Making Google Sheets work like a database - google-sheets

I'm attempting to get Google Sheets to function like a Database, where sheets can "talk" back and forth to one another. Basically, a column on one sheet can auto-populate another column on a different sheet, and vice versa. HOWEVER, the other criterion is that the columns aren't necessarily in the same location on each sheet. In addition, there are many individual cells that merely have to talk back and forth to another, so it can't just be whole columns sharing information back and forth.
It's a little hard to explain, so I've attached the Sheet in question:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12MFlAqZGQsW6wxwSUyNaYJoFD3_Kt5uK7g88Tj_fAms/edit?usp=sharing
Dummy information has been entered into the columns on each sheet to show where the information should be flowing.
There are quite a few picklists in the Sheet, and those would still have to be able to function.
There is another discussion which touches upon this process:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!msg/docs/OrObv5ZAmIs/-eNw5g5TGjUJ
The issues with the above solution is that I don't need the other sheets to be hidden, and I have four sheets, most likely seven when the Sheet is completely finished.
It's a complicated Sheet that has to be as user-friendly as possible.

I do this most often with the importrange function. If you need to reorder columns in the second sheet you can specify a single column as you range and place it in any column you need in the new sheet. Using multiple import range formulas in successive columns you can then reorder your data set. This approach is dynamic so any time your original data changes, the associated sheet updates as well.
If you only want to update the second sheet at certain times or on command you can do this with a script and a time trigger or a button object placed somewhere on the first sheet that is associated with the script. The script would read the data from the originating sheet and the write it back to the second sheet in any order you wish.

Related

Push change of active cell to share users in Google Sheets

I use Google Sheets as a live technical running order in live and virtual events. I direct the show and technicians follow my running order live. When I make updates, obviously their sheets change too. I highlight the row that reflects where we are in the show, so that they can see that at a glance.
Now I would like to be able to push the technician's instance of the sheet to follow my active cell or a check box I tick on a particular row. The aim is for their spreadsheet to automatically scroll to where I am in the show, without them having to manually scroll.
Could any kind soul suggest a means to do this, please?
As per the comment, if your tick box is say Column A on Sheet1, Sheet2 query could be like this in cell A1:
query(Sheet1!A:Z,"select B,C,D,E,F,G where A =false",1)
You'd obviously alter your range Sheet1!A:Z, and the columns you want to display (and their order) select B,C,D,E,F,G, and which column has the tick boxes where A =false

How can I check the two checkboxes on Google sheet?

image <- I have a google sheet like in the photo. When I check the box behind the cars here, the name of that car is written in the result section. I want that when I tick one of the two checkboxes, the other will not be checked. That is, only one of the two checkboxes should be selected at a time. When one is selected, the other should not be selected. How can I solve this with google sheets formulas without writing app script code?
image2 <- The formula in cell D2:
=IFS(COUNTIF(A2, TRUE),B2,COUNTIF(A3, TRUE),B3,COUNTIF(A2, False),"",COUNTIF(A3, False),"")
One checked checkbox at a time (similar to a radio button behavior) isn't actually supported in Google Sheets at the moment.
However, there are certain ways to circumvent this kind of issue. It can be via Apps Script or Sheets itself.
Since you are looking for a Sheets related solution, an alternative would be using an in-cell dropdown instead of checkboxes. That way, you could only select just one car at a time and you don't need complex formula to get the chosen value itself, you just need to set the cell formula to =B2 to get the dropdown chosen value.
Sample:
To add a dropdown in Sheets, see the reference below:
Reference:
Drop-down List

Google sheets: how can I use "sort sheet" when a column uses UNIQUE?

I use UNIQUE in the first column (cell A2) of my sheet to pull in unique item names from another sheet. In the other columns I have various properties for each item.
I want to be able to play around with different sort orders based on the properties, using the menu options "sort sheet A->Z" and "sort sheet Z->A" (i.e. not having to change a cell formula every time I want a different order).
But every time I do this, the sheet gets messed up, because the cell with the UNIQUE formula jumps from A2 to another position in A (leaving all cells above it empty). Is there a way to avoid this?
So far, this is the best advice I could find:
https://alicekeeler.com/2016/07/10/google-sheets-find-unique-entries/
which suggests to use UNIQUE, copy, paste-special, then sort away.
(I'll keep this question open for a while in case anyone has better suggestions.)

Google Spreadsheet Applying functions to unfilled rows

I have a Google Sheet that is filled from a Google Form, and I need to apply functions in some columns of each row that is not been filled (inserted).
When the user fills the form the data goes to the sheet but the functions shifted to the next row by itself, but I want to apply the function in the same row.
You just need to use arrayformula so in N2 you would enter:
=IF(ISNUMBER(J2:J),J2:J+M2:M,)
This causes the formula to run itself down the sheet only once there is a value in the cells your trying to add. This way it doesnt prevent new entries from being added

How to count the number of items and have this sustainable when I add new items?

I am trying to create a Google Spreadsheet which is able to count the number of items, and also be sustainable when I add new items which won't affect the previous result.
The table at the left is the data, and on the right is the result I am looking for Example:
The two items in RED box are newly added, and the yellow cells show the results expected.
Basically, when there is a item is bigger than ZERO, I want it to be counted. However, I don't want the previous result to change when I drag the function across.
I tried to use the combination of =counta and vlookup, but it is not working properly.
Assuming your red box is around B8:E9 then in H3 copied across and down to suit:
=COUNTIFS(C:C,"<>"&0,$B:$B,$G3)
will give the results you show (other than the highlighting). However, two more days of data and one table may get in the way of the other. You might want to relocate one table above the other so each has room to expand - or move one to another sheet which would then require sheet references to be added to the above formula.
I am not clear what issues you have had with whatever combination of =counta and vlookup you have tried.

Resources