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Creating a unique ID using Smart Columns

Create a unique row identifier to safely update your data

Sometimes, your data doesn’t come with a built-in unique ID, and that’s totally fine! If you ever need to update or enrich your dataset later on, having a unique identifier is super helpful (and sometimes essential). 

Here’s how you can create and use it, and why it makes your life easier.

Why This Matters

Whenever you want to replace or update data in Caplena, the system needs to know exactly which row you’re referring to. If there’s no unique ID, things can get messy. By creating a unique ID, you give each row a clear identity, making updates simple and safe, no accidental overwrites or mismatches.

Step 1: Create a Row ID Using Smart Columns

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  1. Go to your project and open the Smart Columns panel.

  2. Click Create New Smart Column.

  3. Give it a name, like row_id.

  4. Set the Output Type to Text.

  5. Choose Row ID as the formula.

  6. Hit Compute Preview to see how it looks.

  7. Click Create & Fill, and you’re done!

 

 Step 2: Convert Smart Column to a Regular Column

Right now, smart columns are dynamic and can't be used when replacing data. But no stress, it’s super easy to turn it into a regular one:

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  1. Go back to the Smart Columns tab.

  2. Click the trash icon next to your row_id smart column, this only deletes the smart logic, not the values.

  3. Now the column becomes a static, regular part of your dataset, ready to use!

Now that your row ID is ready, check out this guide on how to replace data for the next steps.