Plan Availability | All plan types |
Permissions | Workspace Administrators, Solution creators and Solution Managers can create formulas and troubleshoot based on permissions. |
Related Reading |
Common Questions
Can a formula reference a field in a different table?
Yes, a formula can reference:
Fields in the current table.
Fields in a Sub-Items field.
Fields in another table using a Linked Record field.
Learn more in our article Reference Data from other Tables
Why are my numeric values not calculating correctly?
For example, adding 1 + 1 produces 11 instead of 2. This error happens because one of the referenced values is a text value, not a number. The addition operator (+) in SmartSuite:
Adds numbers together if both values are numeric.
Concatenates values (combines them as text) if either value is text, a date, or non-numeric.
How to Fix:
Ensure that all values referenced by your formula are numeric types.
You can change a text value containing a number into an actual number in the formula with the NUMBER() function, like this:
NUMBER([Text Field]) + [Number]
Note: The formula field is treated as either a number, a date, or text. If the result is a number, you can apply numeric filters or use it in charts. If it's text, you can apply "contains" filters and other text-based options.
Why is my formula field displaying a red icon instead of a value?
A red icon indicates an error in the formula. SmartSuite cannot calculate a value. As a Solution Manager or Admin, click the icon to open the formula field properties and fix the syntax.
A warning, "Invalid formula," will appear in red text below the formula builder if the syntax is incorrect.
Can I use a formula to combine values from two or more fields?
Absolutely! This is one of the most common uses of the SmartSuite formula field. Check out our step-by-step tutorial in the article Combine text from two or more fields
Where can I see a complete list of formula functions and operators?
Explore the SmartSuite Formula Field Reference Guide. This comprehensive document includes:
A list of all supported functions and operators.
Proper formula syntax.
Examples to demonstrate each function in use.
Practical Use Cases and Scenarios
1. Sales Data Dashboard
Scenario: The sales team needs to calculate total revenue by combining "Product Price" and "Quantity Sold."
Solution: Use a formula to multiply these fields (Product Price * Quantity Sold) and display the result in the dashboard.
Outcome: Instant visibility into revenue per product, improving reporting accuracy.
2. Marketing Campaign Dashboard
Scenario: A marketing manager wants to create a personalized message combining "First Name" and "Last Name."
Solution: Use the concatenation operator (+) in the formula field to combine First Name + ' ' + Last Name.
Outcome: Simplified creation of personalized content for marketing campaigns.
3. Project Management Dashboard
Scenario: A project manager needs to track the number of days remaining until a project deadline.
Solution: Use the DATEDIFF formula to calculate the difference between the Deadline field and Today’s date:
DATEDIFF(Deadline, TODAY(), "days")
Outcome: Provides real-time tracking of project timelines, allowing the team to stay on schedule and prioritize tasks effectively.