Vlookup formulae linkage across sheet

Alisha.30 · 09/17/18

Hello, I have been trying to link my source sheet(A) with another sheet (B) as B is the base of my dashboard wherein I had inserted all the formulae for dashboard creation to display real time changes.

How do I link my sheet B with Sheet A ?

As all the changes are being made in sheet A, I want those changes to be transported to Sheet B so that dashboard changes can be seen as soon as a change is made in sheet (A).

Sheet A-->Sheet B-->Dashboard

Andrée Starå · 09/17/18

Hi Alisha,

You could use cell-linking to achieve this.

Please see attached link/screenshot.

https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/861579-cell-linking

I hope this helps you!

Best,

Andrée Starå - Workflow Consultant / Get Done

Paul Newcome · 09/18/18

Cell linking will work pretty well, but to use VLOOKUP (or any other formula for that matter) you have to use cross sheet references (frequently seen in the community as "x-sheet references").

The article below should help to explain these. If you still have further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2476606-formulas-reference-data-from-other-sheets?frame=0&nav=1

J. Craig Williams · 09/18/18

Drawbacks to VLOOKUP:

1. Column order on source sheet may mess your formula results.

2. Selecting the larger portions of the sheet to reference is a waste of processing power and may get to closer to or over the number of cells you can reference.

INDEX(..., MATCH(...)) is a better solution, in nearly all cases.

Craig

Paul Newcome · 09/18/18

INDEX(..., MATCH(...)) is a better solution, in nearly all cases.

I agree. VLOOKUP is just more often used in Smartsheet examples, so I referenced that (in this case) simply for ease of understanding when reading Smartsheet articles.

I have slowly but surely started moving away from VLOOKUP. I haven't had any problems with it (yet), but I love the flexibility of INDEX/MATCH.

J. Craig Williams · 09/18/18

LOOKUP (renamed VLOOKUP) predates INDEX(...,MATCH()), which I believe may be the reason for the examples. Also that people may be more familiar from it in Excel.

I held off as long as I could using it in examples because I thought newbies might not get it as easily. Then I just decided they were better off in the deep-end.

Craig

Paul Newcome · 09/19/18

Better off in the deep end... That's my manager's training style. Throw you in and MAKE you learn how to swim. Hahahaha

J. Craig Williams · 09/19/18

LOL.

I do as much hand-holding as the swimmer needs or requests. Sometimes I get pushed away, but I still won't let them drown.

Craig

Vlookup formulae linkage across sheet

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