# Lookup multiple columns **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask the Community\ **Created:** [May 6, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706 "2020-05-06T15:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Sam\_Smith](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Sam_Smith)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/1 "2020-05-06T15:49:56Z")
https://coda.io/embed/qCeSi1woMw?viewMode=embed In this doc. I have people assigned to multiple projects and want to return those projects back on to the people table. I’m trying to say pull in any projects where this person is listed as lead, support, or contractor but it seems to only be pulling in one of those three and not any of them. ![Screen Shot 2020-05-06 at 11.48.36 AM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/original/2X/f/fa6172c24d3a1e864fbfb39f4b28f0427c77d946.png) Here’s my formula, should I be using something other than filter? ---
**Author:** ![Ander](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/ander/32/9134_2.png) [@Ander](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Ander)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/2 "2020-05-06T16:12:19Z")
@Sam_Smith Try `Contains()` `[All Projects].Filter(Lead.Contains(thisRow) or Support.Contains(thisRow) or Contractor.Contains(thisRow))` ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Lee](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/ben_lee/32/49867_2.png) [@Ben\_Lee](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Ben_Lee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/3 "2020-05-06T23:30:59Z")
Hi Sam, This definitely feels like a good way to go and it seems convenient, but it leads to circular reference issues and can slow you doc down after adding more rows. When you reference a row like this, you’re actually referencing all the data in that row. When a row contains several rows, you’re referencing several rows worth of data, then it repeats itself when it links back on itself. I would keep this reference in a single direction if possible. Here’s a GIF to show what happens even with just two tables of three. ![circular-reference](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/original/2X/6/603a2b03ea61e6bcf1ce3e004fc7e6833c61810e.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Sam\_Smith](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Sam_Smith)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/4 "2020-05-07T02:01:07Z")
Thanks, Ben! Is there a better way for me to approach tying these two pieces together? It’s important that we link people to projects and equally important that we can easily see the projects someone has worked on. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Sam\_Smith](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Sam_Smith)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/5 "2020-05-08T18:38:05Z")
Hey, Ben! Just following up on my question to your response. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Lee](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/ben_lee/32/49867_2.png) [@Ben\_Lee](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Ben_Lee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/lookup-multiple-columns/15706/6 "2020-05-14T21:21:56Z")
Keeping this a one direction link for full row values is your best bet, then maybe a summary or text list of the projects that person has worked on would be a good way to have the other aspect. I wouldn’t pull in the full row, just the text.