# Automation If Condition with Date Column Fails, but Works in Formula – Need Both Auto and Manual Checkbox Control

**URL:** <https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803>\
**Category:** Ask the Community\
**Created:** [August 1, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803 "2025-08-01T20:43:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Takshika\_Jambhule](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/takshika_jambhule/32/47488_2.png) [@Takshika\_Jambhule](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Takshika_Jambhule)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803/1 "2025-08-01T20:43:31Z")

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Hi Coda Community,

I’m having trouble with automations involving two columns in my table:

- **Recording Date** (type: Date): This column stores the relevant date for each item.

- 

 ![Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 4.43.09 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/original/3X/0/e/0eede86a4f59f9f633657389e95e26285d716efa.png)

**Recording done** (type: Checkbox): This column should be checked automatically if the Recording Date is before today, but I also want the flexibility to manually check or uncheck it as needed.

Here’s what’s happening:

- If I use `[Recording Date] < Today()` as a formula in the “Recording done” column, it works perfectly—but the checkbox becomes read-only and I lose manual control.

- If I try to use the same logic in an automation (trigger: Row changed on Recording Date, If: `[Step 1 Result].[Recording Date] < Today()`), the condition always returns false—even when the Recording Date is before today.

- If I set the If condition to just `true`, the automation runs, but does not update the checkbox value.

**My goal:**  
I want “Recording done” to be automatically checked if “Recording Date” is before today, but I also want to be able to manually check or uncheck the box if needed (so a formula-only solution isn’t enough).

**What I’ve tried:**

- Verified both columns are correct types (Date and Checkbox)

- Tested with new and existing row

- The formula logic works in a column, but not in the automation If step

Is there a workaround for this? Any advice to achieve both auto and manual control would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![Melanie\_Teh](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/melanie_teh/32/45501_2.png) [@Melanie\_Teh](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Melanie_Teh)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 7:55am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803/2 "2025-08-02T07:55:02Z")

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👋@Takshika_Jambhule

welcome to the community! 🤗

this thread addresses the same issue and provides theory in solution

> [@Checkbox to tick other checkboxes](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/checkbox-to-tick-other-checkboxes/54332/2):
>
> wave @Toy_Power A suggestion would be to add an additional checkbox column called “Owned edit” (where you can manually check off) and then update the formula in Owned check box column with an If() or SwitchIf(). hope this helps! Cheers! Mel

hope this helps!

Cheers!  
Mel

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**Author:** ![Takshika\_Jambhule](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/takshika_jambhule/32/47488_2.png) [@Takshika\_Jambhule](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Takshika_Jambhule)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803/3 "2025-08-04T19:19:29Z")

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Thank you for the suggesstion. However, We used “Button” option to tackle this time 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/system/32/24484_2.png) [@system](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/automation-if-condition-with-date-column-fails-but-works-in-formula-need-both-auto-and-manual-checkbox-control/56803/4 "2025-11-02T19:19:41Z")

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