Use formula for default EXCEPT when user changed content of cell

[mark.damen1]

is it possible to prevent the formula being used after the user has changed the value of a field/cell?

[funda.jeremy]

Use UPDATEIF() maybe. Whether it will execute will dependent on the condition of your choice.

[pax]

I’ve been asking for this functionality or similar for years. It would be a game changer for so many of my workflows. I can only assume that there is a technical reason why it can’t be implemented. UPDATEIF() is NOT a solution because we need to query the field that is being updated which creates a circular reference.

UPDATEIF(EMPTY,xxx)

Hi, I would suggest create another field, reference the field which is already existed. For example, A1 is the field existed now, create A2, and assign formula like UPDATEIF(A1.RAW="",value_if_true,A1).

UPDATEIFEMPTY(calculation)

There are so many examples where this could be useful that I don’t even know where to start. Any field where the user can override an automatic calculation by entering a value manually Any field that should automatically calculate if the user does not enter a value Here’s one specific example. A sheet has multiple fields for the price of a single product. Each field represents a different currency (USD, CAD, EUR, etc). I don’t know which currency the user will choose to enter, but I want the …

[funda.jeremy]

I think similar “one time” default calculation can be achieve on [DEFAULT Value] + turn on the option of [Interpret as formula].

If you put a calculation FORMULA inside the DEFAULT VALUE.
It will provide you with a calculated Default value, but the user is free to change it.

You can also put a conditional formula if that’s what you need. Such that the default value is only calculated when certain condition is met.

But The thing with default value is that it can only happen ONCE before it is saved. The formula will not execute for another time upon second edit. This is to avoid the changed value being override again I suppose. If the calculated value need to be inserted for a second time, you might need to setup another button and hidden calculated field to insert the value by the Action Button.