# Append a value to a column **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask for Help\ **Created:** [April 24, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977 "2021-04-24T04:35:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/1 "2021-04-24T04:35:24Z")
Is it possible to append a value to a column rather than clear the existing value and then replace it with a new value? I am creating a jobs app where employers post jobs and jobseekers apply for a job. I have a Jobs sheet which contains a list of jobs. When a job seeker views a job, the job seeker can apply for the job by clicking a button. I have a column Applications in the Jobs sheet which I would like to use to collect all emails of users who have applied for a job. Is there a way to add an email to the column which would have other emails as well? If I use Set columns, it only adds each users email after replacing the existing value. Any option to keep adding emails to the column? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:54am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/2 "2021-04-24T04:54:08Z")
Yes, this is possible. You can create a joined list of emails in a single column. One approach is: - Start with the column that will hold all the emails. Let’s call it “Emails” - Create two template columns - The first will contain a replacement for the current email to be added to the list - The second will contain two replacements: The current value of “Emails”, plus the next email to be added, separated by a comma - Finally create an if-then-else column to determine which template to use to write the new value of “Emails”. Use the first one if “Emails” is empty, otherwise use the second one. Edit: if you also need to be able to remove emails from the list, check out this tutorial > [@Shared "User Specific" Lists Between Users!](https://community.glideapps.com/t/shared-user-specific-lists-between-users/24747/3): > > Here’s the tutorial. Note—this is an Advanced concept in Glide…not for the faint of heart muscle! [[Glide: The Trebuchet Method is UNREAL] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhJ8jMEoy3o) ---
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 6:22am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/3 "2021-04-24T06:22:13Z")
Let me paraphrase in order to be able to understand. I create a column Emails which is a basic column of Email type. I create another column New Email to which when a job seeker clicks the Apply button, it will set the column New Email with the job seeker’s email address. Then, I create a template column First Template which is A, where A is New Email. Then, I create another template column Second Template which is “B, C” , where B is “Emails” and C is “New Email”. Now, my question how would Emails column get updated? It is basic column, and if nothing is written to it, it will remain empty. Which column do I use the “If then else” column mentioned in the last point? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 6:33am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/4 "2021-04-24T06:33:45Z")
> [@vijay](#): > > I create a column Emails which is a basic column of Email type. No, it should be a text column. > [@vijay](#): > > I create another column New Email to which when a job seeker clicks the Apply button, it will set the column New Email with the job seeker’s email address. I would use a User Specific Column for this. > [@vijay](#): > > Then, I create a template column First Template which is A, where A is New Email. > Then, I create another template column Second Template which is “B, C” , where B is “Emails” and C is “New Email”. Yes, that’s correct. > [@vijay](#): > > Now, my question how would Emails column get updated? It is basic column, and if nothing is written to it, it will remain empty. Which column do I use the “If then else” column mentioned in the last point? When the user submits, you write the value of the if-then-else column into your emails column. If you want something to study, make a copy of the below app, and look at the Announcements table and screen. > **[Glide Community Forum](https://glide-community.glideapp.io/)** > > This app uses anonymised email addresses. ---
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 6:39am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/5 "2021-04-24T06:39:45Z")
Awesome! Thanks. Its working and the logic is beautiful. Love it! 😍 ---
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 7:07am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/6 "2021-04-24T07:07:29Z")
While setting the columns, I not only set the New Email column with the user’s email but also did the pasting of the If-then-Else template column to the Emails column. A screenshot pasted below: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/5/1/510199190f3ea9a25bd2c8afefcf2270df9d7e62.png) ---
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/7 "2021-04-24T12:28:39Z")
How can I get the number of values inside a cell? For example, I have three values separated by comma in the Applicant Emails column. How can I get its count which is 3? I find that if I use rollup, I can only get the count of number of values within a column, and not within a cell. ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/8 "2021-04-24T12:33:47Z")
I can’t think of an easy way to that inside Glide. Probably in the flow above you add increment action to a number column? ---
**Author:** ![vijay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/vijay/32/3259_2.png) [@vijay](https://community.glideapps.com/u/vijay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/9 "2021-04-24T12:34:47Z")
Ok. Great idea, Thanks ---
**Author:** ![justinjmp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/justinjmp/32/43205_2.png) [@justinjmp](https://community.glideapps.com/u/justinjmp)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/10 "2022-11-30T00:35:09Z")
Wanted to add to this thread as it was helpful in creating an append column in a slightly different way. Problem: I wanted to create a form where a response would append to a particular column rather than create a new row or be added to a seperate column. All within Glide because I like Glide 🙂 . Solution: To append these values I first set the following User Specific Columns 1. A column to store text to be added when a response is submitted. (_Text Add_) 2. A column to store text that would store all of the text from collected responses. (_All Text_) 3. A column to store the text that the Text Add values would be appended to. (_Append Text_) Then used a custom action to: 1. Set _Append Text_ with the value in _All Text_ 2. Then clear the value in _Text Add_ so that it would be available for next use To append text the “Append Array” function column was used. To facilitate the adds an array column was created with the value of _Text Add_ using a lookup column. Then an array was created to house the value _Append Text._ Then the Append Array function column was used to append the value of _Text Add_ to _Append Text_. Afterwards made a few changes for formatting and boom! A form submission that appends values to a User Specific column, which can then be saved to data a la custom form functionality. [How do I create a custom form?](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-do-i-create-a-custom-form/25014) ---
**Author:** ![NoCodeAndy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/nocodeandy/32/62530_2.png) [@NoCodeAndy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/NoCodeAndy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/append-a-value-to-a-column/25977/11 "2024-01-17T16:49:23Z")