Auto Populate Today's Date

Mark Bond

When a condition in "Column A" changes to "YES", I want the date in "Column B" to automatically enter today's date. How can I do that. If I use the TODAY function, that cell will update to today's date every day - and I only want the date "Column A" changed to "YES".

Andrée Starå

Hi@Mark Bond

Have a look at my post below with a method I developed that you can use to store the date.

More info:

Hi all,<\/p>

I hope you're well and safe!<\/p>

I've developed a solution that lets you store the date or value.<\/strong><\/p>

You'd use the copy-row automation and a VLOOKUP or combination of INDEX\/MATCH to make it work.<\/p>

We'd trigger the copy-row to another sheet and get the created date\/other value and then use the VLOOKUP\/INDEX\/MATCH to get it back to the main sheet in another so-called helper column. As long as you have a unique id\/value that we can use, it will work.<\/p>

Also, this opens up more options with auto-numbering and similar.<\/p>

Depending on other workflows, you could reuse one sheet for multiple workflows.<\/p>

I hope that helps!<\/p>

Let me know if you have any questions!<\/p>

Stay safe and have a fantastic day!<\/p>

Best,<\/p>

Andrée Starå<\/p>

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

Mark Bond

Andree-

Thank you for this - but it seems quite complicated for what it is I am trying to accomplish. Here is the current formula I am using:

=IF(["ON HOLD" Stage]1 = "Yes", TODAY)

Can I replace TODAY with another formula, or is what you are suggesting the only solution?

Andrée Starå

@Mark Bond

Happy to help!

Unfortunately, it's not possible at the moment to do it more simply. It will be when Smartsheet releases a TIME type column. Until then, it's my method, the Smartsheet API, or 3rd party service/solution that works.

Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment