How can I auto-apply a calculation (e.g., =compute(D2,10)) in a ‘Tax’ column when inserting a row at the top of a Google Sheet instead of manually copying formulas?
I eventually tackled this issue by setting up a dynamic range that updates automatically when new rows are inserted. My approach uses a formula that covers the entire column below the header and includes a condition to only apply when there’s actual data, which prevents errors on blank cells. I modified my formula to something like =IF(LEN(D2), compute(D2, 10), “”) and placed it in the header with an array setup extending downward. It took a bit of tweaking, but it now seamlessly adapts to new rows at the top without extra manual updating.
In my experience, leveraging a custom Google Apps Script provided a robust solution to this problem. I set up a script that monitors changes in the sheet and detects when a new row is inserted at the top. The script then automatically copies the Tax column formula from the previous row into the new row. It handles any necessary range adjustments and negates manual intervention. Although this requires an initial setup using the onChange trigger, it has significantly enhanced the efficiency of my workflow by ensuring that the correct calculation is applied immediately.
hey, i played around with a helper cell using vlookp to pull the tax calc from the column below when new rows add. its a bit funky but auto updates without a script. might be worth tryin if you want a no-code workaround.
hey, try using arrayformula. put =arrayformula(compute(D2:D,10)) in your header cell to auto update new rows. its a neat hack, works for me!
A different approach that helped in a similar situation was to separate data entry and tax computations onto two linked sheets. In my setup, I retained the raw data in one sheet and used a second sheet with names ranges and IMPORTRANGE to pull the data automatically. Then I applied a query function combined with a dynamic formula to calculate the tax values. This separation allowed the tax calculations to update as new rows were added, without altering the original data entry format, and it provided a tidy environment where computations are handled independently.