a text value (versus an email that is configured and approved within the column).

Randy Naganuma

Hi @Genevieve P. , the column in the destination sheet is set up as a Contact List but it's not set to Restrict to List Values only. I was able to successfully pass an actual contact name, I was referencing a column that did not exist but after I made the change, I still receive the same error.

workflow execution failed: Plugin Error INVALID_DATA : failed to execute extension module : Failed to call add rows : The value '' was not valid for the parameter type 'contact.email'.

Genevieve P.

Hi @Randy Naganuma

Thanks for clarifying your column set-up!

If you had restricted the column, you'd just need to select the "Override Validation" option in the Update Row module:

Or you can do this per-column by using the "Advanced Cells" option.

The addition of ||space will work if your column is set to single-select, as it blanks out the value. However I see that you're referencing a column with multi-select options for the Contact List.

In this case, the cell errors when attempting to add a "space" or blank as a value since it sees this as one of the options. If you set the column to single select (un-checking that box) then it should work as expected.

If you need it to be a multi-select cell but you want to clear the cell, I actually think the easiest way to do this is to use criteria the Bridge has updated to then use the built-in clear cell workflow from within the sheet!

Cheers,
Genevieve

Randy Naganuma

Hi @Genevieve P. ,

Thanks for dropping all the knowledge. 🙂

I'll definitely use the Override Validation when I need to in the future.

I need to keep the column as a multi-select cell but I'm not following what you mean when you say, "use criteria the Bridge has updated to then use the built-in clear cell workflow from within the sheet". I can't use the clear cell automation within the destination sheet because I can't get the data over to the destination sheet.

Genevieve P.

Hi @Randy Naganuma

This depends on what you're trying to do with the multi-select cell. If the direct {reference} works for you, and you're just looking to clear the cell in a specific instance, then I would only use the {reference} without the ||. Then you can use the sheet itself to clear the cell.

Or, if the error happens even with your {reference}, I would skip that field in Bridge all-together and use the Assign Someone in-sheet workflow. Multi-select Contact columns don't work well with the direct Update Row Bridge integration.

Here are two other threads that discuss workarounds using Bridge, but it would be simpler if you could use the sheet itself:

Bridge - Pull Multiple contacts from one sheet & update one cell with all?

Bridge Add Row containing Multi-Select Contact Cell

Anyone know how to use "update row" in Bridge to add a Contact to a cell?

Cheers,
Genevieve