How to Add Parent Rows in Smartsheet: Complete Guide
How to Add Parent Rows in Smartsheet: Complete Guide
TL;DR
- Click on a row and use the Indent button to make it a child row
- The row above automatically becomes the parent row
- Use Outdent to remove parent-child relationships
- Parent rows can use CHILDREN() formulas to summarize child data
- Child rows can reference parent data with PARENT() formulas
Steps
Open your Smartsheet and locate the rows you want to organize into a hierarchy.
Click on the row that you want to become a child row (the row that will be indented under a parent).
Click the Indent button in the toolbar. You'll see an arrow pointing right.
The selected row becomes a child and the row above it automatically becomes the parent row.
To remove the hierarchy, click on the child row and click the Outdent button (arrow pointing left).
- To create multiple child rows, select multiple rows and click Indent to group them under the same parent.
Pitfalls & Fixes
Pitfall: Trying to indent the first row in a sheet
- Fix: You need at least one row above to serve as the parent. Add a new row above if needed.
Pitfall: Formulas break when changing hierarchy
- Fix: Use PARENT() and CHILDREN() functions instead of cell references - they automatically adjust when hierarchy changes.
Pitfall: Can't see the hierarchy structure clearly
- Fix: Smartsheet shows indentation visually. Look for the small arrows and indented text to identify parent-child relationships.
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FAQ
Q: Can I create multiple levels of hierarchy (grandparent, parent, child)?
- A: Yes! You can create unlimited hierarchy levels. Just keep indenting rows to create deeper nested structures. Use the ANCESTORS() function to reference all levels above a child row.
Q: What happens to formulas when I change the hierarchy structure?
- A: Cell references stay the same, but PARENT() and CHILDREN() functions automatically adjust. Always use these hierarchy functions instead of direct cell references for formulas that should adapt to structure changes.
Q: Can I move entire parent-child groups to different locations in my sheet?
- A: Yes! Select the parent row and all its children will move together. You can also copy entire hierarchy groups to other sheets while preserving the parent-child relationships.
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