How to reference the name of a column in a formula?
I want to create a column formula that will sum all columns in a range only if the column's name contains the word "ACTUAL" ? Is this possible? I can't find any functions that do this and I tried doing look ups for row #0 or row #-1 which sometimes works in other systems to reference table headers.
Answers
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Hey @gzimmer2,
I don't believe you can use column headers as comparable data in Smartsheet unfortunately.
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Hi,
I hope you're well and safe!
Unfortunately, it's not possible now, 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
- Add a so-called helper row, row 1 or wherever it makes sense and add the column names and then you can reference that row in the formulas.
Make sense?
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 comment(s) help/answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community and me by marking it - Insightful 💡- Vote Up ⬆️ - Aweseome ❤️ - or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer! I appreciate it, thanks!SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER
Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35
Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.
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I'm trying to work through a "helper row" method with this formula:
=SUMIF([Nov 2021]1:[Mar 2030]$1, "ACTUAL", [Nov 2021]@row:[Mar 2030]@row)
This works but only as a cell level formula, I'd really like it to find a column level method that works -
Excellent!
How many columns do you have?
✅ Remember! Did my comment(s) help/answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community and me by marking it - Insightful 💡- Vote Up ⬆️ - Aweseome ❤️ - or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer! I appreciate it, thanks!SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER
Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35
Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.
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I have at least one column for every month between Nov 2021 and March 2030. Right now that's 103 columns that I need to be checking if the first row = "ACTUAL". Are you suggesting that I hard code all of those column names into the formula for it to work as a column formula?
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Ok. No, my thought and what I've done is using the Sheet Summary section, but I wouldn't recommend that for that many columns.
You can instead use the INDEX feature.
✅ Remember! Did my comment(s) help/answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community and me by marking it - Insightful 💡- Vote Up ⬆️ - Aweseome ❤️ - or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer! I appreciate it, thanks!SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER
Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35
Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.
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