Hierarchy Preservation in Smartsheet Forms

Hierarchy preservation ensures that every row created through Task Forms is inserted at the correct indent level in the Smartsheet hierarchy. SmartSyncApp reads the indent level of the selected parent row and creates the new child row at one level deeper, maintaining the structural integrity of the sheet.

Why Hierarchy Matters

Smartsheet's most powerful features depend on correct hierarchy: parent row rollup formulas, summary calculations, conditional formatting based on indent level, and reports filtered by hierarchy. A single misplaced row can produce incorrect totals, break dashboards, or cause data to be excluded from reports. Task Forms eliminates this risk.

How It Works

SmartSyncApp queries the parent row's position and indent level via the Smartsheet API. The new child row is created with an indent level of parent + 1, positioned after the last existing child of that parent. If the parent has no existing children, the new row becomes the first child.

Key Benefits

• Rollup formulas automatically include new child rows in parent calculations.
• Multi-level hierarchies are preserved even with deeply nested structures.
• No post-submission manual adjustment needed.
• Works consistently regardless of how many child rows already exist under the parent.

Example

A project sheet has three levels: Portfolio > Project > Task. A team member submits a new task under "Website Redesign" (a Project row). Task Forms creates the row at the Task indent level, and the Portfolio-level duration and cost rollups update immediately.