We have a straightforward opinion on this: the problem described is precisely the kind of tedious, repetitive task that should never require manual effort, and the fact that it remains a common frustration in traditional spreadsheets is a sign of how far the tools have fallen behind the workflows they claim to support. The user has an ID column and a separate URL column, thousands of rows, each needing a hyperlink embedded directly into the ID cell. That is not a data challenge; it is a mechanical chore that eats time and invites errors. And the default answer in legacy spreadsheet software is either a clunky formula, a macro, or a weekend of clicking.
What this means in practical terms is that the user is being forced to choose between two bad options: accept a messy, two-column layout that degrades readability, or invest significant effort in a workaround that should be a native feature. Neither is acceptable for anyone managing datasets with thousands of rows. The real solution is a tool that understands the relationship between the ID and the URL as a single, actionable data point, not as two disconnected columns that require manual reconciliation. An AI-native spreadsheet should look at that pattern once and offer to merge them, populating the ID cells with clickable links based on the URL column, no formulas or scripting required.
This is not about adding a flashy feature. It is about recognizing that data is rarely static; it is connected, contextual, and meant to be interacted with. A column of IDs that cannot open the corresponding record is not a spreadsheet, it is a list. The user is not asking for something exotic; they are asking for their data to behave the way their actual work does. And that expectation is reasonable. The tools we use should adapt to how we think, not the other way around.
Our take is simple: if your spreadsheet cannot turn an ID column into clickable links without manual work, you are using the wrong spreadsheet. The technology exists to make this automatic, and it should be the standard, not a workaround. Stop spending time on tasks that can be handled in one step. Explore a tool that treats your data like the connected system it already is.