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Is it possible for multiple column links, formulas, and manual data to all exist in one destination column?

Aly_Olson_Turek

Can a single destination column support multiple column links coming from different source sheets to populate different rows within the column, as well as allow formulas or manual data entry in other rows in that same column?

I have different sheets (A, B, C) where teams document their capacity month to month. Each month gets its own column in these sheets. In each sheet, I pull data from select rows into a portfolio sheet (e.g. pulling rows 1, 5, 15, etc. from A/B/C).

Once the selected rows for each month from A/B/C are in my Portfolio sheet, I have additional rows for formulas and manual data entry in the same column to create portfolio level metrics.

Each month I have to add to my structure for the next upcoming month. Historically I have done this with building cell-links for the selected rows in A/B/C into the destination rows in my Portfolio Sheet.

I wanted to replace this manual cell-linking process with column links, however I don't seem to be able to have a Portfolio sheet formula or manual data entry in a destination column for a column link. Have other people encountered this or is there a workaround?

I also am unable to change the formatting in the destination column. E.g. I want the data formatted as a percentage in some rows in the destination column, but it keeps reverting back to a number, even though the source data is also formatted as a percentage.

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Accepted answers

Adam_C

Hi @Aly_Olson_Turek,

The column linking feature is intended to automatically populate the whole column based on matching unique identifier column values between sheets. Does the unique identifier only appear on certain rows in the Portfolio sheet?

If so, would you be able to set up a unique ID column across your sheets that contains the sheet name or id? In this case you could use nested IF and CONTAINS to determine which sheet you need to look at, then INDEX/MATCH with the corresponding unique identifier to return the value you want.

e.g. =IF(CONTAINS("Sheet A",[Your Unique ID Column]@row), INDEX({Cross-sheet reference to your source data column in sheet A},MATCH([Your Unique ID Column]@row,{Cross-sheet reference to your source unique ID column in sheet A},0)), IF(CONTAINS("Sheet B",[Your Unique ID Column]@row), INDEX({Cross-sheet reference to your source data column in sheet B},MATCH([Your Unique ID Column]@row,{Cross-sheet reference to your source unique ID column in sheet B},0)), etc… ))

Alternatively, you could link columns elsewhere in the sheet and hide them. Then reference the column value with a formula (not a column formula) in your original column and overwrite with your other formulas/manual data entry as necessary. This would still be a bit of a pain as you'd still be doing a lot of editing/copying and pasting each month.

Many thanks,

Adam

All comments

Adam_C

Hi @Aly_Olson_Turek,

Many thanks,

Adam

Paul Newcome

Are you able to provide some screenshots for context?

Aly_Olson_Turek

@Adam_C correct, I have unique identifiers in only some rows of the portfolio sheet, as other rows are intended to complete the formulas on the linked values from A/B/C for that particular month/column.

I'll consider a formula with nested IF/CONTAINS, however I have numerous formulas to calculate, so this will likely be a huge formula. I'll play around with this a little, but otherwise will likely have to revert back to manual cell-links for what I'm hoping to accomplish.

Aly_Olson_Turek

@Paul Newcome here is a screenshot of my portfolio sheet.

Labels A/B/C/D pull in values from sheets A/B/C/D for each month/column (lots of other calculations/manual data entry occur in sheets A/B/C/D).
The data in May '27 columns outlined in green boxes is built manually by me using cell links. This is how I've historically done each new month.
The data in the red box are formulas that are calculated on the data in the green box for each new month/column.
In Jun '27, I tried to build column links for one of the sheets ( C ), and you can see the unique identifiers in the C rows. However I am then unable to have my portfolio formulas from the red box continue into the Jun '27 column, because the column link formula is there instead.

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