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I have a very simple Cash Dispensement program. For every Cash or Credit Card purchase enter the Date, Vendor, Receipt Amount and distribute the expense to “thing #1”, “thing #2” and “thing #3”. A separate “Balance” column adds #1, #2 and #3 and if it’s the same as “Receipt Amount” there is a check box with a check.  Items without a check indicate a problem. I go back and correct the dollar amounts as needed.

I have created an automation that updates when one of the four fields are updated. Here is the formula for the “Balance” field:

{Receipt Amount} = {#1 Amount} + {#2 Amount} + {#3 Amount}. 

If TRUE I get a check mark, if False I get a blank in the check box.

This worked perfectly when the field was first created.  As I correct the numbers the the Balance field doesn’t update.  When I erase part of the formula sometimes it corrects, sometimes NOT!

My personal feeling is the action is being timed out by an Internet connection or high traffic and it’s not completing the update. I live in a medium city with a dedicated T-Moble connection.  It’s plenty fast for movies.  Could it be AirTables’ servers are too slow.  Everything I read says this should work and it did the first time with NO errors.  After that no go

Your 2 Cents Worth would be appreciated. This is not a deal breaker but I think it’s a RED flag.

John Schubert

Missoula, Montana

{Receipt Amount} = {#1 Amount} + {#2 Amount} +{#3 Amount}
 
 

Hey ​@CaptainJohn49,

Are you sure you have an automation? This seems like something that a formula alone should be able to solve. Right (I might be missing smth)? If you do have an automation, would you mind sending over a screenshot of your automation? I’d like to see how it is set up.

Also, feel free to grab a slot using this link. I’m pretty sure we can get it solved on the spot on a really brief call.

Mike, Consultant @ Automatic Nation 
YouTube Channel 

Yeah, I mocked this up yesterday right at the end of my workday after seeing this post and it works fine for me (assuming that the OP is using the terms formula and automation interchangeably, all this can/should be handled by a formula field).

If you have more than a bar or two of signal, and your base isn’t massively large you shouldn’t be running into formula running issues. 

Other troubleshooting thoughts and tips would be making sure all the fields being utilized are set for currency, or temporarily exposing the formula by adding an intermediate layer (so make another formula field that only does #1+#2+#3 [lets call this Form2] , and then set a formula to checkbox if Receipt= Form2). That’ll show you if the delay is in the addition or in the checkboxing. 

Of course standard internet troubleshooting procedures also apply, try a different browser and try on a different internet connection and see if that’s really the issue. Oh and I’m assuming your using a browser, if you’re using the Airtable App on Mobile, iPad, or even desktop those can create issues too, a browser is always better.

Hm, a quick way to check whether it’s your internet is to see whether it updates to ‘All changes saved’ at the top right:

If it says ‘All changes saved’ and you’re still not seeing what you expect could you share some screenshots of your table, field set up and automation?

 

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