Update Item Names with Formula Column Results

Platform discussions monday apps & integrations
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Hey monday.com users! :waving_hand:

Does your board often look like a sea of “New Item,” “Task,” or just single-word titles? You’re not alone! While monday.com is amazing, its ability to automatically create descriptive, dynamic item names based on other column values is pretty limited. If you want a title like “Client X - Project Y - Due 2025-12-31” that updates itself, you usually hit a wall. This often means manual renaming, which is a major time-sink and a breeding ground for inconsistencies.

The monday.com Head-Scratcher: Static Item Names

The challenge is simple: when you create a new item, its name is either static or pulls from just one column. What if you need to combine info from multiple columns, apply conditional logic, or even embed a formula result directly into the item’s title? Natively, you’re usually out of luck. This forces extra manual work and makes it harder to quickly grasp an item’s context without clicking into it.

Formula PRO: Your Solution for Intelligent Item Naming

Good news! Our Formula PRO app is here to transform how your items are named. It lets you create powerful, dynamic naming conventions using custom formulas that automatically update your item names as your data changes. No more “[New Item]” or endless manual edits!

Quick Setup: Dynamic Project Naming in Minutes!

Here’s a fast example of how you can set up smart, self-updating item names:

  1. Board Prep (Your “Project Intake” Board):
  • Add a Text column named {Client Name}.
  • Add a Text column named {Project Type}.
  • Add a Date column named {Due Date}.
  1. Formula PRO Automation: The Naming Wizardry!
  • Go to your board’s automation center, click “Integrate” and select Formula PRO.
  • Choose this recipe: "When column changes, execute formula and project the result to the item name."
  • Configure it like this:
    • Trigger: "When {Client Name} changes" (You can also pick {Project Type} or {Due Date} for updates).
    • Formula:
CONCATENATE({Client Name}, " - ", {Project Type}, " - Due ", TEXT({Due Date}, "YYYY-MM-DD"))
  • This powerful formula combines your client’s name, project type, and a neatly formatted due date into one smart string.
  • Project Result To: “Item Name”

Why this is a game-changer: This Formula PRO recipe lets you use any FormulaJS or Excel function to build your item names, then automatically writes that result directly into the Item Name column. This ensures your titles are always up-to-date and descriptive, based on your latest data!

See It Live: Your Smart Board in Action!

Imagine this: You fill in “Acme Corp” in {Client Name}, “Website Redesign” in {Project Type}, and pick a {Due Date}. Instantly, Formula PRO will calculate and set your item’s name to “Acme Corp - Website Redesign - Due 2025-12-31.”

No more tedious renaming, no more inconsistent titles. Plus, if any of those source columns change, the item name automatically updates!

The Payoff: Boost Your Board’s IQ!

  • Effortless Organization: Items are perfectly named and consistent from day one.
  • Instant Clarity: Understand item context at a glance, without opening details.
  • Huge Time Savings: Reclaim hours lost to manual renaming tasks.
  • Better Reporting: Meaningful, dynamic titles make dashboards and searches far more effective.

Ready to put an end to generic item names and make your monday.com boards truly smarter? Formula PRO gives you access to advanced functions like IFERROR, IFNA, SKIP, EMPTY, and the ability to project formula results to columns, mirror columns, subitems, and item names!

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Add Formula PRO to your board for free.

Got questions or need a hand setting it up? Book a call: monday.com apps | David Kalu | Cal.com

Or

Drop a comment below! Let’s get those boards working smarter, not harder! :down_arrow:

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