Short answers to the formula questions people ask most, each with a link to the full article. Start here when a formula does something you did not expect.
Here is the test: find your question below. If the answer is not here, Formula Functions & Operators and Formula examples: totals, text, dates and status cover the rest.
Example: every formula below uses a vendor risk program, with Vendors, Contracts, Findings and Controls tables. Change the field names in square brackets to your own.
Plan Availability | All plan types. |
Permissions | Administrators and Solution Managers create and change formulas. Everyone with access to the table sees the result. |
Platform | Web |
Related Reading |
Reading other fields
A formula can read more than its own field.
Can a formula use a field in another table?
Yes, through a Linked Record field. Write the link, a dot and the field: [Contracts].[Annual Contract Value]. See Reference data from other tables in a formula.
Can I join two fields into one label?
Yes. [Vendor Name] + " - " + [Contract Number], or CONCAT. See Combine text from two or more fields.
Numbers
How SmartSuite treats numbers and text in a formula.
Why does 1 + 1 give 11?
One of the values is text, so + joins them instead of adding. Turn text that holds a number into a number with NUMBER():
NUMBER([Text Field]) + [Number]
How does SmartSuite treat a formula's result?
As a number, a date or text. A number result takes number filters and works in charts. A text result takes text filters, such as contains.
Dates
The date questions people ask most.
How do I add 180 days to a date?
DATEADD([Expiry Date], 180, "days")
The units are minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. See Date Based Formulas.
How do I show the days left until a deadline?
DATEDIFF(TODAY(), [Remediation Due], "days")
DATEDIFF counts from the first date to the second, so put today first. Use a deadline with no time, or the count can be off by one day.
Is a date typed into a formula read as month first or day first?
It depends on the member's locale. Use the ISO form to avoid doubt: DATE("2026-10-23") is 23 Oct 2026.
Tip: Type fixed dates in ISO form, year-month-day, in every formula. It reads the same for everyone.
Red icons and messages
What the red signs mean.
Why does the field show a red icon instead of a value?
The formula has an error and cannot work out a value. An Administrator or Solution Manager selects the icon to open the formula. A red Error box under the editor names the problem. See Formula Field Error Messages.
Note: A formula that reads a deleted field stops working until the formula is changed.
Finding more
Where the full lists and examples are.
Where is the full list of functions?
Formula Functions & Operators lists every operator and function, with the syntax and an example.
Where are ready-made formulas?
Formula examples: totals, text, dates and status, and Date Based Formulas for date math.
Last verified 31 Oct 2026.