# Can I copy values from one cell to another as an automation action?

**URL:** <https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266>\
**Category:** Get Help\
**Created:** [June 3, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266 "2024-06-03T17:39:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Audrey\_Marshall](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.fibery.io/audrey_marshall/32/9474_2.png) [@Audrey\_Marshall](https://community.fibery.io/u/Audrey_Marshall)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266/1 "2024-06-03T17:39:05Z")

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So I’m creating a database to return how much we owe teachers, and the pay scales vary (hourly, scaled, scaled hourly, etc). I want to create a set of automation rules to copy the values from the formula cell where I’ve calculated the totals into a “final total” field based on which payscale the teacher receives, but I can’t seem to figure out how.

My options are “update field” which just gives me the option to put in a number, or “formula,” but I cannot find operators that seem to offer “copy the value from X field for this record into this box.”

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Chr1sG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.fibery.io/chr1sg/32/3941_2.png) [@Chr1sG](https://community.fibery.io/u/Chr1sG)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266/2 "2024-06-03T18:00:08Z")

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If you want to copy ‘field X’ into ‘field Y’ you would use the Update field Y action, and use a formula [Step 1 Teacher].[field X]

(assuming the automation is triggered in the Teacher db)

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**Author:** ![Audrey\_Marshall](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.fibery.io/audrey_marshall/32/9474_2.png) [@Audrey\_Marshall](https://community.fibery.io/u/Audrey_Marshall)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266/3 "2024-06-03T18:22:39Z")

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I did just try that, and it didn’t return anything. ☹

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/fibery/original/2X/1/1c4ae208a715d88849741d449047ae08cd63336f.png)

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**Author:** ![Chr1sG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.fibery.io/chr1sg/32/3941_2.png) [@Chr1sG](https://community.fibery.io/u/Chr1sG)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266/4 "2024-06-03T18:35:44Z")

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Is the Hourly Fee guaranteed to be filled in when the entity is created?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Audrey\_Marshall](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.fibery.io/audrey_marshall/32/9474_2.png) [@Audrey\_Marshall](https://community.fibery.io/u/Audrey_Marshall)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.fibery.io/t/can-i-copy-values-from-one-cell-to-another-as-an-automation-action/6266/5 "2024-06-05T17:25:37Z")

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Okay, I switched to “when record is updated” and that got it working! Thank you Chr1s! 😃