How to Inherit Data Between Child and Parent Cells in Smartsheet

TL;DR

• Use =PARENT() to inherit parent values in child cells
• Use =MIN(CHILDREN()) and =MAX(CHILDREN()) to inherit earliest/latest dates from children
• Create helper columns for automated parent-child inheritance
• Convert formulas to column formulas for automatic application to new rows
• Perfect for project management with tasks and subtasks

Steps

Method 1: Child cells inherit from parent cells

Make child rows automatically copy values from their parent row using the =PARENT() formula.

1. In any child cell, enter the formula:

=PARENT()

2. Copy this formula to the entire column so all future child rows inherit automatically.

Method 2: Parent cells inherit from child cells

Make parent rows automatically calculate values from their children (like earliest start date or latest end date).

1. For earliest date from children, use:

=MIN(CHILDREN())

2. For latest date from children, use:

=MAX(CHILDREN())

For automatic application, create helper columns and use this formula pattern:

=IF(COUNT(CHILDREN([Date Column]@row)) > 0,
    MIN(CHILDREN([Date Column]@row)),
    [Date Column]@row)

Then convert to a column formula so it applies to all new rows.

Method 3: Card view task inheritance

For card view workflows, make subtasks inherit dates from their parent tasks.

1. Create a helper column for parent dates only (leave blank for child tasks)

2. Use this formula in your main date column:

=IF(NOT(ISBLANK(PARENT([Due Date (Parent)]@row))),
    PARENT([Due Date (Parent)]@row),
    [Due Date (Parent)]@row)

This automatically shows parent dates for children and helper column dates for parents.

Pitfalls & Fixes

• Pitfall: PARENT() formula returns errors when applied to parent rows

  • Fix: Use conditional logic like =IF(ISBLANK(PARENT()), "", PARENT()) to handle parent rows gracefully and avoid error messages.

• Pitfall: MIN/MAX functions don't work when child cells contain text or are blank

  • Fix: Use =IF(COUNT(CHILDREN()) > 0, MIN(CHILDREN()), "") to check if children contain numeric dates before applying MIN/MAX functions.

• Pitfall: Column formulas get overwritten when users manually edit cells

  • Fix: Protect the sheet or specific columns with formulas, or create helper columns that users can't accidentally edit.

Related Tasks

• Create Multiple Columns at Once
• Apply One Format to Hundreds of Columns
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Stop Wrestling with Complex Parent-Child Formulas

Manual parent-child inheritance formulas work for simple cases, but become complex and error-prone with advanced project structures. SSFeatures provides advanced column management and formula tools that can set up parent-child relationships and copy complex formulas across hundreds of columns in seconds.

For teams managing complex project hierarchies, SSFeatures' column management tools turn 60-minute formula setup processes into 2-minute operations.

FAQ

• Q: Can I inherit values from grandparent or great-grandparent rows?

  • A: Yes, but you'll need to use nested PARENT() functions like =PARENT(PARENT()) for grandparents. However, this becomes complex with deep hierarchies - consider using helper columns instead.

• Q: What happens if I delete a child row that was providing the MIN or MAX value?

  • A: The MIN/MAX formulas will automatically recalculate using the remaining child rows. If no children remain, the formula may return an error
    • use conditional logic to handle this case.

• Q: Can I inherit text values instead of just dates and numbers?

  • A: Yes, PARENT() works with any data type. For children, you can use functions like =INDEX(CHILDREN(), 1) to get the first child's text value, or create custom logic based on your needs.

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