Hey everyone! I’m stuck with a Zapier issue when trying to sync data between two Smartsheets. The New Row Update action keeps failing with an error saying the columnId is invalid. This happens right after I copy a row from one sheet to another.
Weirdly, Zapier suggests removing unused columns to fix it. When I do that, it works once, but fails again on the next update with a new sheet. It’s driving me crazy!
Has anyone run into this before? Any tips on how to make it work consistently? I’m pulling my hair out here!
Here’s a simplified example of what I’m trying to do:
// Pseudo-code for Zapier workflow
function updateSmartsheet() {
const sourceData = getDataFromSourceSheet();
const copiedRow = copyRowToDestination(sourceData);
try {
updateCellsInDestination(copiedRow);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Update failed:', error.message);
// How to handle this error?
}
}
ugh, that sounds super frustrating emma! i’ve dealt with similar zapier headaches before. have u tried refreshing the column IDs in zapier? sometimes they get outta sync. also, double-check that the column names match EXACTLY in both sheets. even a tiny difference can mess things up. good luck!
I’ve encountered this issue before, and it can be quite vexing. One potential solution is to use column names instead of column IDs in your Zapier setup. This approach is often more stable as it’s less prone to breaking when sheet structures change.
Another thing to consider is the possibility of hidden columns in your sheets. These can sometimes interfere with Zapier’s ability to correctly identify columns. Try unhiding all columns in both source and destination sheets to see if that resolves the problem.
Lastly, if you’re using custom field types in Smartsheet, ensure that Zapier fully supports them. Some advanced field types may not translate well in the integration, leading to these kinds of errors. You might need to simplify your sheet structure or find workarounds for complex field types.
I’ve been down this rabbit hole before, and it’s definitely a pain. One thing that worked for me was to create a new, simplified sheet with just the essential columns and use that as an intermediary. Basically, I’d have my main sheet push data to this simplified one, then use Zapier to sync from there to the final destination. It’s a bit of extra work, but it helped bypass those pesky columnId issues.
Another trick is to use Smartsheet’s API directly instead of relying on Zapier. It gives you more control and can be more stable for complex operations. You’d need to write some custom code, but it might be worth it if you’re hitting constant roadblocks with Zapier.
Lastly, have you considered reaching out to Smartsheet support? They might have some insider knowledge on why this keeps happening and could offer a more permanent fix. Sometimes these issues are on their end and require a backend tweak.