What does parent rollup functionality do in Smartsheet?

The parent rollup functionality in Smartsheet automatically sums values from child rows, providing a consolidated view of data within hierarchical structures. This feature is particularly useful in project management, where tasks are organized under a parent project or phase. By summing values, such as costs or hours worked, from child tasks to their parent, users can quickly assess overall performance or resource usage without needing to manually add individual entries. This streamlines data management, enhances accuracy, and supports better decision-making by presenting a clear picture of progress and resource allocation at various levels of a project.

While the ability to edit child rows is essential for project updates, it is not the primary function of the parent rollup. Sharing functionalities typically apply to the entire sheet rather than just to parent rows, and automatic updates are generally not disabled by this feature. Thus, the correct understanding of parent rollup highlights its role in automating the summarization of data, which is critical for effective project oversight.