# Setting default column type in canvas **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask the Community\ **Created:** [May 29, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188 "2023-05-29T01:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![requira](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/requira/32/35271_2.png) [@requira](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/requira)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/1 "2023-05-29T01:16:53Z")
Hi, Just started looking at Coda and trying to get my head around the formulae used to set the default value on a relation column. Here’s where I’ve got to. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/original/3X/0/7/0713ce9c965d34185498873eb8fcf8aecb959b7e.png) - I’ve connected my Daily Journal table with my Journal Entries table - I’ve set up the template page to be used in the canvas column which is showing the filtered list of all Journal Entries related to that Daily Journal record (via the Cycle - Daily column) My issue is that I can’t seem to use the ParentRow function (if that is the right one to be using) so that when I add a new Journal Entry, the Cycle - Daily column is defaulted to the same day of the Daily Journal record. In this case 28/05/2023. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![requira](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/requira/32/35271_2.png) [@requira](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/requira)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/2 "2023-05-29T01:43:26Z")
As Murphy’s Law would have it, managed to find a workaround using a button to add a row. I’m guessing that because the button is on the canvas of my Daily Journal record, that I don’t need to worry about using the ParentRow function. Instead, I’ve set the button to set the Cycle - Daily field to the value I need. However, my next issue is that my formula only sets “28/05/2023” as a text value rather than as one of the available relations. So, my follow up question is how to have the button set the value so it’s a relation and not just text? ---
**Author:** ![Pch](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/pch/32/17688_2.png) [@Pch](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Pch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 8:07am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/3 "2023-05-29T08:07:45Z")
HI @requira and Welcome to the Community 🥳 ! Would you mind sharing a screenshot or the formula you used in your canvas button ? 😊 ---
**Author:** ![requira](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/requira/32/35271_2.png) [@requira](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/requira)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 10:40am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/4 "2023-05-29T10:40:00Z")
@Pch : Thanks for your reply. I eventually managed to figure it out and then 🤦‍♂️ on how simple the answer was. What I was doing wrong was pulling in the value of the primary column on Daily Journal record rather than the actual record itself. So, had the random thought of just setting the value to thisRow and nothing else and that’s working as I wanted. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/original/3X/e/9/e9c3080fd2cd00d9759612c2daa262001be20fd8.png) HTH ---
**Author:** ![Pch](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/pch/32/17688_2.png) [@Pch](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Pch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/5 "2023-05-29T11:03:13Z")
As someone who tends to overcomplicate things, I can tell you that this kind of things just happens 😅 ! Congrats for figuring it out 🙌 😁 ! Don’t hesitate if you have any other questions or encounter some issues ! ---
**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:** [June 1, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/setting-default-column-type-in-canvas/40188/6 "2023-06-01T11:03:19Z")
Closed on June 1, 2023, 11:03am UTC This topic was automatically closed 3 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.