Autos to move row to new sheet - STUCK!

Question

Hello, smarter friends:

I'm trying to learn how to utilize automations to move certain rows to new sheets in order to explore if my larger/longer ranging goal is possible.

Where I'm Currently Stuck: I can't even figure out how to create functional auto to send a row to a basic sheet. That is my immediate need.

But if you're looking for a creative project to help me think through, below is my longer-term goal. Is this possible? If not, what's the next best option that IS possible and how do I do it?

Long-term Goal/Vision: My research team gets a request for new work/data/fact sheets that enters their queue through an intake form tied to a main 'mothership' triage sheet.

—> Team leader "triages".

—> When drop-down triage is checked to mark approve then autos create separate FOLDER space that uses the naming convention in assigned in my # Auto Number column for research work ID#.

—> That folder template is set up with a main sheet which holds the contents pulled directly from the triage/mothership sheet

—>  Additionally, the folder template is set up with a sql sheet containing basic drop-down categories that filter the type of sql code they are storing there (e.g., by topics like "Legislation X", "Statute Y", etc.

Below is an image of how the team's research requests are currently organized in their shared drive, which is what I'm hoping Smartsheet can replace with my above listed dream (but the dream continues below the image!)

Continued Dream:

ALL sql sheets are pulled into a central sql report so the team can can search the sql report by the dropdown tags in order to locate code they have used previously for related work.

(Currently they do this with a ctrl+F method in the drive, but I'd like it to become an automated option that is hyperlinked across all subfolders. Annually, the team gets ~150 requests, compounded by a few years, that's a very layered report pulling from many sheets. Too much to maintain manually, but would be SUPER SLICK if it could happen automatically.)

IS ANY OF THIS POSSIBLE?!

Happy to work through ideas live on a call if that is a better match for you!

James Dubyah · Answer

Thanks, Mellissa!

I had no idea that control center/blueprints existed. I'm going to play with those more, but actually, I went to your blog and read some of your tips— your post about why Smartsheet doesn't get adopted by staff makes me think that I could actually simplify the process—- maintain a singular intake sheet that adds a new column for staff to tag/code the sort of work it relates to, then just have them to use the paperclip/attachment tool to add the sql code there.

It seems that rows in sheets are already set up to function as a folder of its own, so to adding the automations that create (essentially) fancy side folders might be doing exactly what your blog is cautioning against when it comes to making some elements SO overly fancy that people get intimidated.

However, I think the blue print option might work well for creating template sets of sheets that others might want to use. Full of relatively simple things, that is. Am I getting this right— blueprints could work as a way for me to develop a "hub" that has the sorts of project tracking tools most teams are most likely to need, then I can just duplicate that workspace and offer admin rights to teams if/when relevant?

Melissa Yamada · Answer

For your immediate issue, check the following:

You must have Admin or Owner permissions on the destination sheet.

The destination sheet can't be the current sheet.

If you just created the sheet, give it a few minutes or refresh the browser—newly created sheets can take a short time to appear in the picker.

For your long-term solution

Smartsheet (with premium applications) can handle much of what you want:

Intake Form → Master Intake Sheet ✅

Approval automation triggers Control Center (or Blueprint) to provision a project workspace ✅

Project workspace contains:

Main project sheet

SQL sheet

Other templates ✅

For your report ask, this can be done using Control Center Portfolio Reports.