I have an excel sheet with several tabs. The first tab is the Master tab used to track all tabs. I would like all new tabs to auto-populate information into columns on the master tab. For example, I have multiple fields in my form I would like information from these fields to auto-populate into the master spreadsheet. I would like all new forms/tabs to automatically update the master spreadsheet. I am currently entering everything manually.

jhm0054 Are you willing to manually enter the name of each new tab into a cell on the "Master" sheet?Is all the information on each individual sheet organized in exactly the same way? Are they all laid out identically?Finally, could you upload a sample of the actual master and backup sheets?If the answers to #1 and #2 are both "Yes," then it should be fairly easy to write a formula or two that would retrieve the information from each new sheet and populate the master sheet with the data. But an actual example of your workbook (devoid of any confidential or personal information) would be most helpful.

CADDmanDH Had the same question as OP, but disappointed there were only follow questions versus and explanation of an actual answer. You've never heard that sometimes you need to answer a question with a question (or two)?! As in sometimes, the situation needs a bit more definition. As in sometimes a quick "answer" is less helpful than a bit more back-and-forth first to make sure all parties are on the same page? Not to be defensive, but I would point out your opening comment doesn't serve to endear me to you. In may case, YES, Everything would be the same from one Tab to the Next as it's the same form; and YES, I would manually rename each tab as they are Invoice #'s per each form. Edit: The new Data would drop into the Master List of Data from the Tabs, to which I already have a chart set up to incorporate that data for my needs. Nevertheless, without any further ado, what I'm guessing (in the absence of further definition of the situation) is that the INDIRECT function would work in the OP's case, and maybe even in yours; you'll have to find that out. With INDIRECT, as I've used it in my own situation (which may or may not mirror yours), I've entered, in a single column of the master or summary sheet, the word/text that serves also as the label on a tab from which I want to extract date. Then, across the top of the master sheet, I've entered into a singe row the specific cell references in those various sheets from which I want to extract data. What INDIRECT does is construct a complete reference to another spot in the workbook. In this case, it is to a specific cell (or series of them) in another sheet in the same workbook, which I believe is what you're trying to accomplish. The INDIRECT formula looks like this:=INDIRECT($D6&"!"&C$1)where $D6 is the cell containing the sheet's name (the absolute reference to column D keeps that constant as it's copied across other columns; the relative reference to row 6 allows it to change as it's copied down)The &"!" designates the foregoing as a reference to a sheet in the same workbook (I'm assuming you know the concatenation symbol &)The final reference to C$1 is to the cell in which there is a cell address to the cell(s) in the various detail sheets containing the data elements you want in the summary sheet. Let me know if that works. If not, come back with a description of what does happen, and maybe a sample of your actual workbook.

mathetes Hi, I would like to know if we can populate the data if just type the part number and the rest of the data will be populated. What formula should I apply? The rest of the info will be available from another excel or maybe different tab.

mathetes Had the same question as OP, but disappointed there were only follow questions versus and explanation of an actual answer. In may case, YES, Everything would be the same from one Tab to the Next as it's the same form; and YES, I would manually rename each tab as they are Invoice #'s per each form. Edit: The new Data would drop into the Master List of Data from the Tabs, to which I already have a chart set up to incorporate that data for my needs.

mathetes I think I have a similar question. I have uploaded a spreadsheet that has 3 tabs. Some of the information on Project Info/Control sheet I would like to repeat on the Budget Sheet and Proposal Sheet to reduce duplication of effort. I can get it to 'behave' on the Budget Sheet (green circle in screen shot), but not on all cells of the Proposal Sheet (red circles). It just shows the formula referencing the original cell instead of the data. I have tried inserting new rows on Project sheet and re-referencing to see if something is corrupt but I get the same problem. I saw your INDIRECT solution but I don't think my need is that complicated. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

How do I auto-populate information from one tab to another in sheets?

25 Replies

mathetes
Gold Contributor
Jan 11, 2020
jhm0054

Are you willing to manually enter the name of each new tab into a cell on the "Master" sheet?
Is all the information on each individual sheet organized in exactly the same way? Are they all laid out identically?
Finally, could you upload a sample of the actual master and backup sheets?
If the answers to #1 and #2 are both "Yes," then it should be fairly easy to write a formula or two that would retrieve the information from each new sheet and populate the master sheet with the data. But an actual example of your workbook (devoid of any confidential or personal information) would be most helpful.
- DH2
  Occasional Reader
  Feb 05, 2026
  I realize that this is an old post.
  I have a master sheet that I want to auto populate from the same cells off 100plus sheets. All the sheets are identical and have a certain few cells that I need to view on the master.
  I have tried to drag and fill the formulas, but it always increases the reference number instead of increasing the sheet number
  Could you please give me advice?
- Kvojas
  Copper Contributor
  Mar 16, 2022
  Do you know if there’s a way for excel to recognize a word and then put the thing next to it into a separate sheet?
  
  Not sure if that makes sense for example:
  on sheet 1 I have
  “Katie” “Assignment 1 F+”
  “Hayley” “Assignment 1 A+
  “Katie” “Assignment 2 C-“
  “hayley” “assignment 2 B+”
  
  Is there a way to make it auto generate in sheet two:
  Katie “assignment 1 F+”
  Katie “assignment 2 C-“
  
  And in sheet three
  hayley “assignment 1A+”
  “Assignment 2 B+”
  
  I don’t necessarily need the names repeated but if the names trigger the next cell to be auto generated in a separate sheet? Does that make sense? Do you know?
  - mathetes
    Gold Contributor
    Mar 20, 2022
    Kvojas
    
    You wrote: Do you know if there’s a way for excel to recognize a word and then put the thing next to it into a separate sheet?
    
    And the answer, typical for Excel, is that there no doubt are multiple ways to do it.
    
    But also, typical for Excel, it makes a LOT of difference how you're entering that data in the first place, what the whole process is, what the desired outcome is.
    
    If I were creating something along the lines you hint at--which I assume is a way to track grades for a class in school and have Katie's and Hayley's grades all summarized neatly, maybe averaged, etc.
    
    One thing to keep in mind is that Excel is really good at taking what I'll call "clean data" in a consolidated database, and then extracting meaningful subsets of it. I've attached a sample of what's possible. Note that on the DB sheet, each of those data elements is it's own column--that's what makes it "clean".
    
    Then on the Individual Record sheet, you can select a name and see a list of the assignments for which there's a grade. There's really no need to have a separate sheet for each person, just use this 'dashboard' screen to produce a summary of grades. By the way, this solution does require the most current version of Excel in order for the functions FILTER and UNIQUE to work.
    Record of grades_Sample.xlsx14 KB
- kcole2523
  Copper Contributor
  Mar 25, 2021
  mathetes
  I think I have a similar question. I have uploaded a spreadsheet that has 3 tabs. Some of the information on Project Info/Control sheet I would like to repeat on the Budget Sheet and Proposal Sheet to reduce duplication of effort. I can get it to 'behave' on the Budget Sheet (green circle in screen shot), but not on all cells of the Proposal Sheet (red circles). It just shows the formula referencing the original cell instead of the data. I have tried inserting new rows on Project sheet and re-referencing to see if something is corrupt but I get the same problem. I saw your INDIRECT solution but I don't think my need is that complicated. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
  Budget Proposal Workbook.xlsx115 KB
  - mathetes
    Gold Contributor
    Mar 25, 2021
    Much more simple. You have those cells formatted as "Text"...change them to "General" and reenter the formula.

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How do I auto-populate information from one tab to another in sheets?

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