# How to get a unique value based on multiple columns a user picks?
**URL:** https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-get-a-unique-value-based-on-multiple-columns-a-user-picks/4650
**Category:** Ask for Help
**Created:** [February 16, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-get-a-unique-value-based-on-multiple-columns-a-user-picks/4650 "2020-02-16T13:49:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rajiv\_Ramachandran](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Rajiv_Ramachandran)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-get-a-unique-value-based-on-multiple-columns-a-user-picks/4650/1 "2020-02-16T13:49:21Z")
I have followed the explanation [here](https://docs.glideapps.com/all/guides/quick-starts/advanced/keys-and-unique-ids#unique-special-values) on special values. I have also looked at the sample app. However I do not see a way by which when I create a row - for e.g. in that app - creating an expense and I pick a Trip, How do i automatically get the unique value in the expense row ? I cannot ask the user to pick the unique value - the user would only pick an entry they know - like say a Trip Name.
In this case - I have 2 columns - Name and Trip and for the Name Trip Combination there is a uniqueid. I would like to have every expense row connected to a the Name Trip Combination unique ID. the User can pick the name and the trip but how do i derive the unique id from this composite key that is based of 2 columns
---
### Author:  [@Jeff\_Hager](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Jeff_Hager)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-get-a-unique-value-based-on-multiple-columns-a-user-picks/4650/2 "2020-02-16T14:19:26Z")
If you have a row somewhere that contains a unique ID, a name, and a trip, I would let your user navigate to details screen if that name/trip in the app. I would then add a form button on that screen for expenses. The form can automatically pull in the unique ID from the name/trip details and write it to the sheet. All of the available columns are shown along with the regular components on the right side of the builder screen.