Copy Rows Automation - Only certain columns?

Gordon · 06/29/20

When a copy row automation is triggered, is there a way to only copy certain columns/cells in that row?

If not, is there a way to then take the output sheet data and cross reference to matching rows in a third sheet, and can I build further automations off of the destination sheet?

Andrée Starå · 06/29/20

Hi Gordon,

Unfortunately, it's not possible at the moment to select which columns to include (it's coming), but it's an excellent idea!

Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment

As a possible workaround, you could, as you mention, use cross-sheet formulas, but you'll need to have some unique identifier.

Would that work?

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

ipeat · 07/13/20

(it's coming),

Sooner the better

Terry Lewis · 07/22/20

Couldn’t you also just allow the whole row to copy, but place the “extra” columns from the source sheet way over on the right side of the destination sheet? You could then hide these extra columns and just ignore them.

Kristen Colangelo · 10/13/20

@Andrée Starå

Could you please make this enhancement soon! My company could really utilize this. I am trying to get most teams and departments to start using smart sheet and if this enhancement happens then it would make it easier for my teams to want to use this. Thanks!!!

ps - already filled out a request enhancement form : )

Andrée Starå · 10/13/20

Hi @Kristen Colangelo

I would if I could, but I'm not a Smartsheet employee.

I'm a Smartsheet Partner / Consultant.

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Stephanie Tran · 03/30/21

Any word when this feature might come out?

Kevin Scott · 06/02/21

@Stephanie Tran did you receive a response to your question?

I have the same question, and the same need...would like to use workflow automation to copy a row to another sheet, but only include a subset of columns.

Please let us know if there is an update on the availability of this feature.

Andrée Starå · 06/02/21

Hi @Stephanie Tran, @Kevin Scott, @Terry Lewis, @Gordon & @ipeat.

I hope you're well and safe!

Here's a possible workaround

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.

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!

Roland Horwood · 07/09/21

hmmm,

would be a very useful feature for updating multiple, but different sheets, when a new line is added to a "master" sheet, without getting all the columns you don't want... I'll look forward to it appearing as a feature at some point

Brett Wyrick · 11/11/21

Hello everyone -

Not to bring up a months-old post, but just wanted to say that this is doable if you use a service outside of Smartsheet.

Personally, I utilize Microsoft's Power Automate (which is similar to Zapier, Automate.io, etc.) to do custom automations like you're desiring. If anyone is interested, I could walk you through how to do that if you have an existing subscription to Power Automate. I could figure out how to get it going in Zapier or another service, I'm sure.

Jheyman Mejia · 04/20/23

Three years have passed since "it's coming".

It is sad that such a simple but useful requirement has not yet been implemented by SmartSheet.

I don't see any use in copying an entire row to another spreadsheet other than for order, but for functionality or automations this should be resolved by Smartsheet.

The options provided by the community, in a very kind and appreciated way, are nothing more than options that I can do in a flat Excel file, without having to pay the high prices of SmartSheet.

It is painful.

Cassandra.Groenewold · 07/10/23

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/255159#Comment_255159

Hello - This response was posted in 2020 saying that the requested feature is being worked on. Is this still being worked on as a future enhancement?

kevans33 · 11/24/23

I'd also like to know if this is being worked on? This has been something I have wanted since 2020 for multiple reports I run. Thank you!

CBroderick · 09/18/24

PLEASE find a solution for this! I understand why there'd be instances when you'd want missing columns to be added so that data is not accidentally lost in the copied version. However, every time I've applied this automation, I only need a select few data points to be copied over for each row.

Please consider adding a mandatory Yes or No selection to the "Copy rows" Action:

Binary flag to either Yes: Add missing columns (copy full row to the selected sheet), OR

No: Do not add missing columns (restrict copied values to columns duplicated in the selected sheet)

Smartsheet already identifies column matches to copy data to the correct field regardless of column order on the target sheet. Can't one of your developers turn OFF the code that's creating missing columns and copying over unnecessary data? 1 = leave code as-is. 0 = skip the code creating new columns & force in omitted values.

PLEASE SOLVE FOR THIS! This would vastly expand the capabilities of Smartsheet! DataMesh only works if you can populate a sheet with a lookup value (unique identifier such as # Auto number columns w/Prefixes).

The ability to push select columns from multiple sheets to a target sheet that has columns not duplicated elsewhere, create DataMeshes to regularly update the target sheet with current values from those sheets WITHOUT flooding the target sheet with irrelevant columns would be such a game-changer for Smartsheet!!!!! Yes, we can Hide copied columns we do not need in the target sheet. But that creates it's own set of difficulties:

I occasionally hide one or more columns I generally need to limit the view for a presentation. To get the column back after my meeting ends, the sole option is to UNHIDE ALL COLUMNS- PLEASE FIX THIS, ALSO.

Copy Rows Automation - Only certain columns?

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