Automation: change cell value to a date when triggered

Patrikas

Hello,

I was wondering if it is possible to approach it differently since 'change cell value' to a date is not possible, it is only possible with columns: text/number, dropdown and checkbox in my case. I wanted to have an automation when a person which could be one of two following: contractor or permanent and I want it to fill the date automatically for either: 1 month from start date for 'contractor' and 6 months for 'permanent''.

Thank you!

Andrée Starå

Hi@Patrikas

I hope you're well and safe!

It would be possible by using so-called helper columns. I recently developed something similar for recurring dates for a client.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic week & Happy Holidays!

Best,

Andrée Starå| Workflow Consultant / CEO @WORK BOLD

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Patrikas

Hello@Andrée Starå,

Thank you for your help! How would the text below should look like so I don't have to fill date manually?

Genevieve P.

Hi@Patrikas

You're right, the Change Cell workflow cannot currently update a Date column. You can automatically record a date with a different workflow, but it set's Today's Date (see:Set the Current Date with Record a Date Action)

My suggestion would be to create a formula in that date column instead of using a workflow. You can use an IF statement to add a number of days based on the value in the column that says "contractor" or "permanent".

Try something like this:

=IF([Column Name]@row = "contractor", [Start Date]@row + 31, IF([Column Name]@row = "permanent", [Start Date]@row + 182))

It's easiest to add a number of days instead of dealing with MONTH and YEAR, but there are longer formulas that could add a Month instead of 30 or 31, it depends on what the column needs to be used for.

Cheers,

Genevieve

Patrikas

Hi @Patrikas<\/a> <\/p>

You're right, the Change Cell workflow cannot currently update a Date column. You can automatically record a date with a different workflow, but it set's Today's Date (see: Set the Current Date with Record a Date Action<\/a>)<\/p>

My suggestion would be to create a formula in that date column instead of using a workflow. You can use an IF statement to add a number of days based on the value in the column that says "contractor" or "permanent". <\/p>

Try something like this:<\/p>

=IF([Column Name]@row = "contractor", [Start Date]@row + 31, IF([Column Name]@row = "permanent", [Start Date]@row + 182))<\/p>

It's easiest to add a number of days instead of dealing with MONTH and YEAR, but there are longer formulas that could add a Month instead of 30 or 31, it depends on what the column needs to be used for. <\/p>

Cheers,<\/p>

Genevieve<\/p>","bodyRaw":"[{\"insert\":\"Hi \"},{\"insert\":{\"mention\":{\"name\":\"Patrikas\",\"userID\":142980}}},{\"insert\":\" \\nYou're right, the Change Cell workflow cannot currently update a Date column. You can automatically record a date with a different workflow, but it set's Today's Date (see: \"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https:\\\/\\\/help.smartsheet.com\\\/articles\\\/2481986-set-the-current-date-with-record-a-date-action\"},\"insert\":\"Set the Current Date with Record a Date Action\"},{\"insert\":\")\\nMy suggestion would be to create a formula in that date column instead of using a workflow. You can use an IF statement to add a number of days based on the value in the column that says \\\"contractor\\\" or \\\"permanent\\\". \\nTry something like this:\\n=IF([Column Name]@row = \\\"contractor\\\", [Start Date]@row + 31, IF([Column Name]@row = \\\"permanent\\\", [Start Date]@row + 182))\\nIt's easiest to add a number of days instead of dealing with MONTH and YEAR, but there are longer formulas that could add a Month instead of 30 or 31, it depends on what the column needs to be used for. \\nCheers,\\nGenevieve \\n\"}]","format":"rich","dateInserted":"2021-12-31T09:42:19+00:00","insertUser":{"userID":91566,"name":"Genevieve P.","title":"Community Manager","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Genevieve%20P.","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/KHY4Y67W0VRX\/nF76D5N9MFB28.png","dateLastActive":"2023-07-31T11:15:04+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"Employee Admin"},"displayOptions":{"showUserLabel":false,"showCompactUserInfo":true,"showDiscussionLink":false,"showPostLink":false,"showCategoryLink":false,"renderFullContent":false,"expandByDefault":false},"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/314583#Comment_314583","embedType":"quote"}"> https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/314583#Comment_314583

Hi@Genevieve P.,

I tried this and it is something that I have expected. Many thanks for helping me out!

Good luck :)